Searching for Community Legal Clinics

Legal advice and representation in court or at tribunals regarding Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program benefits, Canada Pension Plan, Employment Insurance benefits, Landlord/Tenant advice and representation (for tenants only), and Employment Law


For landlord/tenant advice contact:
Tenant Duty Counsel
519-438-2890

Provides free legal services to low-income individuals.

• staff consists of community legal workers and lawyers
• offer services from our main office in St. Thomas and our satellite offices in Woodstock, Tillsonburg, Aylmer, Ingersoll, West Lorne, Chippewa of the Thames, Oneida of the Thames and Munsee Delaware Nation
• initial contact is made through St. Thomas head office

Services include:

• assistance on landlord/tenant matters and appeals in Ontario Works
• Ontario Disability Support Program, employment law and on Canada Pension Plan matters
• traditional casework, summary advice, public legal education, law reform, and a wide range of community development activities

The Clinic is currently involved in a project to educate and assist residents about sexual harassment in the workplace. A lawyer is available to provide workshops and information about sexual harassment in the workplace free of charge. The Clinic is involved in a project to provide advice and support to victims of intimate violence and sexual abuse with a lawyer and a social worker. The Clinic has an Indigenous Justice Program with a staff member who will assist the Indigenous communities and residents. The program is meant to facilitate connecting Indigenous residents with the justice system.

Main office in St. Thomas with full-time satellite office in Woodstock, and part-time satellite services in Tillsonburg and Ingersoll * if needed, arrangements can be made in other communities to meet with clients that have no transportation

Provide people living on a low income free legal services for certain problems.

Services:

• provide legal advice
• assistance filling out forms
• represent at some tribunals and courts
• referrals to other agencies when Legal Aid cannot help

Give legal information sessions for members of the public and other community agencies and work to improve the laws that affect low income people in Ontario with community partners.

The Clinic is a non-profit corporation staffed by lawyers, community legal workers, and administrative staff, and directed by a volunteer Board of Directors drawn from the community.

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

Community Legal Aid Clinic providing advice and/or representation in areas such as:

• Landlord-tenant
  
• Consumer
  
• Ontario Works
  
• Ontario Disability
  
• Canada Pension Plan Disability
  
• Limited services offered in employment and immigration

No services in family, criminal

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

Community Legal Aid Clinic providing advice and/or representation in areas such as:

• Landlord-tenant
  
• Consumer
  
• Ontario Works
  
• Ontario Disability
  
• Canada Pension Plan Disability
  
• Limited services offered in employment and immigration

No services in family, criminal

Provide people living on a low income free legal services for certain problems.

Services:

• provide legal advice
• assistance filling out forms
• represent at some tribunals and courts
• referrals to other agencies when Legal Aid cannot help

Give legal information sessions for members of the public and other community agencies and work to improve the laws that affect low income people in Ontario with community partners.

The Clinic is a non-profit corporation staffed by lawyers, community legal workers, and administrative staff, and directed by a volunteer Board of Directors drawn from the community.

COVID-19 - The office is currently closed for in-person meetings, however, all services are still being provided by phone and mail.

Provides legal representation, advice and information on

• housing
• criminal injuries compensation
• human rights
• income support (EI, OW, ODSP, CPP, OAS)
• employment law

Provides Aboriginal Outreach services, public legal education sessions, law reform and community organizing.

This office does not assist with criminal law, family law or refugee law.

Funded by Legal Aid Ontario, staffed by lawyers, paralegals, community legal workers and administrative staff.

Offers eligible clients a range of legal resources and support for family matters, including child support, child custody and access and children's aid matters.

COVID-19 - The office is now open to the public on a part-time, appointments-only basis. Clients must call first to make an appointment. We also continue to assist clients by working remotely.

Provides referrals, legal advice, legal representation, Tenant Duty Counsel services, public legal education and community outreach.

Areas of law include:

• Tenant rights
• Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program, Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan and CPP Disability
• Disability issues
• Employment law including the Employment Standards Act, Human Rights in the Workplace and Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
• Wills and powers of attorney

Does not assist with matters relating to criminal, family, or property law.

Part-time satellite offices (by appointment only):

Wallaceburg Community Resource Centre
939 Dufferin Ave, Wallaceburg

Blenheim Municipal Building
35 Talbot St, Blenheim

Tilbury Information and Help Centre
20 Queen St N, Tilbury

COVID-19 Update: Due to the ongoing pandemic, the Legal Clinic is serving the community primarily by phone and email. In person appointments will be scheduled if a caseworker determines it is necessary. The Clinic is closed to walk in visitors. We will respond to your message within 48 business hours. Please indicate if you have any urgent deadlines as messages are screened and triaged and urgent matters are dealt with in priority sequence. Please leave a phone number or an email address. Please consult our website at www.gwlegalclinic.ca for information about services we provide and suggestions as to where you can get legal help.

Assists tenants who have issues with their landlord, including:

• evictions
• rent increases
• maintenance and tenant rights issues
• rent-geared-to-income housing concerns and reviews

Assists recipients who have concerns about their Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program income support including:

• eligibility
• denial or suspension of benefits
• overpayments
• assistance applying for OW or ODSP

Assists recipients who have been denied Canada Pension Plan - Disability Benefits or Employment Insurance benefits, along with other income maintenance concerns.

Assists non-unionized workers who have questions about:

• rights in the workplace including unpaid wages, leaves of absence, reprisal, termination and severance pay
• wrongful dismissal
• workplace harassment and discrimination

Provides information on consumer protection, including collection agencies, door-to-door sales, etc.

Referrals given for areas of law that the Legal Clinic does not practice, including family law, criminal law, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board matters, human rights law, traffic offences, and civil litigation issues

Legal Health Check-Up:

• online check-up to help people living in poverty to identify legal problems and get help
• without adequate money to live on, a good home or job, or family, social and health supports, an individual's legal health may be at risk

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 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.

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

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

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 -- 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

Multi-service settlement and community support agency

Community Support

• information and referral
• job search workshops, career counseling, public access computers
• EarlyON Child and Family Centre - see separate listing
• free walk-in legal clinic
• free dental clinics -- appointment required
• women's advocacy and supportive services
• form filling: help filling out citizenship or immigration sponsorship forms, social assistance and supportive housing applications or other documents

Newcomer Support

• settlement services
• translation/interpretation
• participates in LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) in English, upon assessment by Achēv -- see separate entry

Youth Program

• practical counselling to at-risk youth as well as other youth
• Homework Club for children in grades 1-8 tutored by supervised secondary school youth
• Clinical Youth Outreach Worker (CYOW) helps hard-to-reach youth and their families connect with services in Peel Region; one-on-one counselling and support services to youth, focusing on immediate needs and referring to long-term support services to improve the youth's mental health and well-being
• Youth Outreach Worker (YOW) helps hard-to-reach youth and their families connect with services in Malton; raises youth's awareness of available community services, engages them in community programs, and strengthens partnerships among organizations that serve youth

Seniors Supports Program -- elder abuse prevention

• activities include counseling for seniors who report being the victim of abuse
• elder abuse education and training with an ethno-cultural lens

IRIS Program -- refugee reception at Toronto Pearson Airport

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

COVID-19 -- no walk-in service, appointments by telephone, in person appointments can be scheduled after initial call

• free legal services in the areas of social assistance, housing, employment, Employment Insurance, immigration, and human rights
• call 416-741-5201 or email at gen1@rex.clcj.ca
• family law -- call Metro Toronto Family Law Services 416-696-2992 or email gentnfcs@lao.on.ca

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Community legal clinic

• summary advice and legal information
• deals primarily with disability benefits, immigration, social assistance, tenant issues, employment law and worker's rights
• also family law -- call for appointment
• referrals
• community education
• ID Clinic
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

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

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 -- Many services continue to be available to clients by phone (and if necessary, as determined by the Unison provider/staff, in person); call 416-653-5400 for more information

• Legal Services: phone only, 416-653-5400 ext. 1244
• Housing Services: phone only, 416-653-5400 ext. 1306 and leave a message
• Harm Reduction: phone only, 647-999-3094

Community Health Centre

• health services, health promotion
• community services and community development
• Ontario Health Insurance NOT required for general services

Health Services

• family practice including crisis pregnancy, family planning, management of chronic conditions, prenatal and postnatal care, preventative health care, seniors' health, sexual health
• individual and sexuality counselling, treatment of sexually transmitted diseases
• counselling and case management
• dietitian
• podiatry clinic

Health Promotion

• breastfeeding clinic
• child and parenting programs, including Spanish-speaking groups
• Diabetes Education Centre
• harm reduction programs
• seniors programs
• Toronto Public Health dental clinic
• women's programs
• youth programs

Community Services

• Adult Protective Service program for adults with developmental disabilities
• community kitchen

Housing Help Centre

• client advocacy
• crisis referral to shelters
• eviction prevention
• housing search
• information and referral
• landlord outreach
• negotiation with landlords
• Share the Warmth
• Housing Connections Access Centre
• other Home Services -- rent bank and Streets to Homes Follow-up services

Access Centre for LEAP (Low Income Energy Assistance Program), sponsored by Toronto Hydro Electric System and United Way Toronto -- assistance to low income individuals and families who are in arrears for their electricity utility bills and have exhausted all other sources of financial support

For help with Enbridge gas bills, call 1-855-487-5327

Clinic offers advice, representation and referrals in both French and English. The services are provided by staff lawyers experienced in administrative law. They represent clients, give legal opinions or make appropriate referrals. All information is kept strictly confidential.

• also engages in law reform activities, community outreach and public legal education

French Legal Summary Advice Line • Areas of Law:

• Ontario Works
• Ontario Disability Support Program
• Housing/LTB (evictions only)
• Immigration
• Canada Pension Plan
• Small Claims Court

Legal Health Check Up

• an online check-up available in both English and French to help people who are living in poverty identify legal problems and get help
• Community Legal Services has created this check-up to help people who are living in poverty so they can identify legal problems and get help

Click Here for more information