Update on Review of Legal Aid System

The Department of Justice advises that John Roil, Q.C. will now complete the external review of the province’s legal aid system. For details of the review, which was first announced on June 13, go to www.gov.nl.ca/releases/2013/just/0613n04.htm. The work was originally being done by retired Provincial Court Judge John Rorke, who has withdrawn due to personal reasons.

The legal aid review will thoroughly examine the delivery of legal aid services in the province in ensuring that residents have appropriate access to justice. Areas to be reviewed include workload of staff, geographical, cultural and economic challenges to the delivery of service, the use of private counsel and an examination of the current administrative model.

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Media contact:
Luke Joyce
Director of Communications
Department of Justice
709-729-6985, 725-4165
lukejoyce@gov.nl.ca

BACKGROUNDER

Biography of John Roil, Q.C.

John Roil obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1968 from Memorial University, a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1971 from Dalhousie University, and a Master of Laws degree in 1972 from the University of London, England. He was called to the Newfoundland and Labrador Bar in 1972 and was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1988.

For more than 29 years, Mr. Roil was engaged in the private practice of law in Newfoundland and Labrador, appearing regularly in the courts and tribunals of the province. In later years, his practice focused primarily on labour and employment and alternative dispute resolution.

In 2001, Mr. Roil left his private law practice and took employment as Corporate Counsel and Corporate Secretary with Marine Atlantic Inc., a federal Crown corporation, where he was responsible for all legal affairs and corporate governance of the company. In 2008, he was appointed Interim President and CEO. He retired from Marine Atlantic in 2009.

Commencing in April 2009, Mr. Roil accepted appointment as senior legal counsel with the Offshore Helicopter Safety Inquiry (the "Wells Inquiry"). Following the completion of that assignment, in the fall of 2011 he was appointed as Chair of the Industrial Inquiry that resulted from a lengthy work stoppage at the Voisey's Bay mine site in Labrador.

During his 37 year career as a lawyer, Mr. Roil has served on the boards of provincial and national legal associations including the Canadian Bar Insurance Association, the Law Society of Newfoundland, the Newfoundland Law Reform Commission, the Law Foundation of Newfoundland and the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association.

Mr. Roil was recipient of the 2002 Stirling Award for outstanding contributions to the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador. He continues to act as an arbitrator, mediator and facilitator.

2013 08 30                                        3:15 p.m.