Legal Aid Ontario

Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) gives low-income people access to a range of legal services tailored to their needs, such as:

information, advice and referral through a toll-free phone line
summary legal advice through a phone consultation with a lawyer for up to 20 minutes
access to the services of a community legal clinic
court representation everywhere in Ontario
full representation by a lawyer through the certificate program for complex and serious cases which can include immigration and refugee matters
legal assistance to low-income people who appear in court without a lawyer

Tip: Use the income chart to see if you qualify for legal aid services.

Community Legal Clinics

Community Legal Clinics provide representation, public legal education, law reform and community development services to low-income individuals and groups within a defined geographical area. Clinics generally focus on social assistance and housing law but offer services in other areas of law depending on their local community needs.

Clinics have their own eligibility criteria. You must contact your local clinic to get more information. Find a clinic close to you by using this search function.

Tip: Look for this icon French legal services icon for French services.

Family Law Service Centres (FLSC)

You have access to a range of legal resources and support for family matters from Family Law Service Centres (FLSC) located in Toronto, North York, Newmarket, Brampton, Chatham and Sarnia for:

help with documents
referrals to advice counsel
full representation in family law cases by a staff lawyer
referral to a private lawyer who does legal aid work, if eligible
mediation and settlement conferences
referrals to other social service agencies

Contact your local FLSC to inquire about eligibility criteria. Certificate applications for serious domestic violence, child protection, or complex family law cases are also accepted.

Family Law Information Program (FLIP)

The Family Law Information Program (FLIP) is a free online resource designed for adults in Ontario whose relationship with their spouse or partner is breaking down.

FLIP provides legal and practical information such as: