Searching for Community Legal Clinics

Community legal clinic

• Provides legal advice Canada Pension Plan (CPP)
• Employment Law
• Human Rights Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
• Old Age Supplement
• Ontario Works (OW)
• Tenant Law
• Victims of Crime
• Workers' Compensation/Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB)

Does not offer services in criminal or family law (divorce, separation, custody, support, etc.), provincial or criminal offenses

Does not advise landlords

Satellite offices are located in Alexandria and Williamsburg by appointment only

Community legal clinic

• Provides legal advice over the phone
• May represent individuals in courts or tribunals who meet financial eligibility criteria
• Offers duty counsel
• Information and presentations about the rights of disadvantaged people
• Promotes law reform and community development
• Does not offer services in family law (divorce, separation, custody, support, etc.), provincial or criminal offenses
• Tenant's rights, Income maintenance rights (Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program, Canada Pensions Plan), Employment Insurance, Employment Standards, Energy Contracts

Community legal clinic offering help in:

• real estate/tenants rights
• litigation and alternate conflict resolution
• wills, estates, POA
• employment law
• family law issues

COVID-19 (24 Oct 2022): Offices are currently closed and appointments are by phone. Some in-person appointments may be available going forward from November 2022. Call to confirm.

Free legal help to people of low income Specializes in problems involving:

• landlord and tenant law
• social assistance
• immigration
• employment insurance
• Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB)
• Canada Pension Plan (CPP)
• Also provides education on legal matters and is involved in various law reform issues

Legal services for low-income francophones living in Ottawa in different areas of law such as:

• Immigration
• Housing (problems between tenants and landlords only)
• Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
• Ontario Works Program (OW)
• Canada Pension Plan - Disability benefits
• Employment Insurance (EI)
• Employment standards
• Criminal injuries
• Human rights
• Family law
• Powers of attorney
• Legal name changes

Student-centered research and advocacy on technology-related policy and law reform

Upper year and graduate law students assist clinic lawyers in:

• researching issues and drafting reports and submissions to government
• commenting on proposed legislative reforms
• providing legal advice
• developing online resources for the public

Student Legal Aid Services Society clinic

• staffed by students and supervised by lawyers
• provides legal services to low-income members of the community
• conducts legal education presentations
• participates in a variety of outreach activities for students and many community organizations

Provides legal advice and representation on:

• family law
• tenant law
• criminal charges
• serious matters under the Highway Traffic Act and Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act

COVID-19: The centre is open for showers. Call to book a time.

This information is regularly updated on their website.

Drop-in counselling centre for any adult (alone or with children) who finds it difficult to access services elsewhere due to illness, disability or homelessness.

Practical assistance: shower and laundry facilities

• telephones
• small clothing items (underwear, socks, and seasonal accessories)
• hygiene items
• condoms
• needle exchange

Social Recreation Program: creative expressions program including literacy and writer's group, music appreciation, and visual arts

• board games
• card games
• bingo
• arts and crafts
• special events
• karaoke
• chaplaincy

Counselling: short-term supportive counselling

• advocacy
• crisis intervention
• housing
• employment support and resume writing
• addiction
• Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) / Human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV) and Hepatitis A, B, C
• groups (addiction, life skills)

In-Reach visits by: Housing Help

• Royal Ottawa Hospital Outreach Teams (psychiatric and addiction)
• University of Ottawa Community Legal Clinic Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)

Application Support Program: Assists individuals with significant disabilities and barriers to navigate the complex application process

COVID-19 (24 Oct 2022): Offices are currently closed and appointments are by phone. Some in-person appointments may be available going forward from November 2022. Call to confirm.

Free legal help to people of low income Specializes in problems involving:

• landlord and tenant law
• social assistance
• immigration
• employment insurance
• Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB)
• Canada Pension Plan (CPP)
• Also provides education on legal matters and is involved in various law reform issues

Satellite office

provides free legal services with a focus on:

• Social Assistance, Disability Benefits, Canada Pension, Landlord and Tenant Law, Employment Insurance, substitute decisions and the criminal injuries compensation board
• representation may be possible
• summary advice
• public legal education
• community development
• head office in Perth

COVID-19 (24 Oct 2022): Offices are currently closed and appointments are by phone. Some in-person appointments may be available going forward from November 2022. Call to confirm.

Free legal help to people of low income Specializes in problems involving:

• landlord and tenant law
• social assistance
• immigration
• employment insurance
• Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB)
• Canada Pension Plan (CPP)
• Also provides education on legal matters and is involved in various law reform issues

Community legal clinic offering summary legal advice and information to the general public * legal representation in certain areas of the law before Courts, Government Boards and tribunals

Outreach services for Almonte, Carleton Place, Gananoque, Kemptville, Prescott, Smiths Falls, Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, Northern Frontenac, and Northern Lennox and Addington - Satellite offices in Sharbot Lake and Brockville

Free legal advice regarding issues such as:

• social assistance
• Ontario Works
• Ontario Disability Support Program
• tenants with landlord and tenant issues
• Employment Insurance
• Canada Pension Plan
• Workplace Safety and Insurance Board Claims
• human rights
• employment rights
• criminal injuries compensation
• general legal information
• Senior Law

Community legal clinic offering summary legal advice and information to the general public * legal representation in certain areas of the law before Courts, Government Boards and tribunals

Free legal advice regarding issues such as:

• social assistance
• Ontario Works
• Ontario Disability Support Program
• tenants with landlord and tenant issues
• Employment Insurance
• Canada Pension Plan
• Workplace Safety and Insurance Board Claims
• human rights
• employment rights
• criminal injuries compensation
• general legal information
• Senior Law

Complete intake form online here

Legal clinic promotes justice, equality, rights and independence for low-income people by:

• providing legal services in matters relating to poverty
• housing, income support, human rights, health, employment and education
• pursuing law reform activities
• providing community legal education
• engaging in community development

Specialized legal clinic providing advice, assistance and representation in the area of prison law

• legal services are provided to clients by students under the supervision of the Clinic's lawyers, as part of their legal education
• teaching program for Queen's law students
• represent clients at Disciplinary Court Hearings
• represent clients at Hearings before the Parole Board of Canada
• draft grievances
• provide legal opinions
• conduct meetings with inmate groups at Kingston-area penitentiaries
• conduct test case litigation

(Feb 13, 2023) COVID-19 Notice: Our Belleville office is now open, appointments are recommended but not required (appointments are required for all satellite offices). Staff are available by phone or email as well. Contact our main office for help at 613-966-8686 (or toll-free 1-877-966-8686) or email us for help here.

​Non-profit community legal clinic

• free legal help, advocacy and information for people living on a low income or in poverty
• See the website for more information

Community legal clinic

• assistance and representation in all matters under jurisdiction of Workplace Safety and Insurance Board
• support groups
• workshops and seminars
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

COVID19 -- No in person meetings, providing services including intake by phone, emergencies assessed on case by case basis

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Advice and representation in areas of social assistance, Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), sponsorships, immigration law

• legal information and education
• referral of legal cases
• advocacy
• seminars, workshops
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

Forced Marriage -- website with information and resources on forced marriages * information for individuals and service providers

COVID19 -- physical office closed but staff working remotely

Community legal clinic

• representation in cases involving issues of particular importance to seniors, such as long term care, hospital discharge issues, elder abuse, government pensions, income maintenance, retirement home tenancies, mental health and mental capacity issues
• assistance in dealing with government bureaucracies
• visits to home or care facility if necessary
• advocacy
• community legal education
• speakers
• law reform
• confidential
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

COVID19 -- serving clients by phone as much as possible * agency will continue to prepare Gladue reports and Gladue Letters and provide Court Worker services to the Toronto courts * all walk-in service, group programming, notarization, commissioning of documents and public legal education and outreach activities are currently suspended

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Community Legal Clinic 416-408-4041, fax 416-408-1568 * deals primarily with landlord and tenant issues, Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Plan (ODSP), Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPPD), human rights, police complaints, criminal injuries compensation, poverty law, Indian Act * no criminal or family law * may provide representation * referrals to lawyers in private practice where appropriate * law reform and public legal education activities * funded by Legal Aid Ontario

Aboriginal Court Worker Program -- support to those appearing in court * assistance in finding lawyers and contacting family members * referrals * available at all criminal courts in Toronto

Community Council Program -- criminal diversion program for young and adult Aboriginal offenders charged with a wide variety of offences * substitutes court appearance with an appearance before community members, with a disposition focusing on culture, tradition and healing

Gladue (Aboriginal Persons) Courts -- support available at Old City Hall, College Park and 1000 Finch Ave W courts

Gladue Writer/Caseworker -- call for information

Giiwedin Anang Council -- Aboriginal alternative dispute resolution for families involved in the child welfare system * family counselling delivered by community Elders and members focus on traditional teachings and Talking Circles

Currently operating remotely

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Summary legal advice offered 2-3 times a week in half hour consultations with an arts and entertainment lawyer

• deals with contract, copyright and trademark law, among other issues
• referrals to lawyers in private practice where appropriate
• occasional seminars

COVID19 -- closed to all in-person services until further notice, go to Legal Advice Hotline -- 1-855-255-7256 Tue-Thu 12:30 pm-4 pm

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Free legal services for persons being sued or who are suing in civil courts or require help with problems in employment law, consumer law, corporate law (non-profits, newcomer entrepreneurs and small businesses) housing issues, and Powers of Attorney

• no family or criminal law, immigration or estate administration issues
• clinic located at Small Claims Court, 47 Sheppard Ave

Education -- legal services for children with education-related problems such as accommodating disabilities or exceptionalities, bullying, or discipline matters such as suspension or expulsion

Start-ups, non-profits and charities -- business law services, including incorporation, charitable status, corporate structure, intellectual property and contracts

Legal Advice Hotline, 1-855-255-7256, Tuesday-Thursday 12:30 pm-4 pm -- up to 30 minutes free legal advice and help drafting legal documents

Workplace Sexual Harassment Hotline, 1-855-776-1855, Monday-Friday 1 pm-6 pm -- free legal advice and assistance for victims of workplace sexual harassment in Ontario

COVID19 -- walk in services suspended, call 416-971-9674

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Community legal clinic

• deals primarily with immigration, tenant issues, social assistance, employment rights, human rights, poverty law
• most refugee cases referred to Legal Aid
• may provide representation
• summary advice in domestic violence and other family law cases
• community education
• speakers
• law reform
• community advocacy
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario