1
00:00:00,230 --> 00:00:02,010
Court soon in Quebec, and you

2
00:00:02,010 --> 00:00:02,970
cannot afford a criminal

3
00:00:02,970 --> 00:00:04,110
lawyer.

4
00:00:04,570 --> 00:00:05,870
Contact your local legal aid

5
00:00:05,870 --> 00:00:07,450
office now.

6
00:00:07,490 --> 00:00:08,930
Explain the date and ask about

7
00:00:08,930 --> 00:00:10,370
immediate help.

8
00:00:10,710 --> 00:00:11,710
Keep your required court

9
00:00:11,710 --> 00:00:12,890
appearance.

10
00:00:13,110 --> 00:00:14,350
Apply for a lawyer for the

11
00:00:14,350 --> 00:00:15,710
case, and confirm who will

12
00:00:15,710 --> 00:00:17,570
actually represent you.

13
00:00:17,770 --> 00:00:19,190
A pending application does not

14
00:00:19,190 --> 00:00:21,210
itself move your court date.

15
00:00:22,222 --> 00:00:23,782
Ask about a duty lawyer at the

16
00:00:23,782 --> 00:00:25,482
courthouse, a legal aid lawyer

17
00:00:25,482 --> 00:00:27,462
providing immediate help.

18
00:00:28,042 --> 00:00:29,322
Access and eligibility depend

19
00:00:29,322 --> 00:00:30,962
on your situation.

20
00:00:31,362 --> 00:00:32,842
If you are detained, ask about

21
00:00:32,842 --> 00:00:33,982
help with your first appearance

22
00:00:33,982 --> 00:00:35,582
and release hearing.

23
00:00:35,842 --> 00:00:37,182
If you are not detained,

24
00:00:37,182 --> 00:00:38,062
confirm what is available

25
00:00:38,062 --> 00:00:39,242
locally.

26
00:00:39,242 --> 00:00:40,882
—Brief assistance does not by

27
00:00:40,882 --> 00:00:42,462
itself establish a mandate for

28
00:00:42,462 --> 00:00:43,822
the whole trial

29
00:00:44,886 --> 00:00:46,746
Quebec has both free legal aid

30
00:00:46,746 --> 00:00:48,186
and legal aid with a financial

31
00:00:48,186 --> 00:00:49,606
contribution.

32
00:00:49,986 --> 00:00:50,906
The assessment considers

33
00:00:50,906 --> 00:00:52,726
income, assets and family

34
00:00:52,726 --> 00:00:54,366
circumstances, as well as

35
00:00:54,366 --> 00:00:55,386
whether the requested legal

36
00:00:55,386 --> 00:00:57,046
service is covered.

37
00:00:57,386 --> 00:00:58,246
Earning above the free

38
00:00:58,246 --> 00:00:59,666
threshold does not necessarily

39
00:00:59,666 --> 00:01:01,386
exclude you.

40
00:01:01,486 --> 00:01:02,646
Ask about the contributory

41
00:01:02,646 --> 00:01:04,206
route, the amount payable and

42
00:01:04,206 --> 00:01:05,926
possible instalments.

43
00:01:06,326 --> 00:01:07,766
Use the current assessment,

44
00:01:07,766 --> 00:01:09,246
thresholds change.

45
00:01:10,430 --> 00:01:11,890
Have your charge papers,

46
00:01:11,890 --> 00:01:13,190
release conditions, and court

47
00:01:13,190 --> 00:01:14,410
date ready.

48
00:01:14,770 --> 00:01:16,030
Keep the prosecution disclosure

49
00:01:16,030 --> 00:01:17,490
you receive.

50
00:01:17,870 --> 00:01:19,050
Ask which financial records

51
00:01:19,050 --> 00:01:20,650
intake needs and explain any

52
00:01:20,650 --> 00:01:22,230
missing documents.

53
00:01:22,510 --> 00:01:24,150
If legal aid is granted, you

54
00:01:24,150 --> 00:01:25,430
may choose a private lawyer who

55
00:01:25,430 --> 00:01:26,730
accepts the mandate under the

56
00:01:26,730 --> 00:01:28,210
scheme or use a legal aid

57
00:01:28,210 --> 00:01:29,310
lawyer.

58
00:01:29,610 --> 00:01:30,750
Confirm their acceptance and

59
00:01:30,750 --> 00:01:32,130
the work covered.

60
00:01:33,118 --> 00:01:35,258
Ask to speak with a lawyer.

61
00:01:35,798 --> 00:01:37,098
Quebec Legal Aid provides free

62
00:01:37,098 --> 00:01:38,718
telephone advice at any hour to

63
00:01:38,718 --> 00:01:39,978
people arrested or in custody

64
00:01:39,978 --> 00:01:41,738
who need counsel, regardless of

65
00:01:41,738 --> 00:01:43,438
financial eligibility.

66
00:01:43,938 --> 00:01:45,578
The Quebec bar also operates an

67
00:01:45,578 --> 00:01:46,698
Emergency Criminal Arrest

68
00:01:46,698 --> 00:01:48,158
Advice Service.

69
00:01:48,578 --> 00:01:49,658
Ask for help reaching the

70
00:01:49,658 --> 00:01:51,178
appropriate line.

71
00:01:51,478 --> 00:01:52,538
That immediate consultation

72
00:01:52,538 --> 00:01:53,818
does not appoint your lawyer

73
00:01:53,818 --> 00:01:55,978
for every later court stage.

74
00:01:57,054 --> 00:01:58,394
If you are accused,

75
00:01:58,394 --> 00:01:59,514
unrepresented and ineligible

76
00:01:59,514 --> 00:02:01,434
for legal aid, ask about the

77
00:02:01,434 --> 00:02:02,914
Quebec Bar's free criminal law

78
00:02:02,914 --> 00:02:04,574
information service.

79
00:02:04,774 --> 00:02:06,154
This free telephone service

80
00:02:06,154 --> 00:02:07,254
connects you with a volunteer

81
00:02:07,254 --> 00:02:08,674
criminal lawyer for information

82
00:02:08,674 --> 00:02:10,214
about the process.

83
00:02:10,514 --> 00:02:12,214
It allows one contact per case

84
00:02:12,214 --> 00:02:13,774
and operates on weekdays during

85
00:02:13,774 --> 00:02:14,514
published hours.

86
00:02:14,514 --> 00:02:16,934
It is not an emergency arrest

87
00:02:16,934 --> 00:02:18,474
line or a lawyer retained to

88
00:02:18,474 --> 00:02:19,854
defend the case.

89
00:02:20,966 --> 00:02:22,466
Keep the refusal and request

90
00:02:22,466 --> 00:02:24,026
review promptly.

91
00:02:24,346 --> 00:02:25,426
There is a 30-day review

92
00:02:25,426 --> 00:02:26,926
period, confirm its exact

93
00:02:26,926 --> 00:02:28,726
deadline immediately.

94
00:02:29,166 --> 00:02:30,446
Explain your reasons in writing

95
00:02:30,446 --> 00:02:32,586
and supply supporting records.

96
00:02:32,786 --> 00:02:34,186
If urgent steps are needed to

97
00:02:34,186 --> 00:02:35,146
protect your rights during

98
00:02:35,146 --> 00:02:36,766
review, ask about a conditional

99
00:02:36,766 --> 00:02:37,906
certificate for that limited

100
00:02:37,906 --> 00:02:38,306
work.

101
00:02:38,306 --> 00:02:40,746
If you remain ineligible, you

102
00:02:40,746 --> 00:02:41,946
can be responsible for those

103
00:02:41,946 --> 00:02:43,066
costs.

104
00:02:44,158 --> 00:02:45,418
A court application for

105
00:02:45,418 --> 00:02:46,738
publicly funded counsel may

106
00:02:46,738 --> 00:02:48,058
help where legal aid cannot

107
00:02:48,058 --> 00:02:49,398
meet your needs, you cannot

108
00:02:49,398 --> 00:02:50,758
fund necessary representation

109
00:02:50,758 --> 00:02:52,298
and proceeding without counsel

110
00:02:52,298 --> 00:02:54,278
would threaten a fair trial.

111
00:02:54,658 --> 00:02:56,298
Seriousness, complexity and

112
00:02:56,298 --> 00:02:57,958
your capacity matter.

113
00:02:58,318 --> 00:02:59,538
Act diligently on available

114
00:02:59,538 --> 00:03:01,998
legal aid options and reviews.

115
00:03:02,398 --> 00:03:03,778
Keep financial evidence,

116
00:03:03,778 --> 00:03:05,058
decisions and lawyer fee

117
00:03:05,058 --> 00:03:06,278
estimates.

118
00:03:06,678 --> 00:03:07,518
Get help with the proper

119
00:03:07,518 --> 00:03:09,518
application and service.

120
00:03:09,958 --> 00:03:11,218
Quebec has a separate statutory

121
00:03:11,218 --> 00:03:12,818
process after a qualifying

122
00:03:12,818 --> 00:03:14,418
court order.

123
00:03:14,778 --> 00:03:16,398
Funding is not automatic.

124
00:03:17,502 --> 00:03:18,882
An amicus is appointed to

125
00:03:18,882 --> 00:03:20,122
assist the court and may test

126
00:03:20,122 --> 00:03:21,922
the prosecution case.

127
00:03:22,282 --> 00:03:23,362
They do not become your own

128
00:03:23,362 --> 00:03:24,762
defence lawyer.

129
00:03:25,202 --> 00:03:26,442
Ask about the mandate and how

130
00:03:26,442 --> 00:03:28,442
communications are protected.

131
00:03:28,802 --> 00:03:30,342
Keep required appearances,

132
00:03:30,342 --> 00:03:31,702
explain your efforts to obtain

133
00:03:31,702 --> 00:03:33,262
counsel and ask for time if

134
00:03:33,262 --> 00:03:34,242
needed.

135
00:03:34,402 --> 00:03:36,002
The court decides.

136
00:03:36,362 --> 00:03:37,602
The prosecutor acts for the

137
00:03:37,602 --> 00:03:39,742
prosecution, not for you.

138
00:03:40,694 --> 00:03:41,994
For free general legal

139
00:03:41,994 --> 00:03:43,854
information, Legal Hotline's

140
00:03:43,854 --> 00:03:45,174
Canada number is on your screen

141
00:03:45,174 --> 00:03:46,254
now.

142
00:03:46,634 --> 00:03:47,954
Legal Hotline is not a law

143
00:03:47,954 --> 00:03:49,054
firm.

144
00:03:49,354 --> 00:03:51,714
Its information line uses AI.

145
00:03:52,274 --> 00:03:53,314
Lawyer matching is a separate

146
00:03:53,314 --> 00:03:54,574
service, subject to

147
00:03:54,574 --> 00:03:56,534
availability and acceptance.

148
00:03:56,954 --> 00:03:57,894
For advice on your own

149
00:03:57,894 --> 00:03:59,434
situation, speak with a lawyer

150
00:03:59,434 --> 00:04:00,874
in your province.

151
00:04:01,234 --> 00:04:02,874
In immediate danger, contact

152
00:04:02,874 --> 00:04:04,674
emergency services.