Legal Needs in Manitoba: Lawyer Survey
*
1.
I have read the Consent Form attached to the solicitation email and agree to participate in the survey.
(Required.)
I consent to participation
2.
Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with each statement regarding the community in which you serve and community members’ experiences with justice-related problems and legal needs.
(1) Strongly disagree
(2) Disagree
(3) Neither Agree nor Disagree
(4) Agree
(5) Strongly agree
People experiencing a justice-related problem are better off addressing it through the formal legal system.
(1) Strongly disagree
(2) Disagree
(3) Neither Agree nor Disagree
(4) Agree
(5) Strongly agree
The vast majority of justice-related problems can be resolved outside of the formal legal system.
(1) Strongly disagree
(2) Disagree
(3) Neither Agree nor Disagree
(4) Agree
(5) Strongly agree
People are less likely to take action to solve justice-related problems that have higher costs (e.g., financial, time, energy).
(1) Strongly disagree
(2) Disagree
(3) Neither Agree nor Disagree
(4) Agree
(5) Strongly agree
Eligibility criteria for free, subsidized, or low-cost legal services (e.g., Legal Aid) are too restrictive.
(1) Strongly disagree
(2) Disagree
(3) Neither Agree nor Disagree
(4) Agree
(5) Strongly agree
There are an adequate number of services available to support the legal needs of our community.
(1) Strongly disagree
(2) Disagree
(3) Neither Agree nor Disagree
(4) Agree
(5) Strongly agree
A significant barrier to addressing individuals’ legal needs is the unintegrated nature of services available in the community.
(1) Strongly disagree
(2) Disagree
(3) Neither Agree nor Disagree
(4) Agree
(5) Strongly agree
There are an adequate number of legal service providers (e.g., lawyers and supporting legal assistants) practicing in the areas of law in which our community is in need.
(1) Strongly disagree
(2) Disagree
(3) Neither Agree nor Disagree
(4) Agree
(5) Strongly agree
Legal service providers deliver services in a culturally appropriate manner (e.g., services are tailored, where necessary, to account for clients’ cultural backgrounds).
(1) Strongly disagree
(2) Disagree
(3) Neither Agree nor Disagree
(4) Agree
(5) Strongly agree
Recent emphases on summary procedures in Manitoba have facilitated the prompter resolution of actions on their merits.
(1) Strongly disagree
(2) Disagree
(3) Neither Agree nor Disagree
(4) Agree
(5) Strongly agree
3.
Please indicate how frequently (from
never
to
always
) the following situations occur in the community in which you serve in relation to community members’ experiences with justice-related problems and legal needs.
(1) Never
(2) Rarely
(3) Sometimes
(4) Often
(5) Always
Obtain effective legal information for a justice-related problem (if they are in need of legal information).
(1) Never
(2) Rarely
(3) Sometimes
(4) Often
(5) Always
Obtain effective legal advice for a justice-related problem (if they are in need of legal advice).
(1) Never
(2) Rarely
(3) Sometimes
(4) Often
(5) Always
Obtain effective legal representation for a justice-related problem (if they are in need of legal representation).
(1) Never
(2) Rarely
(3) Sometimes
(4) Often
(5) Always
Access legal support(s) in a timely manner to resolve a justice-related problem.
(1) Never
(2) Rarely
(3) Sometimes
(4) Often
(5) Always
Satisfactorily resolve justice-related problems as a result of seeking legal support(s).
(1) Never
(2) Rarely
(3) Sometimes
(4) Often
(5) Always
Satisfactorily resolve justice-related problems promptly.
(1) Never
(2) Rarely
(3) Sometimes
(4) Often
(5) Always
Satisfactorily resolve justice-related problems with minimal financial expense.
(1) Never
(2) Rarely
(3) Sometimes
(4) Often
(5) Always
4.
The next few questions will be about the area(s) of law in which you provide service.
In what area(s) of law do you provide services?
Please select one or more categories, if applicable, from the list provided. If other, please specify.
Aboriginal/Indigenous
Administrative/Boards/Tribunals
Agricultural
Bankruptcy/Insolvency
Child Protection
Constitutional
Consumer
Corporate/Commercial
Criminal
Debtor/Creditor
Disability
Elder
Employment/Labour
Entertainment
Environmental/Natural Resource
Family
Foreclosure
General Civil Litigation
Government Income (e.g., Benefits, Social Assistance)
Guardianship/Incapacity
Health/Medical
Housing/Residential Tenancies
Human Rights (e.g., Discrimination)
Immigration/Refugee
Insurance
Intellectual Property/Information Technology
Lawyer Complaint
Municipal
Personal Injury
Police Complaint
Prison
Real Estate
Small Claims
Tax
Traffic
Wills and Estates
Other -- Specify
Non-Practising Lawyer
5.
In your community, which three (3) areas of law do you believe are most in demand but are not adequately offered?
Please select
up to three (3)
categories. If other, please specify.
Aboriginal/Indigenous
Administrative/Boards/Tribunals
Agricultural
Bankruptcy/Insolvency
Child Protection
Constitutional
Consumer
Corporate/Commercial
Criminal
Debtor/Creditor
Disability
Elder
Employment/Labour
Entertainment
Environmental/Natural Resource
Family
Foreclosure
General Civil Litigation
Government Income (e.g., Benefits, Social Assistance)
Guardianship/Incapacity
Health/Medical
Housing/Residential Tenancies
Human Rights (e.g., Discrimination)
Immigration/Refugee
Insurance
Intellectual Property/Information Technology
Lawyer Complaint
Municipal
Personal Injury
Police Complaint
Prison
Real Estate
Small Claims
Tax
Traffic
Wills and Estates
None
Prefer Not to Answer
Other (please specify)
6.
Of the three areas of law you previously selected, which area of law do you believe is
most
in demand in your community but is not adequately offered?
Please select the
top category.
If other, please specify.
Aboriginal/Indigenous
Administrative/Boards/Tribunals
Agricultural
Bankruptcy/Insolvency
Child Protection
Constitutional
Consumer
Corporate/Commercial
Criminal
Debtor/Creditor
Disability
Elder
Employment/Labour
Entertainment
Environmental/Natural Resource
Family
Foreclosure
General Civil Litigation
Government Income (e.g., Benefits, Social Assistance)
Guardianship/Incapacity
Health/Medical
Housing/Residential Tenancies
Human Rights (e.g., Discrimination)
Immigration/Refugee
Insurance
Intellectual Property/Information Technology
Lawyer Complaint
Municipal
Personal Injury
Police Complaint
Prison
Real Estate
Small Claims
Tax
Traffic
Wills and Estates
None
Prefer Not to Answer
Other (please specify)
7.
For the purposes of the next few questions:
Legal service providers
are defined as lawyers and assistants working under the supervision of lawyers who provide legal services.
Alternative legal service providers
are defined as professionals who are not lawyers who provide legal services within a limited scope, such as limited licence practitioners, notaries public, and paralegals
Non-legal service providers
defined as professionals who are not lawyers who provide support(s) to individuals experiencing justice-related problems, such as community service organizations.
Why do you believe services in the area of law you identified in the previous question are not adequately offered? Select one or more categories, if applicable, from the list provided.
Complexity of the area of law and related legal procedures
Free or government-subsidized services (e.g., Legal Aid) are not adequately available in this area of law
Lack of capacity among legal service providers to meet the demand for services in this area of law
Lack of collaboration between legal and non-legal service providers in this area of law
Lack of community outreach in this area of law
Lack of expertise to provide services in this area of law among legal service providers
Lack of interest in providing services in this area of law among legal service providers
Low profit for legal service providers in this area of law
I Don’t Know
Other (please specify)
8.
What should be done to establish or expand services in the area of law you identified in the previous question?
Additional resources (e.g., funding, personnel) dedicated to service provision in this area of law
Allow alternate legal service providers (such as non-legal service providers) to provide some legal services within a limited scope
Continuing professional development in this area of law for legal service providers
Greater community outreach by legal service providers in this area of law
Improved collaboration between legal and non-legal service providers in this area of law
Increased availability of free or government-subsidized services (e.g., Legal Aid) in this area of law
Increased utilization of alternative billing arrangements (e.g., flat fee, co-pay systems) in this area of law
Provide training in this area of law for non-legal service providers
I Don’t Know
9.
What makes it difficult for individuals to access services and support(s) in the area of law you identified in the previous question?
Select one or more categories, if applicable, from the list provided.
Complexity of the area of law and related legal procedures
Concerns about the fairness of the justice system
Cultural barriers
Delays/time lags (e.g., waitlists) in this area of law
Discomfort with the adversarial nature of the justice system
Fear of being mistreated within the justice system
Fear of negative consequences for accessing legal services (e.g., threats to personal safety, threat of additional legal action)
Geographic barriers (e.g., distance from services)
Lack of understanding of the formal justice system
Language barriers
Limited access to technological tools (e.g., Internet, electronic devices)
Limited personal resources (e.g., childcare, transportation) which support attendance at legal appointments
Limited financial resources for legal representation and other expenses associated with accessing legal support
Limited-to-no legal service providers available in the community
Mistrust of the justice system
Restrictions in eligibility for legal support(s) in this area of law
Unaware of how to access legal support(s) to resolve a justice-related problem
Unaware of legal rights and responsibilities
Unaware there is a legal aspect (and potential legal solution) to their problem(s)
I Don’t Know
Other (please specify)
10.
What should be done to make the area of law previously identified more accessible to individuals who have legal needs in this area?
Select one or more categories, if applicable, from the list provided.
Additional funding for legal and advocacy support networks
Cultural training for legal service providers
Greater access to alternative legal service providers (e.g., limited license practitioners, notaries, paralegals)
Greater access to case management support
Greater access to community-based restorative justice approaches
Greater access to legal coaching
Greater access to legal information (e.g., through public legal education, libraries, or other entry points for legal information)
Greater access to low-cost or free full-scope legal representation (e.g., Legal Aid)
Greater access to low-cost or free limited-scope legal representation
Greater collaboration with community service providers to provide legal services in trusted spaces
Greater community outreach to see what certain groups need
Greater recognition of Indigenous cultural values, ideologies, and legal traditions
Greater utilization of adjudicators (e.g., mediators, courts)
Greater utilization of alternative dispute resolution models
Improved language services (e.g., multilingual professionals, interpretation services)
Increased access to technological tools (e.g., Internet, electronic devices)
Legal education for self-represented persons
More legal clinics
More legal services in remote areas
More legal toolkits and do-it-yourself guides
More online legal service delivery options
I Don’t Know
Other (please specify)
11.
Is there anything else you would like to share about the areas of law you believe are in demand in your community?
12.
In this section, we will ask you questions about the social groups you believe are most in need of legal supports but are not being adequately served, what makes it challenging for these social groups to access the legal supports and areas of law they require, and strategies for improving their access to legal supports and areas of law in the future.
In your community, what social groups do you believe are most in need of legal support(s) but are not being adequately served?
Please select
up to three (3)
categories. If other, please specify.
Children/Adolescents (<18 years)
Young Adults (18-35 years)
Middle-Age Adults (36-64 years)
Seniors (65-79 years)
Elderly Persons (80+ years)
Unemployed/ Economically Inactive Persons
Low Income Earners
Middle Income Earners
High Income Earners
Temporary Foreign Workers
Immigrants/Newcomers/Refugees
Indigenous Peoples
Persons Belonging to a Visible Minority
Homeless Persons
Persons Living in Institutions
Persons with Low Education
Persons with Mental Illness
Persons with Physical Disabilities
Sexual and Gender Minorities
Women
Men
None
I Don’t Know
Other (please specify)
13.
Of the three social groups you previously selected, what social group do you believe is
most
in need of legal support(s) but is not being adequately served?
Please select
the top category
. If other, please specify
Children/Adolescents (<18 years)
Young Adults (18-35 years)
Middle-Age Adults (36-64 years)
Seniors (65-79 years)
Elderly Persons (80+ years)
Unemployed Persons/Economically Inactive
Low Income Earners
Middle Income Earners
High Income Earners
Temporary Foreign Workers
Immigrants/Newcomers/Refugees
Indigenous Peoples
Persons Belonging to a Visible Minority
Homeless Persons
Persons Living in Institutions
Persons with Low Education
Persons with Mental Illness
Persons with Physical Disabilities
Women
Men
None
I Don’t Know
Other (please specify)
14.
For the purposes of the next few questions…
Legal service providers
are defined as lawyers and assistants working under the supervision of lawyers who provide legal services.
Alternative legal service providers
are defined as professionals who are not lawyers who provide legal services within a limited scope, such as limited licence practitioners, notaries public, and paralegals.
Non-legal service providers
are defined as professionals who are not lawyers who provide support(s) to individuals experiencing justice-related problems, such as community service organizations.
Why do you believe legal service providers are not able to adequately offer support(s) to the group you identified in the previous question?
Select one or more categories, if applicable, from the list provided.
Free or government-subsidized services (e.g., Legal Aid) are not adequately available to provide legal support(s) to this group
Lack of capacity among legal service providers to meet this group’s legal needs
Lack of collaboration between legal and non-legal service providers
Lack of community outreach for this group
Lack of expertise among legal service providers to meet this group’s legal needs
I Don’t Know
Other (please specify)
15.
What makes it difficult for the social group identified to access the legal support(s) they require?
Select one or more categories, if applicable, from the list provided. If other, please specify.
Complexity of laws and related legal procedures
Concerns about the fairness of the justice system
Cultural barriers
Delays/time lags (e.g., waitlists)
Discomfort with the adversarial nature of the justice system
Fear of being mistreated within the justice system
Fear of negative consequences for accessing legal services (e.g., threats to personal safety, threat of additional legal action)
Geographic barriers (e.g., distance from services)
Lack of understanding of the formal justice system
Language barriers
Limited access to technological tools (e.g., Internet, electronic devices)
Limited personal resources (e.g., childcare, transportation) which support attendance at legal appointments
Limited financial resources for legal representation and other expenses associated with accessing legal support
Limited-to-no legal service providers available in the community
Mistrust of the justice system
Restrictions in eligibility for legal support(s)
Unaware of how to access legal support(s) to resolve a justice-related problem
Unaware of legal rights and responsibilities
Unaware there is a legal aspect (and potential legal solution) to their problem(s)
I Don’t Know
Other (please specify)
16.
What should be done to make the legal support(s) of the identified social group more accessible? Select one or more categories, if applicable, from the list provided.
Additional funding for legal and advocacy support networks
Cultural training for legal service providers
Greater access to alternative legal service providers (e.g., limited license practitioners, notaries, paralegals)
Greater access to case management support
Greater access to community-based restorative justice approaches
Greater access to legal coaching
Greater access to legal information (e.g., through public legal education, libraries, or other entry points for legal information)
Greater access to low-cost or free full-scope legal representation (e.g., Legal Aid)
Greater access to low-cost or free limited-scope legal representation
Greater collaboration with community service providers to provide legal services in trusted spaces
Greater community outreach to see what certain groups need
Greater recognition of Indigenous cultural values, ideologies, and legal traditions
Greater utilization of adjudicators (e.g., mediators, courts)
Greater utilization of alternative dispute resolution models
Improved language services (e.g., multilingual professionals, interpretation services)
Increased access to technological tools (e.g., Internet, electronic devices)
Legal education for self-represented persons
More legal clinics
More legal services in remote areas
More legal toolkits and do-it-yourself guides
More online legal service delivery options
I Don’t Know
Other (please specify)
17.
Which areas of law are the social group you have identified
most
in need of?
Select one or more categories, if applicable, from the list provided. If other, please specify.
Aboriginal/Indigenous
Administrative/Boards/Tribunals
Agricultural
Bankruptcy/Insolvency
Child Protection
Constitutional
Consumer
Corporate/Commercial
Criminal
Debtor/Creditor
Disability
Elder
Employment/Labour
Entertainment
Environmental/Natural Resource
Family
Foreclosure
General Civil Litigation
Government Income (e.g., Benefits, Social Assistance)
Guardianship/Incapacity
Health/Medical
Housing/Residential Tenancies
Human Rights (e.g., Discrimination)
Immigration/Refugee
Insurance
Intellectual Property/Information Technology
Lawyer Complaint
Municipal
Personal Injury
Police Complaint
Prison
Real Estate
Small Claims
Tax
Traffic
Wills and Estates
Other (please specify)
18.
What should be done to better provide the social group identified the areas of law they need?
Select one or more categories, if applicable, from the list provided.
Additional resources (e.g., funding, personnel) dedicated to service provision in this area of law
Allow alternate legal service providers (such as non-legal service providers) to provide some legal services within a limited scope
Continuing professional development in this area of law for legal service providers
Greater community outreach by legal service providers in this area of law
Improved collaboration between legal and non-legal service providers in this area of law
Increased availability of free or government-subsidized services (e.g., Legal Aid) in this area of law
Increased utilization of alternative billing arrangements (e.g., flat fee, co-pay systems) in this area of law
Provide training in this area of law for non-legal service providers
I Don’t Know
Other (please specify)
19.
Is there anything else you would like to share about the
social groups
you believe are in need of legal services and support(s) in your community?
20.
In this section, we will ask you about the types of justice-related problems your clients most often have and the types of legal supports they typically require to manage those problems.
What types of justice-related problems do your clients most often have?
Select one or more categories, if applicable, from the list provided. If other, please specify
.
Accidental Illness and Injury
Child Protection
Community and Natural Resources
Consumer
Contract Disputes
Criminal
Disability Assistance
Discrimination
Employment
Education
Family (Relationship Breakdown)
Family (Other)
Foreclosure
General Civil Litigation
Guardianship
Housing
Immigration
Insurance
Land
Lawyer Complaints
Medical Treatment
Money or Debt
Personal Injury
Police Treatment
Small Claims
Social Assistance
Threat of Legal Action
Wills and Powers of Attorney
Not Applicable
I Don’t Know
Other (please specify)
21.
What types of legal support(s) do your clients most often need to manage their justice-related problems?
22.
In this final section of the survey, we wish to learn more about you to help us better understand who completed the survey.
What type of organization do you work for?
Please select only one. If other, please specify.
Academic Institution
Community-Based Organization
Court
Crown Corporation
Government - Federal
Government - Municipal
Government - Provincial
In-House Counsel
First Nation, Métis Nation, or Tribal Council
Law Firm
Legal Aid
Legal Clinic
Police
Professional Association
Victim Services
Other (please specify)
23.
What legal services do you provide?
Please select one or more categories, if applicable, from the list provided. If other, please specify.
Administrative
Advocacy
Arbitration
Dispute resolution
Document preparation and form filling
Language services (e.g., translation/interpretation)
Legal advice
Legal coaching
Legal information
Legal representation
Legal workshops
Litigation
Mediation
Negotiation
Referral to legal service providers
Referral to non-legal service providers
Self-help kits
Other (please specify)
24.
What are the main sources you
receive referrals
from
for legal services?
Select one or more categories, if applicable, from the list provided. If other, please specify.
Bank/Financial Planner
Community-Based Organizations
Courthouse Staff
Employers or Union Representatives
Government Office or Agency
Healthcare Professionals
Judges/Courts
Law Society of Manitoba
(Other) Lawyer(s)
Libraries
Legal Aid
Legal Clinics
Member of Legislative Assembly or City Councillor
Online Legal Information Resources
Personal Referrals (e.g., family/friends)
Professional Network
Public Prosecutions
Self-Referral
Social Worker
Student Legal Organizations
Not Applicable
Other (please specify)
25.
What are the main sources you
make referrals
to
in provision of legal services?
Select one or more categories, if applicable, from the list provided. If other, please specify.
Bank/Financial Planner
Community-Based Organizations
Courthouse Staff
Employers or Union Representatives
Government Office or Agency
Healthcare Professionals
Judges/Courts
Law Society of Manitoba
(Other) Lawyer(s)
Libraries
Legal Aid
Legal Clinics
Member of Legislative Assembly or City Councillor
Online Legal Information Resources
Professional Network
Public Prosecutions
Social Worker
Student Legal Organizations
Not Applicable
Other (please specify)
26.
How long have you been providing legal services?
< 1 year
1 – 5 years
6 – 10 years
11 – 15 years
16 – 20 years
21 – 25 years
26 – 30 years
More than 30 years
I am a Non-Practising Lawyer
(If non-practising lawyer): I practised law for __ years.
27.
What community or communities do you serve?
28.
Do you deliver legal services in northern Manitoba?
Yes
No
I Don't Know
29.
What is your age (in years)?
Prefer Not to Answer
List
30.
What best describes your gender?
Man
Woman
Prefer Not to Answer
Other (please specify)
31.
Which of the following categories best describes your racial and/or ethnic background?
Select one or more categories, if applicable, from the list provided. Please note: These categories are the same categories used by Statistics Canada on the 2021 Census.
First Nation, Métis, or Inuk (Inuit)
White
Black
South Asian
East Asian
Black
Filipino
Arab
Latin American
Southeast Asian (e.g., Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, Thai)
West Asian (e.g., Iranian, Afghan)
Japanese
Korean
Prefer not to answer
Other (please specify)
32.
Please provide any additional comments that you have about legal needs in Manitoba.
Current Progress,
0 of 32 answered