Searching for Community Legal Clinics

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

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

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

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

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 -- 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

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

Community legal clinic

• summary advice and legal information
• deals primarily with social assistance, violence issues (assault and hate crimes), mental health, immigration and refugee, worker's rights, tenant issues
• referrals
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

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

Community legal clinic

• provides summary legal advice in income maintenance (CPP, OAS, EI, GAINS) workers rights, tenant rights, immigration, social assistance (OW, ODSP), tenant issues, general administration (notary, commissioner for taking oaths)
• may provide representation
• summary advice/referral in domestic violence cases
• community organizing
• community education
• law reform
• referrals
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

Services offered in person, by phone, online (intake) and email

Legal Aid Services

• free legal representation in court for low-income Francophones
• summary legal advice
• community workshops
• family advice lawyer * notary services
• immigration and refugee law
• landlord-tenant law
• social assistance and income support law
• labour law and human rights
• criminal law

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

COVID19 -- office closed but staff working remotely, call or email, no access to TTY

• adaptive technology workstations for Internet access temporarily unavailable

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Community legal clinic

Summary Advice and Referral -- confidential advice and information related to disability issues

• telephone service
• limited representation in test case litigation
• representation for individuals in priority cases
• collect calls accepted
• public speaking
• law reform initiatives
• adaptive technology workstations for Internet access, Monday-Friday 10 am-4 pm
• electronic newsletter
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

COVID19 -- open but staff working remotely, no walk-in or in person services, call or email
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Community legal clinic

• legal advice and assistance on environmental issues -- call for details
• representation
• reports
• library
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

COVID19 -- service by phone, no in person meetings without an appointment and limited public education activities, intake Mon, Wed, Fri 9 am-5 pm
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Community legal clinic

• advice, representation, referrals, advocacy
• areas of law include privacy, social assistance, immigration, housing/tenant, pensions, Employment Insurance (EI), private insurance benefits, health, criminal, prison (HIV-related), human rights, substitute decision making and powers of attorney
• community legal education speakers and publications
• law reform and test case litigation
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario, AIDS Bureau (Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care), foundations and donors
• also known as HALCO

Specialty community legal clinic

• pursues test cases, Charter and appellate litigation to address systemic issues arising from federal and provincial income security programs, and from the political, economic and social causes of poverty
• law reform
• policy development
• community development and provincial organizing
• public legal education
• no direct legal services to individuals except in relation to test and Charter cases
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario
• Member of the Association of Community Legal Clinics of Ontario

Specialty legal clinic

• works to better the housing situation of low income Ontario residents including tenants, housing cooperative members and homeless people
• no direct legal services for individuals, people requiring legal advice or representation relating to housing issues should contact their local community legal clinic, to find local clinic call Legal Aid Ontario 1-800-668-8258
• public legal education including tip sheets providing legal information on common tenant concerns available at www.acto.ca/for-tenants/tip-sheets/
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

Tenant Duty Counsel Program -- legal advice and information for unrepresented low income tenants, with a scheduled hearing at the Landlord and Tenant Board (see separate entry) offered by phone once clients sign up at tdc.acto.ca/, Tenant Duty Counsel will call within five days of hearing

COVID19 -- services available by phone only, physical office closed
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Community legal clinic

• legal representation in the many areas of law including education, criminal matters, child welfare, human rights, financial assistance or support and leaving home
• legal information and assistance to youth, professionals and community groups
• also to parents in limited circumstances
• community development and outreach
• advocacy
• seminars
• accepts collect calls
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

Street Youth Legal Services (SYLS) -- legal advice and outreach to street-involved youth at shelters and youth services

COVID19 -- staff working remotely, providing representation and legal advice services via phone and email

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Community legal clinic

• representation through all levels of Workplace Safety and Insurance Board
• case consultation and training for other agencies
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

Community legal clinic and resource centre

• information, referrals and summary advice on housing issues from landlord's perspective
• educational tools
• law reform
• rental forms
• funded by Legal Aid

Community legal clinic

• advice and representation
• advocacy
• research and consultation for individuals
• community education
• law reform
• referrals to union organizers
• outreach, particularly to small workplaces with immigrant workforces
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

COVID19 -- walk in services suspended, call 416-971-9674

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Community legal clinic

• deals primarily with immigration, tenant issues, social assistance, employment rights, human rights, poverty law
• most refugee cases referred to Legal Aid
• may provide representation
• summary advice in domestic violence and other family law cases
• community education
• speakers
• law reform
• community advocacy
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

COVID19 -- closed to all in-person services until further notice, go to Legal Advice Hotline -- 1-855-255-7256 Tue-Thu 12:30 pm-4 pm

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Free legal services for persons being sued or who are suing in civil courts or require help with problems in employment law, consumer law, corporate law (non-profits, newcomer entrepreneurs and small businesses) housing issues, and Powers of Attorney

• no family or criminal law, immigration or estate administration issues
• clinic located at Small Claims Court, 47 Sheppard Ave

Education -- legal services for children with education-related problems such as accommodating disabilities or exceptionalities, bullying, or discipline matters such as suspension or expulsion

Start-ups, non-profits and charities -- business law services, including incorporation, charitable status, corporate structure, intellectual property and contracts

Legal Advice Hotline, 1-855-255-7256, Tuesday-Thursday 12:30 pm-4 pm -- up to 30 minutes free legal advice and help drafting legal documents

Workplace Sexual Harassment Hotline, 1-855-776-1855, Monday-Friday 1 pm-6 pm -- free legal advice and assistance for victims of workplace sexual harassment in Ontario

Currently operating remotely

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Summary legal advice offered 2-3 times a week in half hour consultations with an arts and entertainment lawyer

• deals with contract, copyright and trademark law, among other issues
• referrals to lawyers in private practice where appropriate
• occasional seminars