Legal Assistance

Just for Aboriginal Peoples:

1. Common Experience Payment (CEP)
   The Common Experience Payment (CEP) is a component of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. The CEP recognizes the experience of residing at an Indian Residential School and its impacts. Eligible applicants may receive $10,000 for the first school year (or partial school year) of residence at one or more residential schools, plus an additional $3,000 for each subsequent school year (or partial school year) of residence at one or more residential schools. Eligible recipients will receive a one-time payment of their full CEP entitlement.
2. Estates Program
   The Estates Program provides assistance in the administration of the estates of deceased Registered Indians who died and ordinarily lived on a reserve.

Aboriginal Peoples can also receive:

1. Pardons
   The Pardons program grants, denies or revokes pardons for past convictions under federal statutes.
2. Patent Office
   The Patent Office provides information on patents and processes patent applications.
3. Copyright Office
   The Copyright Office processes applications to register copyrights and provides information on copyrighting certain types of works.
4. Trade-marks Office
   The Trade-marks Office provides information on trade-marks and is responsible for registering trade-marks in Canada.
5. Bankruptcy Assistance Program
   The Bankruptcy Assistance Program helps individuals seeking to file for bankruptcy hire a bankruptcy trustee if they do not have the means to do so on their own.
6. Industrial Design Office
   The Industrial Design Office provides information on industrial designs and is responsible for registering industrial designs in Canada.
7. Victim Information Services
   The Victim Information Services ensure that direct or indirect victims of crime have access to information on the offender's parole reviews and other relevant information for the duration of the offender's sentence.
8. Integrated Circuit Topography Office
   The Integrated Circuit Topography Office provides information on integrated circuit topographies and registers the integrated circuit topography of products.
9. Victims Fund
   The Victims Fund aims to improve the experience of victims of crime in the criminal justice system and provides them with direct, limited, emergency financial assistance.
10. Victim Statement
    The Victim Statement program enables victims of crime to present a brief live or recorded statement at an offender's parole hearing to help National Parole Board members evaluate the risks that the offender poses to the victims and the community.

See all Legal Assistance programs and services.