Celebrating Innovations in Family Law

Earlier this week, Legal Aid Saskatchewan CEO Jayne Mallin joined Justice Minister and Attorney General Bronwyn Eyre and Debbie Brown, ADR Institute of Saskatchewan Executive Director, for a media event to recognize the achievements of the Saskatoon Family Justice Services Branch. Some of these achievements include:

• Child Support Service: Almost 600 decisions have been made since 2018.
• Mandatory Family Dispute Resolution: Since 2022, there has been a 20 to 25 percent reduction in contested family law applications in Saskatoon, Regina and Prince Albert. Across Saskatchewan, 450 families no longer required the court to handle their family law disputes.
• The Parenting After Separation Program: Last year, almost 1,300 people completed courses provided through the program.
• The Family Law Information Centre: In 2023-24, FLIC assisted 4,439 callers, responded to 12,176 emails, and met with 172 people in-person. 847 people attended a drop-in family law help session at one of the six locations offered in the province. The FLIC resources page was viewed 15,667 times and 3,787 self-help kits were sent out.

Regina and Saskatoon’s Family Law Screening program is a pilot project of the Family Justice Services Branch, introduced in October 2022, that reviews family court applications to make sure they meet all requirements for the court process. Officers are also trained to identify risk factors and warning signs of family violence and can make referrals.

Reflecting on the success of these family initiatives, Mallin says, “Legal Aid Saskatchewan has provided empathetic legal support to families who are experiencing separation and divorce for 50 years. Over the years our approach to navigating the new relationships that arise out of separation has shifted. Today, we focus on early intervention through mediation, with Court as a last resort for our clients. We provide clients with mediation services through our experienced, trained, and dedicated lawyer/mediators.”

Read the full press release here: https://bit.ly/4cYTpii