You have the right to contest a decision refusing legal aid or withdrawing it. Here are the steps to take to understand and contest such a decision.
Understanding the reasons for the decision
You will be sent a “notice of refusal or withdrawal of legal aid” which will state the reasons for the decision. You must understand the reason in order to respond appropriately. These may include:
- your income was too high,
- you did not provide the required documents, or
- the services requested are provided by another government body, such as the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité au travail (the labour standards and health and safety board).
You can contact your legal aid office for more information about your situation and to better understand the reasons for the decision, if you find them unclear.
Deadline for applying for review
If you wish to contest the refusal, you have 30 days from the date you received the decision.
To contest the decision, you must:
- complete and sign the “Request for Review” form enclosed with your notice or available online from the Commission des services juridiques website,
- enclose the notice of refusal, and
- send the required documents to the Review Committee by mail or by fax.
A Review Committee will examine your file and you will be given an opportunity to explain your situation. The Committee will either change the decision or confirm it.
