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If duty counsel is unable to help you with your legal issue, Legal Aid Ontario may still be able to provide you access to legal help through the links below.

If you come across a link that is either out-of-date or otherwise broken please contact the LAO web team. Please note that Legal Aid Ontario is not responsible for the content on external website.

Click on the to expand the list of links for that heading. Links are listed alphabetically by group. Please note that Legal Aid Ontario is not responsible for the content on external websites.

Aboriginal Services

Aboriginal Legal Services Toronto
Operates legal-related programs for Aboriginal people in Toronto.

Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services Corporation
Delivers and coordinates a range of legal services and alternative processes for First Nation communities.

Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs
Access to Ontario government programs, services and information.

Aboriginal Canada Portal
A window to First Nations, Métis and Inuit online resources and government programs and services.

Human Rights Legal Support
Offers legal assistance to people in communities across Ontario who believe they have experienced discrimination.

Canadian Legal Aid Organizations

Aboriginal Legal Services of Toronto
Aboriginal Legal Services of Toronto (ALST) supports and advocates for the Aboriginal community and its members of Toronto to gain control over the legal and justice issues that affect them.

Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario
The Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO) works to better the housing situation of Ontario residents who have low incomes including tenants, co-op members and people who are homeless.
ACTO works with legal clinics, tenant associations and other groups and individuals concerned about housing issues.

Advocacy Centre for the Elderly
The Advocacy Centre for the Elderly (ACE) is a community based legal clinic for low-income senior citizens. ACE provides direct legal services to low-income seniors, public legal education, and engages in law reform activities. ACE services and activities are in relation to areas of law of special importance to the seniors' population.

ARCH - Disability Law Centre
A Legal Resource Centre for Persons with Disabilities is a community-based not-for-profit legal clinic and legal resource centre in the Province of Ontario dedicated to defending and advancing the equality-rights of persons with disabilities.

Canadian Environmental Law Association
The Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) is a non-profit, public interest organization established in 1970 to use existing laws to protect the environment and to advocate environmental law reforms. It is also a free legal advisory clinic for the public, and will act at hearings and in courts on behalf of citizens or citizens' groups who are otherwise unable to afford legal assistance.

Chatham-Kent Legal Clinic
The Chatham-Kent Legal Clinic offers a variety of legal services to low income residents of Chatham-Kent.

Clinique juridique Grand-Nord Legal Clinic
Provides legal advice, assistance and representation in English and French to all communities between Cochrane and Hornepayne, in Northern Ontario.

Clinique juridique populaire de Prescott et Russell
Since 1984, the Legal Clinic offers free legal and paralegal services to the population of the united Countires of Prescott and Russell.

Community Advocacy & Legal Centre
Serves low income residents of Hastings, Prince Edward and Lennox & Addington counties. Main office is in Belleville; satellite locations in Trenton, Picton, Napanee, Bancroft and Madoc.

Community Legal Clinic - Simcoe, Haliburton, Kawartha Lakes
Promoting access to legal services and improving the legal well-being of the community. Located in the following communities: Alliston, Barrie, Bradford, Christian Island, Collingwood, Haliburton, Lindsay, Midland, Minden and Orillia.

Community Legal Clinic of York Region
The Community Legal Clinic of York Region helps people with housing issues for tenants, Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program, and Employment Insurance matters.

Community Legal Education Ontario
CLEO is a community legal clinic that produces clear language material for people with low incomes. Main topics include social assistance, landlord and tenant law, refugee and immigration law, workers' compensation, women's issues, family law, employment insurance and human rights.

Durham Community Legal Clinic
The Durham Community Legal Clinic offers a variety of legal services to low income residents of Durham Region. Their services include legal advice, legal representation, public legal education, advocacy training and community organizing.

Dundurn Community Legal Services
Hamilton's three community legal clinics, Dundurn Community Legal Services, Hamilton Mountain Legal & Community Services and McQuesten Legal & Community Services, offer a variety of legal services to low income residents of Hamilton.

Elgin-Oxford Legal Clinic
The Elgin-Oxford Legal Clinic offers services including traditional casework, summary advice, public legal education, law reform, and a wide range of community development activities.

Flemingdon Community Legal Services
The Flemingdon Community Legal Services provides free legal assistance to low income people. They also provide public legal education, legal information, community development work and advocacy activities.

Grey-Bruce Community Legal Clinic
The Grey-Bruce Community Legal Clinic is a law office which provides free legal information, advice and representation, as well as other services, to low income residents of Grey and Bruce Counties.

Legal Clinic of Guelph and Wellington County
The Legal Clinic of Guelph and Wellington County provides free legal advice to low-income people in Guelph and Wellington County. The purpose of the Legal Clinic of Guelph and Wellington County is to effect social change through advocacy, education, empowerment or legal representation in the areas of poverty law.

Hamilton Mountain Legal and Community Services
Hamilton's three community legal clinics, Dundurn Community Legal Services, Hamilton Mountain Legal & Community Services and McQuesten Legal & Community Services, offer a variety of legal services to low income residents of Hamilton.

HIV and AIDS Legal Clinic (Ontario)
HALCO is a not-for-profit, community-based legal clinic serving low income People with HIV and AIDS (PHA's) in Ontario.

Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC)
The Income Security Advocacy Centre works with and on behalf of low income communities in Ontario to address issues of income security and poverty. The Centre initiates and conducts test case and Charter litigation, law reform and community development related to federal and provincial income security programs such as Ontario Works, the Ontario Disability Support Program, Employment Insurance and the Canada Pension Plan.

Jane Finch Community Legal Services
The Jane Finch Community Legal Services provides high quality legal services to the Jane Finch community. The Clinic provides free services in the areas of law that most affect low income individuals.

Justice for Children and Youth
Justice for Children and Youth provides legal representation to low-income children and youth in Toronto and vicinity.

Keewaytinok Native Legal Services
Keewaytinok Native Legal Services is a community legal clinic that provides free services to low income people and their organizations in the James and Hudson Bay areas of Northeastern Ontario.

Landlord's Self -Help Centre
Landlord's Self Help Centre is an incorporated non-profit organization that provides information, assistance and educational programs to Ontario's small scale landlords free of charge.

Lanark, Leeds and Grenville Legal Clinic
We provide free legal services to low income people and their organizations in the counties of Lanark, Leeds & Grenville in eastern Ontario.

McQuesten Legal and Community Services
Hamilton's three community legal clinics, Dundurn Community Legal Services, Hamilton Mountain Legal & Community Services and McQuesten Legal & Community Services, offer a variety of legal services to low income residents of Hamilton.

Niagara North Community Legal Assistance
General legal information or summary advice is available to all. Advocacy, advice, and representation are available to those who do not qualify for a Legal Aid certificate and who are not able to afford the services of a lawyer.

Northwest Community Legal Clinc
The Northwest Community Legal Clinic services the Rainy River and Kenora Districts through three offices located in Fort Frances, Kenora and Atikokan, and monthly sub-offices in Red Lake and Ear Falls.

Ottawa Legal Aid Service
There are four Community Legal Clinics and the University of Ottawa Community Legal Clinic serving the low income residents living in the amalgamated City of Ottawa.

Parkdale Community Legal Clinic
Parkdale provides legal advice, assistance and representation to low income residents living in the Parkdale area.

Renfrew County Legal Clinic
Renfrew County Legal Clinic is an independent not-for-profit corporation run by a board of directors made up of people who work or live in Renfrew County. The Clinic provides free legal services to residents of Renfrew County who face economic limitations.

Rexdale Community Legal Clinic
The Rexdale Community Legal Clinic provides legal services to the low income community of Northern Etobicoke, carried out by lawyers and community legal workers, including activities which encourage access to justice by our community.

South Etobicoke Community Legal Services
South Etobicoke Community Legal Services helps low-income people in the south-west part of the City of Toronto to defend their right to housing, their right to adequate income and their rights under The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. They work with community members and others to educate and organize disadvantaged people and help them make their voices heard in the development of laws and policies.

West End Legal Services of Ottawa
We provide referrals, legal advice, representation, Tenant Duty Counsel services, and public legal education and community outreach services. We work with individuals, community groups and service providers to educate people of their legal rights and ensure access to justice for all people.

Waterloo Region Community Legal Services
Provides numerous legal services to residents in the Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge area.

Criminal Law Services

Understanding the law:
Canada's System of Justice
Understand what the law is, where it comes from, what it is for, and how it operates.

Canada's Court System
A general description of the court system in Canada, the types and levels of courts and their responsibilities.

Statutes and regulations:
Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA)
The Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA), the YCJA explained and other information.

Criminal Code
View the full text of the Criminal Code of Canada.

Government:
Ministry of the Attorney General
Visit the Attorney General site to get information on going to court, court locations, court forms and applications, small claims court, jury duty, power of attorney links to legislation and information on any court procedures.

Department of Justice Canada
Review information on federal laws including youth services.

The Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services
Find information on police services in Ontario, parole board hearings and correctional facilities.

Ombudsman Ontario
Investigates complaints against provincial government organizations.

Courtprep Guide
A site that helps people prepare for court.

Youth:
For links regarding Young Offenders please see below.

Domestic Violence

Domestic Violenece

Covering your tracks on the Internet
If you are worried your abuser may be able to see what websites you have visited, looking at these tips may help you protect yourself.

Resources and services
The Ontario government offers resources and links to help people who are experiencing violence or the effects of violence, including their rights, how to cover web tracks, going to court and more.

Violence against women prevention
The Ontario Women’s Directorate provides many resources.

Help for assaulted women
Find services for women of all ages who have experienced, live with or are in fear of violence.

Help for women in crisis
Find free confidential support services.

Dealing with spousal abuse
Provides advice and assistance to women in abusive situations, their families and close friends.

Barbra Schlifer Clinic
Provides free and integrated legal, counseling, interpretation, information and referral services for women who have experienced violence.

Surviving the System Handbook
Advice on using the legal system if you are a survivor of sexual violence.

Family Law Services

Separation and divorce:

Parenting after divorce
Over two hundred Canadian and international resources in the area of separation and divorce.

Child and spousal support:
Family Responsibility Office
Helps families in Ontario receive the financial support they are entitled to by enforcing court ordered support responsibilities.

Child support guidelines
Provides step-by-step information on Federal Child Support Guidelines.

Services for children:
The Office of the Children's Lawyer
Delivers programs in the administration of justice on behalf of children under the age of 18 with respect to their personal and property rights.

Children's information portal
Brings together information about all the children and youth programs and services provided by the Government of Ontario.

Children's Aid Society
A non-profit agency that provides help and support to children and their families in local communities.

Government:

Ministry of Children and Youth Services
Find services for child welfare, family intervention, youth justice, children's community support, children's mental health, and childcare.

Government of Ontario - families
Find resources on parenting, staying healthy and other topics that affect your family’s well-being. Also learn more about marriage and divorce, financial assistance and other services to help families.

Ministry of the Attorney General - family law
Find information about family justice programs and services, child support information, online publications and more.

Ministry of the Attorney General - Family Mediation Services
Mediation is a voluntary way of resolving disputes where a trained mediator helps parties of relatively equal bargaining positions to resolve disputes about family issues.

Ontario court addresses
Find local courthouses by location or region.

Ontario family court structure
Find services and information about Ontario’s family courts.

Family court forms
Provides you with electronic versions of forms under the Family Law Rules.

Human Rights Legal Support
Offers legal assistance to people in communities across Ontario who believe they have experienced discrimination.

Ombudsman Ontario
Investigates complaints against provincial government organizations.

Finding a lawyer

Lawyer Referral Service (LRS)
The LRS provides the name of a lawyer who will provide a free consultation of up to 30 minutes to help you determine your rights and options.

Justice Net
Justice Net is a not-for-profit access to justice program that helps clients who do not qualify for legal aid, and whose net family income is below $59,000, to find lawyers willing to accept cases on a reduced fee basis.

Ontario Justice Education Network (OJEN)
Dedicated to promoting understanding, education, and dialogue to support a responsive and inclusive justice system.

Volunteer Lawyers Service (VLS)
Offers free legal support, through volunteer lawyers, to eligible charitable and non-profit organizations in Ontario that otherwise could not afford the services of a lawyer.

Your lawyer and you
Provides suggestions on how to find a lawyer in Ontario.

Government Resources

Immigration and Refugee Law

Government services
Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration
Find information about citizenship and immigration in Ontario.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada
A wealth of information is provided about how to work, study, visit or immigrate to Canada. Learn about the Canadian refugee system, how to sponsor your family, and how to become a Canadian citizen.

Settling in Canada
Advice for newcomers
Find information about getting work, health care, language training, housing, employment rights and more.

Government of Ontario - newcomers
Provides information and resources needed to settle into life in Ontario.

Career development
Looking for a job
Find information about career options, labour market trends, and career-specific training, job search skills and strategies.

Building your career in Ontario
Outlines what newly arrived immigrants need to know about working in Ontario.

Lawyer Services

Mental Health

Dealing with mental incapacity
Mental incapacity is when someone cannot understand relevant information or cannot appreciate what may happen as a result of decisions they make — or do not make — about their finances, health or personal care.

Mental Health Service Info Line
If you or someone you know needs information about mental health services, call the MHSIO at 1-866-531-2600. It is free, confidential, anonymous and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office
Information about mental health and patients’ rights in Ontario.

Power of Attorney/Wills and Estate

Ministry of the Attorney General wills and estates
Find answers and services about wills and estates, power of attorneys, and laws and regulations.

Power of Attorney Kit
This booklet contains answers and forms for Continuing Power of Attorney for Property and Power of Attorney for Personal Care.

Social Services

Service Ontario
Offers a single window access to a wide range of information, services and resources offered by the government of Ontario.

211 Ontario
Connect to information about community, social, health and related government services.

Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO)
CLEO is a community legal clinic dedicated to providing low-income and disadvantaged people in Ontario with legal information to understand and exercise legal rights.

Financial/employment assistance
Ontario Works (OW)
Ontario Works can provide people in temporary financial need with money to cover the costs of basic needs and with help for prepare for and find a job. They may also be able to provide health benefits, including drug and dental coverage, and additional benefits.

Canada Benefits
Connects people to a range of federal benefits such as Employment Insurance (EI), education and training, housing, health, business.

Service Canada
Offers access to a wide range of Canadian government programs and services.

Employment Ontario
Ontario’s employment and training network with services for apprenticeships, job seekers, employers, and employees.

Social Benefits Tribunal
Hears appeals about social assistance decisions that people receive under the Ontario Works Act, 1997 and the Ontario Disability Support Program Act, 1997.

Health
Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
The Ontario Disability Support Program helps eligible people with disabilities by providing financial help and help finding a job.

Health Canada
Health Canada helps people maintain and improve their health, while respecting individual choices and circumstances.

Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
Find information about the government of Ontario’s health and long-term care programs.

Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP)
Residents of Ontario must have a valid Ontario Health Card to show that they are entitled to health care services paid for by OHIP. OHIP covers most Ontario health benefits across Canada.

Assistive Devices Program
Provides personalized devices or equipment to Ontarians who have long-term physical disabilities.

Trillium Drug Program
This program is intended for Ontario residents who have a valid Ontario Health Card and who have high prescription drug costs in relation to their net household income.

The Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee
Delivers a range of services to protect your legal, personal and financial interests, as well as monitors the activities of Ontario charities.

Social Benefits Tribunal
Hears appeals about social assistance decisions that people receive under the Ontario Works Act, 1997 and the Ontario Disability Support Program Act, 1997.

Seniors
Advocacy Centre for the Elderly (ACE)
ACE provides direct legal services to low-income seniors, public legal education, and engages in law reform activities.

Seniors Canada
A comprehensive website for seniors-related information in Canada, including information on elder care.

Seniors Ontario
Find links to information and resources to help plan for retirement, including finances, leisure activities, and health care resources.

Government of Ontario - Seniors resources
Find links sorted by topic to services and information of interest to seniors.

Children and youth
Canada child and family benefits
Offers information about financial support programs for children and families such as the Canada Child Tax Benefit, and Universal Child Care Benefit

Ministry of Children and Youth Services
Makes it easier for families to find and access the services they need to give kids the best start in life at all stages of a child's development and to help youth become productive adults.

Ontario Child Care Supplement for Working Families
This program gives eligible working families tax-free money every month to help with child care costs. To qualify, children must be under the age of seven.

Ontario Child Benefit
Ontario Child Benefit is a monthly benefit paid to low income families with children under the age of 18.

Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
OSAP provides eligible Ontario students with financial assistance to help pay for tuition, books, mandatory fees, living costs and transportation.

Tenant and Landlord

Tenant resources

The Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO)
Defends Ontario’s low-income renters, co-op members and the homeless. Much of ACTO’s advocacy involves test-case litigation, lobbying the government and developing housing policy.

The Federation of Metro Tenants' Associations
Runs a hotline for tenant issues. They also publish information brochures, including the Tenant Survival Manual, and have a tenant outreach program.

Resources for tenants and landlords

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Ensures availability, accessibility and choice of housing funding to Canadians. The key Canadian source of reliable and objective housing information.

Landlord and Tenant Board
Resolves disputes between landlords and tenants and provides information about the The Residential Tenancies Act and rights and obligations under the Act. Requests can be made to review an order under certain conditions.

Human Rights Legal Support
Offers legal assistance to people in communities across Ontario who believe they have experienced discrimination.

Victims of Crime

Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime
Ensuring the equitable treatment of crime victims in Canada

Criminal Injuries Compensation Board
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Board is a quasi-judicial adjudicative agency that awards compensation to victims of crimes of violence that occurred in Ontario.

Have you been a victim of crime? Whats next...
CLEONet: Information and Resources for Victims of Crime in Ontario

The Office of the Children's Lawyer
The Office of the Children's Lawyer is a law office in the Ministry of the Attorney General which delivers programs in the administration of justice on behalf of children under the age of 18 with respect to their personal and property rights.

Victim Quick Response Program
The Victim Quick Response Program has ben established by the Ministry of the Attorney General to provide timelyassistance to victims of violent crimes.

Victims of Violence
A national nonprofit, non-government funded chartiable organization, dedicated to the prevention of crimes agaisnt children.

Youth criminal law

Youth:
Justice for Children and Youth
Provides legal representation to low-income children and youth in Toronto and area. Specializes in protecting the rights of those facing conflicts with the legal system, education, social service or mental health systems.

Ontario Justice Education Network (OJEN)
Dedicated to promoting understanding, education, and dialogue to support a responsive and inclusive justice system.

Youth justice information
Publications, information and answers to questions about youth justice, the new Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA), and the Youth Justice Renewal Initiative. Public Legal Education and Information (PLEI) material from across Canada.

Ministry of Children and Youth Services
Provides youth justice services to youth, aged 12 to 17 at the time of their offence, who are charged with or convicted of criminal or provincial offences.

Court preparation guide
Helps youth prepare for court.

Other resources

Other Links