A2J

Candidate perspectives on Access to Justice through Allied Professionals

1. 

   Saqib Javaid

   Edmonton · SJS Law, Edmonton

   Identifies that many people look for legal help outside a lawyer's office, and frames the role paralegals and other allied professionals might play in safe, affordable help as a question for the Society: one tested by the public interest in the administration of justice and answered on the evidence and other jurisdictions' experience, with attention to training, accountability and consumer protection.

   Addressed

   • Access through allied legal providers
   • Safeguards for allied services
   • Reform and evaluation
   Evidence and limits

   Addressed · Issue recognition, Policy principle. A relevant principle, priority, issue recognition or reported practice is directly expressed. This does not necessarily mean a specific policy change is proposed.

   Many people look for legal help outside a lawyer's office. The Society has to ask how the public can get safe and affordable help, and what role paralegals and other allied professionals might play.

   From the supplemental statement of October 23, 2026

   The test is whether an approach serves the public interest in the administration of justice. Answering that takes a look at the evidence and at other jurisdictions, with attention to training, accountability and consumer protection.

   From the supplemental statement of October 23, 2026

   The election statement didn't address this topic. The supplemental statement of October 23, 2026 addresses client access through paralegals and other allied professionals directly, with a public-interest test, attention to evidence and other jurisdictions, and safeguards.

   What this doesn't show

   • No new or expanded role for paralegals or other allied professionals is proposed; the candidate treats their role as an open question.
   • Allied professionals other than paralegals aren't identified, and no regulated status is specified.
   • The candidate presents the supplemental statement as a perspective, not a list of commitments.

   Read the election statement Read the supplemental statement
   Full profile for Saqib Javaid
2. DR

   Damian J. Rogers

   Edmonton · Alberta Crown Prosecution Service, Edmonton

   Values understanding the circumstances of people in specialized courts and connecting them with supports and service providers outside the justice system. This is a coordinated-support perspective.

   Addressed

   • Collaborative service delivery
   Evidence and limits

   Addressed · Policy principle. A relevant principle, priority, issue recognition or reported practice is directly expressed. This does not necessarily mean a specific policy change is proposed.

   I also supervise prosecutors working in three specialized courtrooms: the Edmonton Indigenous Court, Edmonton Mental Health Court, and Edmonton Drug Treatment Court. These courts have reinforced the value of understanding the circumstances of people who interact with the justice system and connecting them with supports and service providers outside of the justice system.

   The statement expressly endorses connecting people in the justice system to outside service providers, which fits the agreed collaborative client-service scope.

   What this doesn't show

   • The providers’ professions and regulated status are not specified.
   • No new regulated profession, independent legal advice authority, representation right or scope-of-practice change is proposed.
   Full profile for Damian J. Rogers

No candidates match.