General legal services

Legal Aid Ontario (LAO)

Legal Aid Ontario gives people with low incomes access to a wide range of legal services. Some of these are only for people who have experienced family violence.

You can get up to 20 minutes of free general information and advice by calling:

Toll-free: 1-800-668-8258

Toronto area (accepts collect calls): 416-979-1446

Bell Relay Service: 1-800-855-0511

Website: legalaid.on.ca

Legal Aid certificates

You can apply for a Legal Aid certificate. A certificate is a document that says LAO has agreed to pay for a certain number of hours of a lawyer’s time to work on your legal issues. LAO will decide if you qualify based on your income and legal issue.

To apply for a certificate call LAO at 1-800-668-8258 or apply online at legalaid.on.ca/services/how-do-i-applyfor-legal-aid.

A different test is used for people who experience family violence. You can qualify for a certificate with a higher income. See the income levels at legalaid.on.ca/en/getting/eligibility.asp.

People who experience family violence will also be placed in a priority line for help with their application. In urgent cases, you might be able to get a certificate on the same day that you apply.

If you need advice right away, you can ask a women’s shelter, Family Court Support Worker, or community legal clinic for a certificate for 2 hours of free advice from an immigration lawyer as well as a family lawyer.

LAO provides Legal Aid certificates for victims of family violence who have been charged with a crime if they:

qualify financially, and
face serious consequences if they are found guilty.

For example, you might be able to get a certificate if there is a chance you will:

get a jail sentence
lose decision-making responsibility for or parenting time with your children
face immigration or refugee challenges

Family Law Offices

There are 3 Family Law Offices in Ontario that have family lawyers who represent people that qualify for a Legal Aid certificate. They are located in:

Kenora, at 807-468-7790 or toll-free at 1-888-295-4986
Ottawa, at 613-569-7448
Thunder Bay, at 807-346-2950 or toll-free at 1-800-393-8140

Family Law Service Centres

Family Law Service Centres provide a variety of legal resources and support to people who qualify for legal aid.

This can include:

help with documents
referrals to advice counsel
a staff lawyer to represent you in family law cases
referral to a private lawyer who will take a Legal Aid certificate
mediation and settlement conferences
referrals to other social service agencies

These centres are located in Brampton, Chatham, Halton, Newmarket, North York, Oshawa, Sarnia, St. Catherines, Toronto, Welland, and Windsor. To find a centre near you, call LAO or go to legalaid.on.ca.

Family Law Information Centres

Family Law Information Centres (FLICs) are located in most Ontario courts that deal with family law matters. They provide a variety of information and services that can:

help you understand the court process
give you court forms
explain how to get your own lawyer
answer your general questions
refer you to services and resources

Advice lawyers are also available at FLICs, at certain times.

You can find a list of courthouses at www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english, click on “Court Services” and then “Court addresses”.

Sexual Assault Program

If you are a victim of sexual assault and live in Ontario, you might be able to get a certificate for up to 4 hours of free legal advice by phone or video.

Toll-free: 1-855-226-3904

Website: ontario.ca/page/independent-legal-advicesexual-assault-victims

Community legal clinics

Community legal clinics provide general legal advice, referral, and representation on many legal issues. Student Legal Service Organizations (SLSO) in law schools in Toronto, Kingston, London, Ottawa, Windsor, and Thunder Bay can also provide legal assistance.

To find the community legal clinic, or SLSO nearest you, call LAO or visit legalaid.on.ca.

Law Society Referral Service

The Law Society Referral Service is an online service that gives you the name of a lawyer in your area who will give free legal advice for up to 30 minutes in any area of law. You can ask for a lawyer who speaks your language, or a lawyer who will accept a Legal Aid certificate.

If you are in crisis, such as being held in custody, or cannot use the online service, you can call the crisis line for a referral during normal business hours.

Toll-free crisis line: 1-855-947-5255

Toronto area crisis line: 416-947-5255

Website: findlegalhelp.ca

Ontario Legal Information Centre

The Ontario Legal Information Centre offers a free 30-minute meeting with a lawyer to anyone in Ontario by telephone or in person at their Ottawa office in any area of law in English or French. You may have to leave a message, and a lawyer will call you back.

Ottawa area: 613-842-7462

Toll-free: 1-844-343-7462

Website: centreinfojuridique.ca/en

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