The Young Bar of Montreal welcomes historic agreement on legal aid rates

Montreal, June 10, 2024 - The Young Bar Association of Montreal (" JBM ") expresses its satisfaction and enthusiasm following the announcement of the signing of an agreement to improve access to justice by increasing legal aid rates for lawyers in private practice. This agreement, reached between the Quebec Ministry of Justice and the Quebec Bar on behalf of the Independent Committee on Legal Aid Rates (CITAJ) , marks a decisive step for the Quebec justice system. In its press release of February 19, 2024, the JBM expressed its dissatisfaction with the suspension of negotiations on the reform of legal aid tariffs, while remaining optimistic about an eventual resumption of discussions.

This agreement responds to several recommendations made by the Independent Task Force on Reform of the Legal Aid Tariff Structure (ITF). It applies to services rendered in connection with legal aid mandates awarded on or after October 1, 2023, and extends the agreement in principle for the year 2022, thus making it possible to implement the recommendations deemed a priority by the IWG.

We would like to extend our warmest thanks to Alexandra Paquette, former president of the JBM, for her representation of the interests of young lawyers in Quebec within the CITAJ and for her great contribution to the work of the CITAJ executive committee.

The JBM strongly supports the continuation of negotiations to further improve working conditions for lawyers and ensure fair access to justice for all. This agreement marks significant progress, but we remain vigilant and committed to ensuring that all the IWG's recommendations are implemented.

About JBM

Founded in 1898, the JBM brings together lawyers practicing in Montreal for ten years or less, with nearly 6,000 members. This makes it one of the largest associations of young lawyers in the world, in terms of numbers for a single city. Its mission is twofold. On the one hand, it defends and promotes the interests of its members. On the other, it provides pro bono legal advice and information to various segments of the population, and organizes charitable activities. Overall, it aims to improve access to justice and contribute to the collective well-being. As such, in August 2021, the JBM was awarded the Lieutenant-Governor's Medal for Exceptional Merit, "in recognition of the remarkable dynamism demonstrated by its members in the ongoing pursuit of collective well-being". To find out more about our initiatives for the public, visit the Public Services section of our website: http: //ajbm.qc.ca.

Source: Young Bar Association of Montreal

Christina Solodukhin | 514 954-6936 | csolodukhin@ajbm.qc.ca |

Communications and Public Relations Manager