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Media Contacts

For more information on the Commission des services juridiques, members of the media should contact Mr Nadine Koussa, Communications responsible at 514-873-3562 ext: 5249.


Press Releases

 

Press Releases 2019


2019-11-08
2019 Robert-Sauvé Award
Montreal, November 8, 2019 - On November 7, 2019, Me Yvan Niquette, Chairman of the Commission des services juridiques, proudly presented the 2019 Robert-Sauvé Awards in Montreal. The awards were created in order to recognize the exceptional contribution of individuals to promoting more
2019-09-24
Montréal, 24 septembre 2019 – Me Yvan Niquette, président de la Commission des services juridiques annonce que son rapport de gestion 2018-2019 a été déposé le 19 septembre dernier à l’Assemblée nationale.

À cette occasion, Me Niquette a affirmé : « Ce rappor
more
2019-05-31
Announcement of Justice, and the Chairman of the CSJ
Montreal, May 31, 2019 – As of today, the legal aid eligibility thresholds increased by 4.17%, which is equal to the percentage by which the minimum wage increased on May 1, 2019. 

The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Québec, Sonia LeBel, and the Chairman of the Commission des services juridiques, Me Yvan Niquette, made the announcement today.

Me Niquette recalled that, on January 1, 2016, the eligibility thresholds for no-cost legal aid were increased, with the minimum wage as a reference point. The current indexation therefore maintains the eligibility thresholds at this level.

As a result, a person who is single and works a 35-hour week at minimum wage, which is $22,750 per year, has access to a lawyer, at no cost, within the framework of the legal aid system. Moreover, legal aid services are free to a family of two adults and two children whose income is less than $37,307.

The Québec legal aid plan includes a component for individuals whose income falls between the eligibility thresholds for free legal aid and the maximum thresholds requiring a contribution (contributory legal aid). According to Me Niquette, the contributory scheme offers a unique formula that allows individuals to be represented in court by a lawyer while knowing, in advance, the maximum amount of their legal fees and the costs that may be claimed from them. The contributory scheme allows an individual to receive legal services if his or her income, assets and liquidities match the eligibility scale in effect and if the individual pays a contribution ranging from $100 to $800, depending on the composition of the person’s family and the person’s financial situation. The eligibility scale for legal aid under the contributory scheme also increased by 4.17%.

The Commission des services juridiques developed tools to evaluate the number of applicants who, were it not for the increase in the financial eligibility thresholds for legal aid since January 1, 2014, would not have qualified for legal aid. For the 2018-2019 year, the number of applicants amounted to 22,390.

“Legal aid services help eligible members of the public assert their rights within the justice system. Legal aid is therefore an essential tool for promoting access to justice by all Quebeckers. The indexation announced today will ensure that the services provided by the legal aid system, which consists of lawyers in private practice and legal aid staff lawyers, will remain accessible to the greatest number of people possible”, stated Minister LeBel.

The new eligibility scale for services at no cost is as follows:

Class of Applicant MaximumAnnual Income
For a single person $22,750
For an applicant whose family is comprised of:
one adult and one child $27,834
one adult and 2 children or + $29,714
spouses without children $31,661
spouses with 1 child $35,424
spouses with 2 children or + $37,306

The new eligibility scale for legal aid under the contributory scheme is as follows: 

Class of Applicant MaximumAnnual Income
For a single person $31,778
For an applicant whose family is comprised of:
one adult and one child $38,872
one adult and 2 children or + $41,498
spouses without children $44,224
spouses with 1 child $49,478
spouses with 2 children or + $52,106

About the Commission des services juridiques

The Commission des services juridiques is the agency charged with applying the Act respecting legal aid and the provision of certain other legal services in Québec. Legal aid may be granted to anyone who is financially eligible, in order to cover various legal services involving civil, family, administrative, criminal, health, immigration or youth law matters. It is also the agency charged with offering the Homologation Assistance Service (HAS) and the Service administratif de rajustement des pensions alimentaires pour enfants (SARPA), a child support recalculation service.

For more information, please visit the website of the Commission des services juridiques at: http://www.csj.qc.ca/

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Sources: Me Richard La Charité, rlacharite@csj.qc.ca
Director, Communications Department
Commission des services juridiques
(514) 873-3562, extension 232

Nicky Cayer
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Québec

(418) 643-4210











2019-05-25
Conformément à la Loi sur les contrats des organismes publics, la Commission des services juridiques (CSJ) a adopté une procédure portant sur la réception et l’examen des plaintes en matière de contrats publics. 

Cette procédure peut être consultée sur le site Web de la CSJ à
more
2019-05-17
Lancement d'un Guide pour les avocats de pratique privée acceptant des mandats
French only. more
2019-04-12
2019 Robert-Sauvé Award - Announcement of the Nomination Period
Montreal, April 12, 2019. – Me Yvan Niquette, Chairman of the Commission des services juridiques du Québec, is pleased to announce the opening of the nomination period for the 2019 Robert-Sauvé Award. “I invite all individuals and organizations to highlight the ongoing commitment o more
2019-02-25
Entente importante avec Éducaloi
Montréal, le 25 février 2019 – Dans le cadre de ses activités de communication claire et efficace du droit, Éducaloi a conclu un partenariat important avec la Commission des services juridiques (CSJ), responsable de l’administration du programme québécois d’aide juridique. À cet effet, É more
© Commission des services juridiques Création: Diane Laurin - 2017