Despite client satisfaction and acceptance by the criminal justice system, critics fault the legal aid service for its growing expenditures, expanding bureaucracy, and the passivity with which the clientele takes its services for granted. The provision of gratuitous legal aid to indigents is deemed to do little for prevention and to encourage client irresponsibility and even recidivism. Data indicate that cases handled by the salaried lawyers of the service cost less than similar ones defended by private practitioners. Furthermore, caseload and processing schedules evidence the service's efficiency and productivity. Legal aid is necessary in order to promote social justice, and its institution in Quebec has been successful. Tabular data and three references are given.