Searching for Community Legal Clinics

COVID-19 - by appointment only


Legal clinic

• free legal advice to all residents of Durham Region on many areas of law
• assistance or representation to those who qualify at hearings in several areas of law including Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program, Canada Pension Plan, Employment law, WSIB/WSIAT, Housing, tenant issues, Small Claims Court, Consumer Law, Senior Law, Human Rights
• Domestic Violence Legal Aid advice referrals
• staff from the clinic are available to speak on a variety of legal topics to groups in Durham Region
• Commissioning available daily
• Notarizing available by appointment
• free year-round Tax Clinic

Satellite offices in Ajax, Uxbridge and Cannington

COVID-19 -- services continue to be provided over the phone, office open to members of the public by appointment only

• new clients call 416-438-7182, existing clients call 416-438-7206

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Community legal clinic, areas of law include:

• housing (tenants issues, does not include issues at co-operative housing)
• Ontario Works (OW), Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Employment Insurance (EI), Canada Pension Plan (disability)
• employment law
• immigration law

Clinic may provide:

• representation or tools for clients to self-represent effectively
• community education
• referrals to other clinics or community services
• assistance in community group development and organizing

Funded by Legal Aid Ontario

Community legal clinic

• deals primarily with tenant issues, social housing/Toronto Community Housing Corporation, Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program appeals, Canada Pension Plan Disability benefits, employment law, worker's rights, Employment Insurance, Old Age Security, family law, immigration, human rights
• may provide representation
• community education
• by appointment only
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

Community legal clinic

• deals primarily with tenant issues, social assistance, employment problems, immigration, Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, human rights, victims of violence, and consumer issues
• provides referral, advice and representation
• community education
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

Community legal clinic, deals primarily with

• Employment Law
• Housing Law
• Immigration and Refugee
• Human Rights (limited)
• Income Supports - Ontario Works (OW), Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP),Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS)
• Affidavits and Notarial True Copies
• referrals
• community education
• community development
• legal reform
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

Ralph Thornton Community Centre -- 765 Queen St E by appointment only, call Intake Line

Community legal clinic

• assistance and representation in all matters under jurisdiction of Workplace Safety and Insurance Board
• support groups
• workshops and seminars
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

Legal advice and in some cases representation, help may be available with:

• Co-operative Housing Members and Tenants rights
• Ontario Works issues, Ontario Disability Support Program, Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security issues
• Canada Child Benefit/Disability Tax Credits, Criminal Injuries Compensation, Worker's Rights
• Immigration law

Provides Tenant Duty Counsel at online hearings of Landlord and Tenant Board -- free legal advice and help for tenants facing eviction who do not have own representation, no appointment required, sign in 30 minutes before hearing or sign up online at least two business days prior to hearing at tdc.acto.ca

Eviction Prevention Program -- legal supports for York Region residents with emotional and mental health challenges who are at risk of eviction, funded by Regional Municipality of York

Does not offer assistance with criminal charges - contact Legal Aid Ontario 1-800-668-8258 or visit www.legalaid.on.ca

Satellite Locations -- Currently suspended due to COVID​

Keswick -- 23324 Woodbine Ave
Maple -- 9401 Jane St, Suite 206
Markham -- 7220 Kennedy Rd, Suite 8
Newmarket -- Newmarket Legion, 707 Srigley St
Woodbridge -- 5732 Hwy #7, Units 3 and 4

Clinic also serves those in Georgina

Videolink via Skype -- contact CLCYR with email address

Advice and representation in areas of social assistance, Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), sponsorships, immigration law

• legal information and education
• referral of legal cases
• advocacy
• seminars, workshops
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

Forced Marriage -- website with information and resources on forced marriages * information for individuals and service providers

COVID19 -- open but no walk in appointments, call first

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Community legal clinic

• deals primarily with tenant issues, social assistance, Ontario Disability Support Program, pensions, Employment Insurance
• provides advice in workers rights, immigration and family law
• may provide representation
• summary advice in domestic violence cases
• community education
• speakers
• law reform
• referrals
• affidavits for Toronto Community Housing Corporation, cooperative housing, child care, Ontario Student Assistance Program
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

Community legal clinic

• deals primarily with tenant issues, social assistance, immigration, Employment Insurance (EI), employment rights
• may provide representation
• community education
• law reform
• referrals
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

COVID19 Building closed to the public, all non-essential services suspended; mental health and justice case management available

• Friends Community Meal Program, takeout food only Mon-Fri 10 am-4:30 pm; take out dinner Mon-Fri 4 pm-5 pm
• access to telephone, washrooms Mon-Fri 2:30 pm-4 pm
• PAID Clinic Thu 1:30 pm-3:30 pm, assistance with ID on first come, first served basis
• visit Fred Victor website for details on available services

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Drop-in services, including information and referral, counselling and advocacy

• access to ID clinic
• access to food, clothing and phones
• mental health and justice workers
• harm reduction equipment and support
• Fair Change Legal Clinic
• seasonal income tax preparation
• creative arts programs and outings
• community garden

Member agency of Toronto Drop-in Network (TDIN)

COVID19 -- physical office closed but staff working remotely

Community legal clinic

• representation in cases involving issues of particular importance to seniors, such as long term care, hospital discharge issues, elder abuse, government pensions, income maintenance, retirement home tenancies, mental health and mental capacity issues
• assistance in dealing with government bureaucracies
• visits to home or care facility if necessary
• advocacy
• community legal education
• speakers
• law reform
• confidential
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

COVID19 -- serving clients by phone as much as possible * agency will continue to prepare Gladue reports and Gladue Letters and provide Court Worker services to the Toronto courts * all walk-in service, group programming, notarization, commissioning of documents and public legal education and outreach activities are currently suspended

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Community Legal Clinic 416-408-4041, fax 416-408-1568 * deals primarily with landlord and tenant issues, Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Plan (ODSP), Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPPD), human rights, police complaints, criminal injuries compensation, poverty law, Indian Act * no criminal or family law * may provide representation * referrals to lawyers in private practice where appropriate * law reform and public legal education activities * funded by Legal Aid Ontario

Aboriginal Court Worker Program -- support to those appearing in court * assistance in finding lawyers and contacting family members * referrals * available at all criminal courts in Toronto

Community Council Program -- criminal diversion program for young and adult Aboriginal offenders charged with a wide variety of offences * substitutes court appearance with an appearance before community members, with a disposition focusing on culture, tradition and healing

Gladue (Aboriginal Persons) Courts -- support available at Old City Hall, College Park and 1000 Finch Ave W courts

Gladue Writer/Caseworker -- call for information

Giiwedin Anang Council -- Aboriginal alternative dispute resolution for families involved in the child welfare system * family counselling delivered by community Elders and members focus on traditional teachings and Talking Circles

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

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

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

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 -- 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