Mental health legal issues
Do you have a mental health issue or addiction and need legal help? We might be able to help if you qualify and if:
- you are being held in a psychiatric facility and you do not want to be
- you have been found incapable of making treatment decisions
- you need help with a fitness hearing
- you need help with an Ontario Review Board (ORB) or a Consent and Capacity Board (CCB) hearing
- you need a lawyer for criminal court (including mental health court and drug treatment court)
- a Superior Court of Justice has told the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee to apply for legal aid for you
Who can help me apply for legal aid?
- A support person or substitute decision maker
- A lawyer at a courthouse called duty counsel
- A patient advocate/rights advisor at a mental health hospital or facility
- A social worker or case manager
- A legal aid staff worker at a courthouse or a prison
If you qualify for legal aid and need a lawyer, we can help you find one.
Finding a lawyer
Need a lawyer who knows about criminal mental health law? We can help you find one.
How to use our “Find a Lawyer” tool
Our “Find a Lawyer” tool is easy to use. Here’s what to do:
- Go to the “Find a Lawyer” section on our website
- Type in where you live by entering either the address or postal code
- Choose “Criminal” from the list
- Look through the lawyers in your area
All the criminal lawyers listed are qualified to help you with your criminal mental health certificate issue.
Want a lawyer with enhanced criminal mental health training?
Some lawyers have taken additional LAO-provided professional development about mental health law. To find these lawyers:
- Use the “Find a Lawyer” tool like we explained above
- Look for a button that says “More Options” or “Filters”
- Choose “Criminal Mental Health” from the list
This will show you lawyers who have expanded their learning about criminal mental health law through LAO-provided training.
Need help? Just ask us. We’re here to help you find a lawyer that’s right for you.