Legal Aid Council Focused on Inclusive Justice

The Legal Aid Council (LAC) has been prioritising inclusive justice for all Jamaicans. Through the mobile justice unit, the Council has not only been reaching rural areas, but also impacting the lives of persons with disabilities (PWDs) and other vulnerable individuals.

“We started this year, going to persons who have been unable to come to us. We have been assisting PWDs with their legal issues,” said Executive Director, Dian Watson.

“We believe that justice should not only be for the able-bodied, who can come to us, but it should also be for those who are unable to do so,” she added. Mrs. Watson said children are also included among the LAC’s clientele.

“Wherever we are called to assist, we assist. We do grant legal aid for children for all offences. No matter how simple the offence is, once it is a child, they will get legal aid,” she assured.

Mrs. Watson was speaking in a recent JIS Studio 58A Facebook Live interview.

The LAC provides free legal representation to Jamaicans who cannot afford an attorney.

The Executive Director said persons undergo a means test to determine their eligibility for legal aid.

“We don’t say you have to earn $10,000 per week, but based on the legislation, we look at what is your income, what your expenses are and then we determine if you qualify for an attorney. We rarely turn persons away who apply, because when persons come to us, they usually have a need,” she pointed out.

Mrs. Watson noted that while the service is free to citizens, the lawyers are paid by the State to represent persons.

“Persons who seek duty counsel, that service is completely free. For court representation, this is where we give [persons] a lawyer to go to court with them and, depending on their income, they can give a contribution, whether it is $500 or $1,000,” she informed.

Ms. Watson indicated that the funds contributed are used to serve clients.

“That money is paid into the contribution fund and that is used to pay for experts; a hearing aid, if someone needs to participate in a trial but they can’t hear well and can’t afford one, or if they need any other type of expert assistance. This fund is what pays for that,” the Executive Director outlined.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Watson said while divorce and land matters are addressed by the LAC team, petty sessions matters and offences that attract small fines, no imprisonment or criminal record, are not eligible for legal aid.