Limited Scope Legal Services WAGE Promising Practices
Access to justice remains one of the most significant challenges facing women leaving abusive partners. Survivors navigating the family court system without legal representation often face overwhelming barriers, from safety risks to complex procedures that are difficult to manage alone.
Recognizing these challenges, organizations across Canada have been exploring new approaches to legal support that are more responsive to the needs of survivors of gender-based violence. These approaches aim to prioritize safety, accessibility, and empowerment for women who must navigate the legal system on their own.
The Limited Scope Legal Services Model
The Limited Scope Legal Service (LSLS) pilot project, funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada and developed by Luke’s Place, was created to help address gaps in legal support for women subjected to gender-based violence who are navigating family court without a lawyer. The model focuses particularly on survivors facing multiple, intersecting barriers.
LSLS was designed to bridge the gap between traditional full legal representation and the very limited options available to people who must represent themselves.
A Wraparound Approach
The LSLS model combines targeted legal services with ongoing support to better respond to the realities survivors face when dealing with family court.
Key components of the model include:
- Legal services provided by an in-house staff lawyer
- Ongoing case management delivered by a Legal Support Worker
- A survivor-centered approach grounded in the real experiences of women navigating family violence and the court system
This wraparound structure allows legal assistance to be paired with practical support and guidance throughout the process.
Types of Legal Support Provided
Through LSLS, survivors were able to access a range of legal supports depending on their needs, including:
- Independent legal advice
- Legal document drafting
- Coaching for court appearances and mediation
- Representation for specific events such as case conferences or motions
By focusing on discrete legal services, the model allows survivors to receive professional support at key moments in their case while continuing to manage other parts of the process themselves.
What This Evaluation Examines
This Evaluation Report outlines how the LSLS model works and what was learned through its implementation. It explores the ways the model supported survivors navigating family court and highlights promising practices for improving access to justice for women experiencing gender-based violence.
To learn more about the model and its findings, read the full report here.
