Court-Appointed Counsel

In Saskatchewan, a person may be represented by a lawyer who is privately retained and paid for legal services, by a Legal Aid lawyer, or by a lawyer appointed by the Court.

Any person charged with a criminal offence who wishes to have a lawyer appointed to represent them may make an application to the Court for legal representation. In order to succeed on an application for a court-appointed lawyer, an individual must establish, on a balance of probabilities, they have been denied Legal Aid, cannot afford a lawyer, and could not receive a fair trial without a lawyer representing them. In determining whether the individual could not receive a fair trial without a lawyer, the Judge will consider the seriousness of the charge, the complexity of the case, and the individual’s personal circumstances.

For more information about court-appointed counsel, the application process and the notice of application, click here > Application for Court-appointed Lawyer - Criminal Cases