NCJ Number
140704
Date Published
1991
Length
152 pages
Annotation
This report describes Legal Aid Manitoba's (Canada) Expanded Eligibility Program and presents its evaluation methodology and results.
Abstract
The Expanded Eligibility Program provides that defendants with incomes too high to qualify for free legal aid, but too low to afford a private attorney, can obtain government-sponsored legal services by paying a portion of the cost of legal services. The defendant pays 25 to 35 percent of the total fee, and there is no retainer. Payments are by fixed monthly installments that allow a person with limited income to budget for legal costs rather than receive large and irregular invoices. Data sources for the evaluation were administrative files, a client survey, a survey of applicants who had been refused, interviews with the private bar, and interviews with management personnel. The analysis involved intensive reviews of accounting information to develop profiles of operating costs and late payment patterns. The evaluation found that the program clearly serves the working poor. The ratio of clients in arrears (35.8 percent of active accounts) is reasonable, according to the evaluators, given the type of program, constrained resources, and the newness of the program. The estimated recovery rate of between 78 percent to 86 percent on the net billings for the period and the corresponding default rate of between 14 percent to 22 percent is considered good. Recommendations are to upgrade the current computer system in accounting, develop long-term information systems strategy, provide training to backup accounts clerk, improve the cost-allocation aspect of the budget, and consider other cost-recovery mechanisms. 75 tables and 4 figures