A memorandum of understanding was signed on Thursday between the Legal Aid Agency within the Ministry of Justice, and the Department of Active Ageing and Community Care within the Ministry of Active Ageing. The two entities have agreed to cooperate together on legal assistance for elders.
Through this agreement, the Legal Aid Agency will be receiving, on behalf of Active Ageing, the references of elders who are in need of legal assistance. This process will be done digitally through the system known as LARS (Legal Aid Referral System).
Thanks to this agreement, elderly people will be receiving assistance both for civil cases as well as criminal cases, especially if they are the victims of a crime or are suffering from gender-based violence. The Legal Aid Agency will be covering the administrative expenses as well as the provision of legal services for these elderly persons.
All those who are above the age of 60 and are going through social difficulties may be eligible for this service. Among the offered services, there will be coordination of meetings between the lawyers and the clients through online means with the assistance of social workers, the preparation of recourse and necessary legal applications, including in certain cases where they will be heard through the use of videoconferencing.
The entities are also agreeing to collaborate together and offer a specialised survey and exchange of information to the respective workers, as well as an awareness exercise to ensure that the elderly benefit from more knowledge about their rights.
Minister of Justice Jonathan Attard said how the strengthening and investing in the service provided by the Legal Aid Agency is an integral part of the Government’s plan in the justice sector, which is to ensure that they offer a better service not only for the public but also for the professionals involved in the sector.
The Minister for Active Ageing Jo Ettiene Abela said that through this collaboration, elders who are being cared for by social workers and are in need of legal help will be assisted to ensure that help is more accessible to them.
This agreement was signed by the Director of the Legal Aid Agency Bruno Zahra and the Chief Executive of the Department of Active Ageing and Community Care Renzo De Gabriele. The Permanent Secretaries of both respective Ministries were also present for the signing, as well as representatives from the Legal Aid Agency and the Department of Active Ageing and Community Care, along with a number of Non-Governmental Organisations.
For more information one can contact social workers on 22788243 or send an email to [email protected].