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• Gives immediate legal assistance to individuals who appear in court without a lawyer
• Provides information about legal rights, obligation and the court process
• Provides assistance in the courtroom for bail hearings and sentencing
• Assists with diversions, guilty pleas and sentencing
• Helps determines if further duty counsel services are required or if the matter requires Legal Aid Ontario's assistance in retaining a lawyer

Provides assistance in specialized courts such as:

• Mental health
• Drug treatment
• Domestic violence
• Aboriginal persons (Gladue) court

Note: Criminal duty counsel cannot assist with trials

• 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

Primarily delivers the Miwdoodaa Minomaadiziwin Diversion Program

• Acts as a pre/post-charge diversion program that offers culturally appropriate services to help Indigenous people deal with the criminal justice system
• Offers culturally appropriate alternatives upon sentencing before a conviction is entered
• Provides an opportunity for the community member to enter into a mutually agreed Healing and Wellness Plan which will be taken into consideration upon sentencing
• Elders, Band officials, victims and community service providers may assist the community member during the Council process
• Facilitates mediation between the victim and offender to allow each party to be seen, heard and believed in order to repair the harm done to the community
• Offers assistance with victim services, legal aid and advice clinic, probation, and bail supervision

Some typical Healing and Wellness Plans may include, but are not limited to:

• Attending cultural events, such as Ceremony and Justice Circle
• Some form of restitution
• Community service hours
• Counselling and/or treatment

Community Justice Committee

• Acts as an advisory committee to the Justice Coordinator
• Participates in Justice Circles and development of Healing Plan
• Supports the offender and the victim

Acts as a pre/post-charge diversion program that offers culturally appropriate services to help Indigenous people deal with the criminal justice system

• Offers culturally appropriate alternatives upon sentencing before a conviction is entered
• Provides an opportunity for the community member to enter into a mutually agreed Healing Plan which will be taken into consideration upon sentencing
• Elders, band officials, victims and community service providers may assist the community member during the Council process
• Facilitates mediation between the victim and offender to allow each party to be seen, heard and believed in order to repair the harm done to the community

Some typical Healing Plans may include, but are not limited to:

• Attending cultural events, such as ceremony
• Some form of restitution
• Community service hours
• Counselling and/or treatment

Offers cultural programs and support services to Indigenous youth to empower them with making positive decisions

• Assists Indigenous youth with completing their Plan of Action from the Justice Circle
• Provides support for youth to fulfill their conditions of a Probation Order
• Provides cultural programming and educational opportunities by facilitating teaching circles and workshops for all interested youth
• Coordinates various activities such as seasonal medicine walks, hiking, snowshoeing, fishing, sweet grass harvesting, craft/sewing, and fire teachings
• Recognizes hours of service for youth participation towards school or legal system community service hour requirements

Offers a culturally appropriate program to Aboriginal children and youth in elementary and secondary school as an Extra Judicial Measure (EJM)

• Teaches young people to be responsible community members and to use their leisure time wisely
• Encourages community involvement
• Encourages victim reparation through apology, community service hours, restitution etc
• Provides participation opportunity for victim
• Addresses behaviours and factors leading to the crime to determine areas of required services
• Provides the 10-session program 4 times per year and a fifth session on Anger Management and Traditional Ways once per year

• 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

Assists Indigenous Peoples who are in conflict with the criminal justice system

• Helps individuals to navigate the court system
• Explains legal rights and court procedures
• Acts as a liaison between the offender and the courts
• Works with parents or families in the case of a child apprehension by Children's Aid Society, to ensure that all proper steps are taken to protect the child and if possible to reunite the family
• Provides counselling, referrals, follow-up and encouragement to offenders to become contributing members of the community
• Provides guidance, support, advocacy, and helps clients understand their rights and responsibilities under the 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

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

Legal Aid Ontario

• see Client Services during COVID-19
• Legal Aid Ontario has suspended all in-person services at all office and court locations
• during closure call Client Service Centre at 1-800-668-8258 (Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm) to apply for legal aid, inquire about application status, and summary legal advice for criminal or family law matters

Advice Lawyer for Family Law and Family Law Information Centres

• Legal Aid Ontario has suspended all in-person advice at Family Law Information Centres (FLIC)
• Clients can access family advice counsel services in the Central East District by calling new toll free line 1-888-616-0119 ext 18 and in the alternative will also be directed to contact the Client Service Centre at 1-800-668-8258
• Ontario Superior Court of Justice will only be hearing matters that are deemed urgent in nature
• Protocols will be established to have matters filed electronically at the courthouse and hearings to take place by either video or teleconference depending on local availability

Employment and Housing Help

• Call Community Legal Clinic Mon-Fri 9 am-5 pm at 705-326-6444 or Toll Free 1-800-461-8953
• Consult Steps to Justice Housing Law for answers to questions you might have

Courthouses

• visit COVID-19 Tribunals and Courts
• visit Superior Court of Justice and Ontario Court of Justice for detailed information

Emergency Court Services

• Criminal and family courts are still open but emergency family matters and criminal matters for clients who are in custody will come first
• To find out if your matter is urgent, visit the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court of Justice websites or contact your lawyer or legal representative
• if you don't have a lawyer or legal representative, you can now get summary legal advice for your criminal and family matter over the phone without having to qualify, see Summary Legal Advice Services during COVID-19 pandemic

Refugee and Immigration Offices

• Refugee and immigration offices are operating by phone only from Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4:30 pm
• Toronto Refugee Law Office (GTA, all areas except Hamilton and Ottawa)
• Toronto: 416-977-8111
• Toll-free: 1-855-854-8111
• visit COVID-19 Immigration and Refugee Law

Ontario Review Board

• visit the Ontario Review Board website for updates and information

Consent and Capacity Board

• hearings are being held by teleconference but some limited matters will be held by video, further details will be included with your notice of hearing
• visit the Consent and Capacity Board website for information

Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO)

• funded by Legal Aid Ontario, the Law Foundation of Ontario and Department of Justice Canada
• provides reliable legal information on income assistance, landlord and tenant law, refugee and immigration law, employment law, family law, domestic and elder abuse, education, debt and consumer rights and collection agencies, health and disability, some criminal issues
• visit Steps for Justice for online legal information and critical changes or updates to government or court services, supports, laws, and regulations as they relate to COVID-19
• visit COVID-19 News Updates from CLEO for up-to-date information on changes in government programs and court services.
• live chat available English: Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 11 am-1 pm, 2 pm-4 pm * Thu 11 am-1 pm, 7 pm-9 pm
  French: Mon-Fri 11 am-12 noon

Additional Information:

• Better Business Bureau Ontario COVID-19
• Price Gouging during COVID-19, Consumers can report an individual who is price gouging by filing a complaint at 1-800-889-9768 Mon-Fri from 8:30 am-5:00 pm or by filing a report online

Assists with applications for Canadian and other pensions and benefits

• information on passports, permanent resident cards, income taxes, legal issues, Italian properties, power of attorney and succession

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

Assists with applications for Canadian and other countries' pensions and benefits

• information on passports, permanent resident cards, income taxes, legal issues, Italian properties, power of attorney and succession

Free legal answers covering 2,100 topics on provincial and federal laws, available by website

• referrals
• publishes legal guides and Your Guide to Canadian Law

Assists with applications for Canadian and other countries' pensions and benefits

• information on passports, permanent resident cards, income taxes, legal issues, Italian properties, power of attorney and succession

Legal information website

• promotes an understanding of the law with respect to violence against women
• provides legal information to women and their supporters that reflects the experiences and realities of women
• We do not give legal advice

Coordinates programs and projects for community safety, legal information, outreach, education and support

Safety -- safety audits and safety promotion for individuals, communities, workplaces, service environments and institutions

Justice -- legal information, workshops and resources

• administers Ontario Women's Justice Network website owjn.org

Outreach and Education -- peer youth leadership and skills building program to prevent violence

• workshops, training and presentations
• multilingual, easy-to-read publications on safety, violence issues, legal information and equity and inclusion for women and youth, service providers, educators and community members
• free online educational games, apps, zines and webinars

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

Covid-19 -- support with problems at work through Workers' Rights Information Phoneline

• all in-person meetings and workshops cancelled until further notice

Workers' rights education

• information and referral on work-related issues such as employment law, human rights, harassment, Employment Insurance (EI), workers' compensation, health and safety legislation
• information and drop-in sessions for workers wanting in-depth information on asserting their rights and protecting themselves at work
• strategies and support regarding unpaid wages, vacation pay and holiday pay
• referrals

Hotline for workers to ask questions about their rights and workplace issues, get support and strategize solutions