Month July 2025

Alberta Accepting Applications for Restorative Justice Grant

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Alberta’s government is now accepting applications from Indigenous communities, non-profit organizations, charities, community-based groups and others based in Alberta to support the delivery of restorative justice services in the province. Grants are for up to $50,000 per program for one year and can be put towards financing the direct operations of a restorative justice program.

Grants are limited to:

  • Established or ongoing programs
  • New programs in communities where there have been restorative justice programs or there is a history of restorative practice in the justice system

The deadline to apply is August 25, 2025.

For more information on eligibility requirements or to apply to, please visit: https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-restorative-justice-grant.

National Action Committee to Host Conference on Data Sharing and Knowledge Building

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The Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters will host its inaugural access to justice research conference from May 26-28, 2026, under the theme “Advancing People-Centred Justice in Canada: Data Sharing and Knowledge Building”. The conference will take place at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law. Proposals are being accepted until October 1, 2026.

Proposals may be individual, joint or panel presentations, workshops, roundtables, or other formats. Those interested in submitting a proposal are encouraged to use one of the following themes or a related theme:

  • Data mapping and exploring
  • Data access and sharing
  • Data and knowledge needs/gaps
  • New knowledge (new data analysis)
  • Understanding people-centered justice
  • Priority justice seekers

For more information about the Action Committee’s conference, please visit: https://www.justicedevelopmentgoals.ca/events.

Information about the conference is available in French here: https://www.objectifsdelaccesalajustice.ca/evenements.

International Report Explores Use and Perception of AI by Legal Aid Organisations

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The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL) conducted a survey of 56 legal aid organisations in low-, middle- and high-income countries with a view to better understanding how artificial intelligence is being used on the frontline and how it is perceived. Organisations included in the (non-representative) multi-country survey are based in Africa, Asia, Europe, South America and North America. The survey was carried out in May 2025.

According to the report, generative AI applications are being used both in the design and delivery of legal aid services, with most organisations indicating that they use some AI. Among AI programs being used, ChatGPT is the most common. The most common uses of AI by legal aid organisations responding to the survey include: search, translation, content creation and proofreading. Based on survey responses, AI is not engaged as often for direct service provision.

HiiL’s AI and Access to Justice: A Snapshot of Current Trends and Future Potential report is available in English here: https://www.hiil.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ai_and_access_to_justice__a_snapshot_of_current_trends_and_future_potential.pdf.

Alberta Law Foundation Publishes Report on Newcomers’ Legal Needs

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A recently published report from the Alberta Law Foundation examines gaps in access to justice for newcomers and immigrants in Alberta. The report explores the practicability of a newcomer legal services fund aimed at supporting the legal needs of newcomers in the province.

The report highlights several important findings:

  • Newcomers and immigrants in Alberta face various access to justice barriers related to language and cultural misunderstandings, inconsistent service provision, complex legal systems and limited multilingual services.
  • Newcomers and immigrants in Alberta face various legal challenges, most commonly in the areas of immigration, family, housing, and employment law. Many people face additional challenges rooted in discrimination, human rights issues, and a lack of understanding of their legal rights and obligations.
  • Service providers face several obstacles to meeting the legal needs of newcomers and immigrants, including limited funding, overworked staff, and insufficient training in trauma-informed care and cultural competency.

The Legal Needs of Newcomers in Alberta: Final Report is written by Kristen Seipp. The report is available in English here: https://albertalawfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Legal-Needs-of-Newcomers-_Final-Report_Alberta-Law-Foundation.pdf.

Action Committee Releases 2024 Justice Development Goals Report

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The national Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters’ (Action Committee) 2024 Justice Development Goals report is now available. The report highlights the evolution of the Action Committee and a decade of progress on access to justice across Canada.

For the 2024 Justice Development Goals report, 86 organizations reported on 227 projects advancing access to justice. The report provides details on work carried out in 2024 under each of the 9 justice development goals. Additional information is provided on actions taken on Reconciliation in 2024. The 9 justice development goals are:

  • JDG 1: Address everyday legal problems
  • JDG 2: Meet legal needs
  • JDG 3: Make courts work better
  • JDG 4: Improve family justice
  • JDG 5: Work together
  • JDG 6: Build capability
  • JDG 7: Innovate
  • JDG 8: Analyse and learn
  • JDG 9: Improve funding strategies

Justice Development Goals – A Decade of Progress: Trends Report 2024 is available in English here: https://ajrn.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/928d9-jdgreport2024.pdf. The report is available in French here: https://ajrn.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/b9eba-odjreport2024.pdf.