Services in Ontario

Going to criminal court

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Law Society of Ontario – Lawyer and Paralegal Directory

The directory lists all lawyers and paralegals licensed to give legal services in Ontario. You can search by name, address or postal code, language, and area of law.

Ontario Legal Information Centre

The Ontario Legal Information Centre offers a free 30-minute meeting with a lawyer to anyone in Ontario, online or by phone in English or French. The centre provides legal information on any legal topic, and referrals to services. Book a meeting online or call 1-844-343-7462 if you need help.

Website

centreinfojuridique.ca/en

Contact Information

Toll-free: 1-844-343-7462

Association of French Speaking Jurists of Ontario (AJEFO)

AJEFO is a group of legal professionals who promote access to justice in French. AJEFO’s services to the public include:

Website

ajefo.ca

Contact Information

Phone: 613-842-7462

Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) – Criminal Law Services

LAO has services for people who have been charged with a crime. This includes:

  • a free summary advice line that can give you up to 20 minutes of information and general advice about your criminal law matter
  • criminal duty counsel who can give you free legal advice if you don’t have a lawyer on the day of your hearing
  • a legal aid certificate program if you have a low income and if your legal issue is one that LAO covers

Website

legalaid.on.ca/services/criminal-legal-issues

Contact Information

Phone: 416-979-1446 Toll-free: 1-800-668-8258 TTY: 711

Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) – Criminal duty counsel

Criminal duty counsel give free legal advice to people who don’t have a lawyer on the day of their hearing. Criminal duty counsel are paid for by Legal Aid Ontario and work in most courts in Ontario. If they aren’t in court, they’ll have an office nearby.

Duty counsel usually can’t represent you at your trial, but they may be able to:

  • help with a pre-trial meeting
  • give information and advice
  • help you find out if you qualify for a legal aid certificate

Inside the courtroom, they can:

  • give information to the court for you
  • reschedule your hearing if you appear without a lawyer
  • tell the court what’s going on with your case when they reschedule it

Website

legalaid.on.ca/duty-counsel

Contact Information

Phone: 416-979-1446 Toll-free: 1-800-668-8258 TTY: 711

Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) – Legal aid certificates

If you get a legal aid certificate, this means that LAO pays a lawyer to work for you. To get a certificate you must show that you have a low income by giving information about your income, property, and savings.

And, your legal issue must be one that LAO covers. You may get a certificate for some legal issues about:

  • domestic violence
  • family law
  • criminal law
  • immigration law
  • refugee law

To apply for a legal aid certificate:

Website

legalaid.on.ca/will-legal-aid-pay-for-my-lawyer

Contact Information

Phone: 416-979-1446 Toll-free: 1-800-668-8258 TTY: 711

Law Society Referral Service

The Law Society of Ontario has an online Law Society Referral Service that gives you the name of a lawyer or licensed paralegal who will give free legal advice for up to 30 minutes in any area of law.

If you cannot wait for a lawyer or paralegal to call you back, or if you do not have a call-back number, email lsrs@lso.ca. If you’re in crisis or in custody, call 1-855-947-5255 or 416-947-5255, Monday to Friday, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Ontario Paralegal Association

The association has an online tool to help you find a licensed paralegal. You can search by name, area of law, and location.

Website

opaonline.ca

Contact Information

Phone: 416-944-1020

JusticeNet

JusticeNet is a not-for-profit organization that can help people find legal services when their income is too high for legal aid and too low to afford legal fees. Their website has a list of lawyers, paralegals, and mediators who charge reduced fees based on your income and family size. You must register and pay a small fee to use their services.

Website

justicenet.ca

Student Legal Service Organizations (SLSO)

Legal Aid Ontario funds Student Legal Aid Services Societies that operate out of Ontario’s law schools. They offer free legal help to people with a low income in certain legal areas, including minor crimes, housing, and immigration, and when dealing with some tribunals.

They can also help with some family law issues, such as child custody, access, and child support issues. And some help with other family law issues, such as property division and spousal support.

Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) – Find a lawyer

If you have a legal aid certificate and are looking for a lawyer who accepts certificates, you can use LAO’s online tool. It lets you look for a lawyer by location, area of law, and language. You can also search for a lawyer with experience in domestic violence cases.

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