Dear Members of the Bar,

My name is Kevin O’Shea, and I am the Executive Director of the Public Legal Information Association of NL (PLIAN). PLIAN has operated as the province’s sole non-profit organization exclusively dedicated to public legal education and information for close to 40 years. During this time, we have provided legal education and information services to the general public throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, including operating the province’s only lawyer referral service.

I am writing to ask you to consider signing up for our Lawyer Referral Service this year. This service provides Newfoundlanders and Labradorians with the opportunity to obtain summary legal advice from practicing lawyers at a reduced cost. In 2022, PLIAN received over 4,000 inquiries from the public, covering a wide range of legal topics including family law, wills and estates matters, criminal law, labour and employment, residential tenancies, civil litigation, and many others. While not strictly a pro bono service, the Lawyer Referral Service is an opportunity for lawyers to help increase and promote access to justice in the province.

Lawyers who register with the Referral Service agree to provide an initial 30-minute consultation to individuals referred by PLIAN at a flat cost of $40 (with taxes included). If there is a conflict of interest or if the referral is otherwise deemed improper, we ask that the individual be referred back to PLIAN to receive another referral.

There is no expectation of providing any services beyond summary legal advice during this initial consultation period, such as the completion of legal documents or representation in court. There is no obligation for the lawyer to continue working with the individual beyond the initial 30-minute consultation, nor for the individual to retain the lawyer.

To register for the Lawyer Referral Service, please complete the registration form and email it to info@publiclegalinfo.com at your convenience. We aim to allow as much flexibility as possible for your participation in the Lawyer Referral Service. In addition to selecting the areas of law in which you are open to receiving referrals, lawyers can restrict how many referrals they receive each week and can place other restrictions on their participation in the service.

If you have questions about the Lawyer Referral Service or any of the work carried out by PLIAN throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, I would encourage you to reach out to me by email at director@publiclegalinfo.com or by phone at 709-722-4745.

Thank you for your continued support of PLIAN’s work and for your consideration of participation in the Lawyer Referral Service.

Yours Sincerely,

Kevin O’Shea
Executive Director, PLIAN