Law360 Canada (October 27, 2026, 4:15 PM EDT) -- Oct. 27 marks Duty Counsel Day, a nationwide initiative led by the Association of Legal Aid Plans of Canada. The day is observed to “recognize the essential role duty counsel lawyers play in helping people navigate the justice system and access legal support when they need it most.”
Duty counsel are lawyers who provide free, on-the-spot legal advice and representation to individuals who appear in court without a private lawyer. They also assist people with criminal, family and immigration matters.
These individuals often have no one else to help them. Duty counsel help them make informed decisions, understand their rights and navigate complex legal processes, the association said.
As part of this year’s campaign, the association is providing free classroom resources for teachers and a special webinar for law students who are interested in learning more about duty counsel careers and the role they play in providing access to justice. Certain landmarks across the country will also be lit up in red on Tuesday.
“Every day, duty counsel help Canadians navigate the justice system to understand what is happening and what their rights and options are,” the association’s chair, John Panusa, said in a statement.
“They help people navigate some of the most difficult moments in their lives. Their work protects individual rights, strengthens public confidence in our legal institutions and helps courts operate more effectively. The justice system works better for all Canadians because of duty counsel.”
Duty counsel assist over 1.7 million people in Canada each year in courthouses, by phone and through virtual services. They help people understand court procedures and resolve legal issues more effectively, allowing them to move through the justice system with greater confidence and support.
The association said it invites Canadians to learn more about duty counsel and recognize the lawyers who provide this vital legal assistance every day in communities across the country.
It encouraged learning more on the
Duty Counsel Day website and raising awareness through the hashtags #KnowDutyCounsel and #DutyCounselDay.
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