More than 5,000 people received legal support from the Legal Aid Council during the 2024-2025 fiscal year, as the agency pushes to expand access to justice for vulnerable groups, including inmates with mental illnesses.
Dian Watson, Executive Director of the Council, reported that more than 2,000 people were assigned Duty Counsel.
She said more than 3,000 were assigned lawyers to represent them in the criminal courts across the island and the council facilitated virtual and face-to-face consultations with several others.
A Duty Counsel is an attorney who represents individuals at police stations or lockups, ensuring immediate legal guidance during the early stages of detention.
Currently, approximately 900 lawyers are empanelled at the LAC.
But, the Council is actively seeking to grow that number to better serve all 14 parishes.
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