Searching for Community Legal Clinics

Provides legal assistance for low-income people

Services include:

• Legal representation for eligible clients who appear in court without a lawyer
• Legal aid applications and information over the phone
• Legal resources and referrals to other social assistance agencies
• A certificate program for complex and serious cases

Areas of law served include:

• Criminal
• Domestic violence
• Family

Does NOT cover applications for:

• Wrongful dismissal
• Change of name
• Personal bankruptcy
• Power of attorney
• Money lent to others or money owed to others
• Sponsorship of relatives
• Commercial litigation
• Real estate matters and libel
• Defamation and slander

• Provides free legal advice and assistance to low income earners
• Offers representation in a court or at a tribunal, such as the Social Benefits Tribunal or the Landlord and Tenant Board
• Assists with preparing documents, such as an application to the Landlord and Tenant Board

Helps with the following areas:

• Employment Insurance
• Canada Pension Plan (CPP and CPP Disability)
• Housing law for tenants and co-op members only
• Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
• Ontario Works (OW)

Note: No advice or representation is given regarding Family Law, Criminal Law, or Refugee Law

Provides legal advice and assistance to individuals who do not have the means to assert or defend their legal rights through the following services:

• Client representation in clinic areas of practice
• Free summary legal advice
• Information and referral
• Law reform advocacy
• Public education
• Specialized legal services

Services are offered in the following areas:

• Birth certificates
• Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Disability or Pension benefits
• Canada Child Benefits (CCB)
• Consumer and Credit/Debt issues
• Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (CICB)
• Disability Tax benefits
• Employment Insurance (EI)
• Employment Standards (ESA)
• Human Rights
• Native Status applications
• Old Age Security (OAS)
• Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
• Ontario Works
• Residential Tenancies (tenants only)

Note: No advice or representation is given regarding Family Law or Criminal Law

• Provides free legal advice and assistance to low income earners
• Offers representation in a court or at a tribunal, such as the Social Benefits Tribunal or the Landlord and Tenant Board
• Assists with preparing documents, such as an application to the Landlord and Tenant Board

Helps with the following areas:

• Employment Insurance Law
• Canada Pension Plan (CPP and CPP Disability)
• Housing law for tenants and co-op members only
• Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
• Ontario Works (OW)

Note: No advice or representation is given regarding Family Law, Criminal Law, or Refugee Law

• Provides free legal advice and assistance to low income earners
• Offers representation in a court or at a tribunal, such as the Social Benefits Tribunal or the Landlord and Tenant Board
• Assists with preparing documents, such as an application to the Landlord and Tenant Board

Services are offered in the following areas:

• Consumer and Credit/Debt issues
• Employment Insurance (EI)
• Employment standards (ESA)
• Old Age Security (OAS)
• Health and disability
• Housing law for tenants
• Human rights
• Immigration law
• Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
• Ontario Works (OW)
• Wills and Power of Attorney (POA)
• Completing forms or advocating for seniors

Note: No representation is given regarding Family Law, Criminal Law, or Refugee Law

Gives legal advice and representation in areas of law such as landlord/tenant, workers' compensation, Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program and criminal injuries. Does not include family or criminal law.

Provides advice, referrals, and representation to low income people. Also provides community development and outreach, law reform and legal education.

Has sub-offices in Huntsville, South River and Parry Sound (accessible by appointment only).

Dedicated texting line: 705-644-9378

Gives legal advice and representation in areas of law such as landlord/tenant, workers' compensation, Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program and criminal injuries. Does not include family or criminal law.

Provides advice, referrals, and representation to low income people. Also provides community development and outreach, law reform and legal education.

Has sub-offices in Huntsville, South River and Parry Sound (accessible by appointment only).

Dedicated texting line: 705-644-9378

Gives legal advice and representation in areas of law such as landlord/tenant, workers' compensation, Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program and criminal injuries. Does not include family or criminal law.

Provides advice, referrals, and representation to low income people. Also provides community development and outreach, law reform and legal education.

Has sub-offices in Huntsville, South River and Parry Sound (accessible by appointment only).

Dedicated texting line: 705-644-9378

COVID-19 Response

• All offices are closed to in-person meetings and services; in-person legal education and outreach activities have been suspended
• For legal services in Simcoe County call 705-326-6444 or 1-800-461-8953 Mon-Fri 9 am-12 noon, 1 pm-5 pm
• For legal services in Haliburton, Lindsay and Minden call Lisa Loader at 1-800-461-8953 Ext. 42 or email lisa.loader@shkl.clcj.ca
• Offices in Haliburton, Lindsay and Minden are open by appointment only

Regular Service
Services include:

• Disability Issues
• Income Maintenance (Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program)
• Aboriginal Justice Outreach Program
• Worker's Compensation
• Housing
• Employment
• Human Rights
• Consumer Law
• Education
• Canada Pension Disability
• Services offered over the telephone and by appointment
• Guest speakers available for community and education purposes
• Notary Public
• Commissioner of Oaths (all lawyers are Commissioners of Oaths)
• Duty Counsel for the Landlord and Tenant Board
• Do not provide family law or criminal law services

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 -- full-time in-person services have resumed. Call 416-533-8545 or email legalclinic@spanishservices.org to connect; appointment only - no drop-in services


Deals primarily with employment rights, human rights, immigration, social assistance, refugees, tenant issues, Employment Insurance (EI) and law reform

Funded by Legal Aid Ontario

COVID19 -- telephone inquiries only, online information about housing security during the COVID19 emergency
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Legal clinic focusing on individual and systemic anti-Black racism

• legal representation
• test case litigation
• law reform and community development
• summary legal advice, brief services and public legal education
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

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 -- 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 -- 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

Community legal clinic

• advice and representation
• advocacy
• research and consultation for individuals
• community education
• law reform
• referrals to union organizers
• outreach, particularly to small workplaces with immigrant workforces
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

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 -- 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 -- office closed but staff working remotely, call or email, no access to TTY

• adaptive technology workstations for Internet access temporarily unavailable

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Community legal clinic

Summary Advice and Referral -- confidential advice and information related to disability issues

• telephone service
• limited representation in test case litigation
• representation for individuals in priority cases
• collect calls accepted
• public speaking
• law reform initiatives
• adaptive technology workstations for Internet access, Monday-Friday 10 am-4 pm
• electronic newsletter
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

COVID19 -- open but staff working remotely, no walk-in or in person services, call or email
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Community legal clinic

• legal advice and assistance on environmental issues -- call for details
• representation
• reports
• library
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

COVID19 -- service by phone, no in person meetings without an appointment and limited public education activities, intake Mon, Wed, Fri 9 am-5 pm
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Community legal clinic

• advice, representation, referrals, advocacy
• areas of law include privacy, social assistance, immigration, housing/tenant, pensions, Employment Insurance (EI), private insurance benefits, health, criminal, prison (HIV-related), human rights, substitute decision making and powers of attorney
• community legal education speakers and publications
• law reform and test case litigation
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario, AIDS Bureau (Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care), foundations and donors
• also known as HALCO

Specialty community legal clinic

• pursues test cases, Charter and appellate litigation to address systemic issues arising from federal and provincial income security programs, and from the political, economic and social causes of poverty
• law reform
• policy development
• community development and provincial organizing
• public legal education
• no direct legal services to individuals except in relation to test and Charter cases
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario
• Member of the Association of Community Legal Clinics of Ontario

Specialty legal clinic

• works to better the housing situation of low income Ontario residents including tenants, housing cooperative members and homeless people
• no direct legal services for individuals, people requiring legal advice or representation relating to housing issues should contact their local community legal clinic, to find local clinic call Legal Aid Ontario 1-800-668-8258
• public legal education including tip sheets providing legal information on common tenant concerns available at www.acto.ca/for-tenants/tip-sheets/
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

Tenant Duty Counsel Program -- legal advice and information for unrepresented low income tenants, with a scheduled hearing at the Landlord and Tenant Board (see separate entry) offered by phone once clients sign up at tdc.acto.ca/, Tenant Duty Counsel will call within five days of hearing