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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.

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.

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 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.

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

A free legal clinic with volunteer lawyers from across Halton Region, on a rotating schedule, in the following areas:

• family law
• immigration law
• criminal law

Community legal clinic that helps low income individuals living in Halton with their legal problems, for free

• office is located in Oakville, but staff are available to meet clients in Milton, Burlington, Oakville, and Halton Hills (Georgetown and Acton)
• community outreach clinics at various locations including local libraries, food banks, courthouses, and outreach organizations on a rotating basis

Depending on the kind of problem, may be able to help by providing:

• Summary Advice
• Brief Services
• Representation
• Referrals for legal problems they cannot assist with, and to other community organizations like food banks, social and health services, crisis intervention agencies, and navigation help

Support can be provided for:

• Income Support and Public Benefits
• Housing Law
• Employment Rights
• Human Rights
• Secondary Legal Consultation
• Indigenous Rights and Services
• Youth Rights

Mobile Legal Clinic

• serving Acton and Georgetown
• a lawyer on site providing free legal information and advice in each community on alternating Fridays
• schedule will be posted on social media

ID Clinic

• offering monthly ID Clinics to provide assistance with the legal barriers preventing members of the Trans, Non-Binary, and Queer communities from accurately identifying themselves on official documents
• more information on website (haltonlegal.ca/id-clinic)

Legal Health Check-Up

• an online check-up to help people who are living in poverty identify legal problems and get help
• if you do not have enough money to live on, a good home or job, or family, social and health supports, your legal health may be at risk
• visit website to take the check-up (legalhealthcheckup.ca)

Note:

• HCLS does not provide a full range of services, nor does it provide legal aid certificates
• callers needing certificates or help in family law, criminal law, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board compensation, etc. should contact a Legal Aid of Ontario office

A free legal clinic with volunteer lawyers from across Halton Region, on a rotating schedule, in the following areas:

• family law
• immigration law
• criminal law

Represents the full time and part time students of Sheridan College

Student Services include:

• Health & Dental coverage - covers gaps in government coverage
• Clubs & Associations - provides guidance, financial and promotional support and meeting spaces for all clubs on campus
• Dressed for Success - campus wide donation program provides students with easy access to winter clothing as well as business clothing
• Empower Me - allows students to connect with qualified counsellors, consultants and life coaches for a variety of issues. Helpline available 24/7, phone 1-833-628-5589
• Legal Advice - free consultations with a lawyer in all areas including family law, immigration, criminal law, real estate business
• Food First - digital grocery gift cards available for students experiencing food insecurity
• Graduation Photos - traditional and fun grad portraits shot by a professional photographer
• Perks program - exclusive discounts and deals offered by community businesses
• Equipment Loan program - includes calculators, sketch pencils, architectural tools as well as safety glasses, lab coats, and calipers

Offices also located at the Hazel McCallion Campus and the Davis Campus

Designed for use by unrepresented litigants who need assistance with family law cases as they relate to court processes

• duty counsel lawyer will be available to assist with legal concerns
  
• assistance will also be provided with the completion of forms

Free legal services for low-income people funded by Legal Aid Ontario

• advice and representation available through this Nonprofit independent community legal clinic to clients who have problems such as housing, social assistance, government pensions and employment insurance

Services provided in the following areas of law:

• Residential tenancies (for tenants)
  
• Employment Insurance (EI)
  
• Employment issues
  
• Human Rights
  
• Consumer Protection
  
• Notary services

Legal Health Check-Up:

• an online check-up to help people who are living in poverty identify legal problems and get help
  
• if you do not have enough money to live on, a good home or job, or family, social and health supports, your legal health may be at risk

Provides Indigenous controlled and culturally based justice alternatives

• Gladue Reports - preparation of Gladue reports for court proceedings
  
• Yoha:te ne kahsen:na (The Road to Your Name) - cultural learning program facilitated by local Indigenous Knowledge Helpers designed for those in the justice system and people supporting those in the justice system
  
• Indigenous Knowledge Keepers Program - Indigenous Knowlege Keepers attend each session of Indigenous Peoples Court. They are a cultural resource to Court personnel, justice workers and clients. They are facilitators of client conferences

Designed for use by unrepresented litigants who need assistance with family law cases as they relate to court processes

• duty counsel lawyer will be available to assist with legal concerns
  
• assistance will also be provided with the completion of forms

Toll free phone service provides general information on range of legal aid services ; legal, financial eligibility criteria ; legal aid application information.

Other services include:

• duty counsel (legal aid lawyer in an Ontario courthouse) - criminal, refugee and immigration, family or youth courts, mental health
• summary legal advice for family law (criminal matters referred to local services)
• certificate program for complex cases
• poverty law, civil services - delivered through community legal aid clinics
• referrals to other social assistance agencies

Duty counsel assistance for qualified applicants is available at the Guelph courthouses when court is scheduled:

• Criminal Duty Counsel - 36 Wyndham St S (Ontario Court of Justice Criminal Division)
• Family Duty Counsel - 74 Woolwich St (Ontario Court of Justice, Family and Superior Court of Justice, County of Wellington Courthouse)

COVID19 -- in person meetings suspended, intake by phone

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Community legal clinic

• deals primarily with tenant issues, Ontario Works (OW), Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPP-D), employment, subsidized housing, immigration (limited)
• may provide representation
• referrals
• community education
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

Satellite clinic held at

Malton Neighbourhood Services, 3540 Morning Star Dr, Thursdays 3 pm-6 pm

Free legal services for low-income people funded by Legal Aid Ontario

• advice and representation available through this Nonprofit independent community legal clinic to clients who have problems such as housing, social assistance, government pensions and employment insurance

Services provided in the following areas of law:

• Residential tenancies (for tenants)
  
• Employment Insurance (EI)
  
• Employment issues
  
• Human Rights
  
• Consumer Protection
  
• Notary services

Legal Health Check-Up:

• an online check-up to help people who are living in poverty identify legal problems and get help
  
• if you do not have enough money to live on, a good home or job, or family, social and health supports, your legal health may be at risk

Centre to meet, socialize, share and learn from each other, services include

Tin pantry -- in collaboration with the Mississauga food bank

Wasa-Nabin Youth Program -- individual and peer support, life skills guidance, personalized plan of action, addiction prevention

Journey together: indigenous child and family outreach program -- deliver culturally specific experiences geared towards children and families attending EarlyON centres

Indigenous court worker program -- support, liaison services, resources and information on matters relating to the judicial system
Gladue writer -- write and submit a Gladue report to provide information to the court - for sentencing purposes - regarding the life circumstances if an Indigenous offender
Gladue aftercare -- case management to ensure the clients are meeting the needs of their sentencing conditions

Indigenous mental health and addictions -- sweat ceremony, sharing circles, one on one sessions with Elders, Healers and Seers

Urban aboriginal healthy living program -- nutrition education, physical fitness activities

Cultural resource

• cultural and recreational program
• traditional teaching
• drumming circles
• talkin circles
• one on one, group and peer informal counselling
• community referrals

COVID19 -- offering services remotely, call, email or complete intake form on website

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Community legal clinic

• deals primarily with tenant issues, Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Employment and immigration
• may provide representation
• referrals
• community education
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

COVID19 -- clinic is operating but no longer conducting face to face meetings, call and leave message

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Community legal clinic

• deals primarily with tenant issues, Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), immigration, Employment Insurance (EI), workers' rights, advocacy and education on poverty law issues
• speakers
• assistance in community group development
• law reform
• referrals
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

Helps individuals access their employment rights, human rights, income benefits and government programs like EI, WSIB, CPP, ODSP and OW

Protection provided through issue identification, early intervention, problem solving, form filling and letter writing, informal mediation and representation up to and including mediation

• comprehensive referrals to human care and social services in Peel Region

Community education

• training and workshops in employment rights, human rights and health and safety

Provides summary legal advice, legal representation, and public education on legal matters.

Areas of law that the clinic deals with:

• Ontario Disability Support Program
• Workplace Safety and Insurance
• Issues with various government agencies
• Immigration and Refugee matters
• Ontario Works
• Employment Law
• Residential Tenancies Act
• Canada Pension Plan/Income Security Programs
• Consumer and Debt Problems

Can also assist with:

• Advice (free and not income tested)
• Wills and Powers of Attorney
• Advocacy
• Community Organizing
• Public Legal Education and Information
• Law Reform
• Representation before Courts and Tribunals

See website for information and tips on a variety of legal topics.


Satellite locations (by appointment only):

Canadian Mental Health Association
20 Jarvis Street, Fort Erie
Tuesdays

Community Care of St. Catharines & Thorold
19 Albert Street West, Thorold
Wednesdays

Port Cares
92 Charlotte Street, Port Colborne
Thursdays

Lighthouse Church
241 Elmwood, Crystal Beach
Thursdays

COVID19 -- call office to make appointment; office open during COVID and all public health protocols to be followed.


Women-led organization providing support to South Asian and racialized women in the language of the client's choice

Violence Against Women Program: counselling and referral for assaulted women, social assistance, crisis intervention, immigration assistance

• health education and promotion
• wellness support groups for Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi and Tamil women
• life skills support group
• seniors group for all South Asian women
• youth group for girls, homework club for children
• first language literacy instruction
• job search workshops, employment assistance and counselling
• legal clinic -- advice on family law, immigration, custody, child support, abuse, legal education workshops
• seasonal tax clinic
• vaccination clinics during COVID

Intersectional Services

• information and referral, translation and interpretation, advocacy
• Housing Connections (see separate entry) Community Partner -- assistance with housing search and application process
• volunteer opportunities

Satellite location at Frontline Community Services (see separate listing), 2761 Markham Road, Scarborough

Settlement Services

• immigration and sponsorship issues
• job training; business and community economic development
• anti-racism program
• health and nutrition information
• accompaniment to services; translation and interpretation
• housing referrals; legal information
• newcomer mental health advice, support and referrals
• culturally appropriate family counselling

Participates in LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) in English, upon assessment by YMCA of Greater Toronto (see separate listing); childminding available

Program Without Walls - Saturday nutrition/cooking program at various locations; volunteer opportunities

Seniors Program - nutrition, health awareness, workshops, recreation

COVID19 -- Now open to walk in clients but services conducted by phone or email if possible

• those coming to office must wear a mask, masks available for those who do not have one

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Community legal clinic

• assistance with housing and tenant issues, social assistance including Ontario Works (OW), Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS), Employment Insurance (EI), immigration, low income employment issues such as employment standards and wrongful dismissal, and assistance with affidavits and commissioning of documents
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario