Searching for Community Legal Services

A drop-in service that provides legal and non-legal information, regarding family law issues, such as separation and divorce. Services include guides, procedures, information and referral services, Mandatory Information Program (MIP), court-connected mediation services (on-site and off-site) and an advice lawyer.

During COVID-19, ON-site mediation and face-to-face information (IRC) services are suspended until regular court operations resume. However, Information and Referral Coordinators are still available to assist you remotely. A list of IRCs and their contact information can be found on the website. The Mandatory Information Programs (MIP) are suspended until regular court operations resume. Please contact an AXIS IRC at the court you were scheduled to attend your MIP, and they will provide you information on rescheduling.


Family mediation is a form of dispute resolution where a neutral third party, called a mediator, assists the disputing parties to reach an informed and voluntary agreement on issues such as how to separate, parenting plans, and child and spousal support.

* Available on-site at Family Court for parties on the day of their first appearance, case or settlement or trial management conference, or motion.
* Off-site mediation is also available for parties who need more time or who don't have court proceedings started. Contact us for more information.

The Family Advice Duty Counsel is a service run out of the Family Law Information Centre. The program gives advice and assistance on family law matters for people who are not in court the day they attend the centre . The counsel can provide limited general advice to everyone, and if the person meets the financial guidelines set by Legal Aid Ontario, they may be able to assist further.

Regulates the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants in residential properties.

• Responds to complaints about offences under the Residential Tenancies Act.
• Investigates complaints up to prosecution.
• Receives complaints and investigates maintenance issues where there are no municipal standards.

Complaints may be made to this Unit, or to the Landlord and Tenant Board, or to both (Complaints requiring a repayment order must be made to the Landlord and Tenant Board.)

The role of the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) is to:

• resolve disputes between landlords and tenants through mediation or adjudication
• resolve eviction applications from co-ops
• provide information to landlords and tenants about their rights and responsibilities under the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA)

The LTB's customer service officers process applications, schedule hearings, and provide information to the public about the Residential Tenancies Act. Customer service officers do not provide legal advice.

Offers authentication of documents including affidavits, notary public services, and commissioner of oaths.

Some of these services are offered at certain ServiceOntario Centres.

A government agency that protects individuals with mental disabilities, protects the public's interest in charities, searches for heirs for estates which the OPGT administers, invests perpetual care funds, and deals with dissolved corporations.

A publically funded agency of the Government of Ontario which provides a continuum of high quality services to low income Ontarians in the areas of criminal law, family, child protection law, refugee law and mental health law. Services include web-based materials, telephone advice service, in-court duty counsel and advice service, staff lawyer service and certificate coverage. The large majority of lawyers in Hamilton accept Legal Aid Certificates.

The Criminal Law Advice Duty Counsel is a service run out of the John Sopinka Courthouse. The program gives advice and assistance on criminal law matters for people who are not in court the day they attend the centre. The counsel can provide limited general advice to everyone, and if the person meets the financial guidelines set by Legal Aid Ontario, they may be able to assist further.

Provides help to have a document commissioned, or if a notary is needed to witness a document or make certified true copies of documents.

A non-profit bilingual community legal clinic serving low income residents of Hamilton. In addition, to providing 'traditional' poverty law services including legal advice and referrals and legal representation, the clinic is involved in public legal education, community development and law reform.

Services are offered via phone or online. Special accommodations are available for those without access to a phone or internet. Please contact or visit the website for more details.

Legal Services provided include but are not limited to:

• Housing rights
• Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
• Ontario Works
• Employment Insurance
• Family, Criminal, and Employment Law
• Wills
• Immigration

Provides free legal services to people living with mental health and substance use concerns which cause barriers to accessing traditional legal services. These free legal clinics are offered throughout the Hamilton community. Times and locations can be seen on the online calendar.

Note that some sites only accept or prioritize youth, Indigenous clients, and women. Those who do not identity to any of these groups or need further assistance can call the clinic for more information.

Provides lawyers who volunteer their time to make wills for people who cannot afford to pay for these services. Can assist people with disabilities, people with terminal illnesses, single parents, and low-income adults.

Operates out of the office of the Hamilton Community Legal Clinic.

Offers legal services, education, and system navigation to the LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit community in Hamilton. This is a francophone project that has an accompanying English component.
Services include:

• Training for community groups, service providers, and legal workers
• Public legal education that is culturally sensitive and delivered with accessibility in mind
• Legal support and services for disadvantaged queer clients

Works to combat individual and systemic Anti-Black racism by providing a range of clinic law services. Also acts within the legal community to improve co-ordination and integration as well as facilitate improved access to justice for Black people in Hamilton.

Aims to improve access to justice for Indigenous peoples in Hamilton and surrounding communities by providing culturally respectful and appropriate legal services to Indigenous clients.

A Welcoming Ceremony took place on May 15, 2014 at which Hamilton Community Legal Clinic was presented with an eagle feather which is available as needed to all clients.

Provides a place of sanctuary, safety and support for women (and their children) with a variety of programs.

Family Court Support Worker Program

• Provides information on the family court process, assistance in preparing for family court proceedings (documenting history of abuse, accessing Legal Aid), referral to specialized services and supports in the community, safety planning, and court accompaniment to proceedings, when appropriate.

Transitional Housing and Support Program

• Help women and their children access services to establish violence and abuse-free lives in the community.

Second Stage Services

• Offer furnished, affordable housing to both single women and women with children for up to one year. Supports are geared to creating greater physical, emotional and financial stability in the aftermath of violence and abuse.

Provides a place of sanctuary, safety and support for women (and their children) with a variety of programs.

Family Court Support Worker Program

• Provides information on the family court process, assistance in preparing for family court proceedings (documenting history of abuse, accessing Legal Aid), referral to specialized services and supports in the community, safety planning, and court accompaniment to proceedings, when appropriate.

Transitional Housing and Support Program

• Help women and their children access services to establish violence and abuse-free lives in the community.

Second Stage Services

• Offer furnished, affordable housing to both single women and women with children for up to one year. Supports are geared to creating greater physical, emotional and financial stability in the aftermath of violence and abuse.

Arm's length agency of the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training, and Skills Development. Works to educate, advices, and represent non-union workers who have been injured at work or who have been threatened or punished for following health and safety laws.
Services include:

• summary advice and representation through all stages of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) claims process or the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal (WSIAT)
• information on the polices and procedures of the WSIB and WSIAT
• advice and representation through the stages of an application and hearing of an application and hearing before the Ontario Labour Relations Board
• self-help information for workers to handle their own claims or applications where appropriate
• referrals to other organizations

Advocates provide services that are free, confidential, follow the patient's requests, and are independent from the hospital, and help patients who have concerns about their care, treatment, or quality of life.

Patients in a facility with an advocate can request help with:

• navigating the hospital system
• resolving concerns and negotiating with hospital staff
• referrals to outside community agencies and resources, if necessary
• making informed decisions
• maintaining responsibility for their wellness and recovery
• being involved in all decisions which affect their care, life and treatment

Offers legal advocacy support, information, and court accompaniment to women who have experienced family violence. Provides support with navigating legal systems when leaving an abusive relationship, including family, criminal, immigration, and child welfare issues.

This program is currently on hold. Please contact the John Howard Society at 905-522-4446 for more information.

This program provides support to individuals wanting to submit a record suspension application (pardon) to the Parole Board of Canada. It will support the submission of a complete and accurate record suspension application.

This program does not speed up an application or the process or guarantee approval. Nor does someone have to access this program to submit an application for record suspension.

Provides assistance to all Aboriginal people who are in contact with the legal system, regardless of Status.

Program that assists the urban Aboriginal youth at risk in providing access to activities that will ensure choices to healthy lifestyles. Client based support objectives general social supports, youth in care, healthy eating and physical development, education, justice intervention, and violence prevention.

Protects, promotes, and supports the best interest of children. Contact to discuss concerns that a child you know is suffering from abuse or neglect.

If you suspect a child is in need of protection or is being neglected or abused call.

• You do not have to be certain that abuse or neglect has occurred in order to report it.
• You can report anonymously.
• You are protected from liability resulting from any report made in good faith and on the basis of reasonable grounds.
• The duty to report applies to all children ages 0-15.
• You are encouraged to report any known or suspected child abuse or neglect for youth aged 16 and 17.