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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 and confidential services (advice, education and representation) in workplace insurance matters (formerly called workers' compensation) to non-unionized workers and their survivors

Reprisals unit located at the head office advises and represents non-unionized workers who have experienced occupational health and safety reprisals

Legal resources and referrals to other social assistance agencies * administers legal aid certificate program for complex and serious cases * issues certificates to pay for legal costs associated with family court, child welfare cases and appearance in criminal and young offender cases, to people who are eligible * assists with immigration and refugee claims * Legal Aid settlement conferences offered and arranged.
Clients may wish to contact our website for information about eligibility for the various Legal Aid Ontario services. They may be made via the Client Portal, or via Lawyer Assisted Applications or by contacting our Client Service Centre 1-811-668-8258 between 8am-5pm, weekdays. Translation services are available in your choice of over 300 languages through the contact service.

Court-attached mediation services to those who seek to resolve their disputes efficiently and inexpensively * aims to eliminate much of the confusion in family law * lawyer walk-in-help service at the Court House

Drop-in information and resource centre * information and resources on separation, divorce and child welfare * information about community resources, family mediation services, legal services, the court process, how to find a lawyer

Publishes plain-language information and training materials regarding poverty issues and legislative changes

Offers public presentations and consultations related to legal low income issues

Coordinates workshops to assist families in applying for Registered Education Savings Plans or Registered Disability Savings Plans

Legal advice and representation in several areas of law including:

• Ontario Works
• Ontario Disability Support Program
• Landlord and Tenant Matters
• Canada Pension Plan disability
• Employment Law (excluding WSIB)
  

Does not provide advice or representation in family law or criminal law

Indigenous Justice Program - An Indigenous Justice Coordinator (IJC) is on staff to connect the Indigenous communities in Oxford, Elgin, London-Middlesex, Huron, Perth, Munsee-Delaware First Nation, Chippeawa of the Thames First Nation and Oneida of the Thames First Nation with assistance to navigate the legal system * the IJC can provide cultural awareness training in the community
Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Program - A lawyer is available to provide educational opportunities addressing sexual harassment in the workplace. Summary advice can be provide to those who wish to know their rights and responsibilities.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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 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.

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.

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

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

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