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Programs and services across Ontario - Getting help in Immigration law
Programs and services across Ontario - Getting help in Immigration law
Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) - Immigration law services
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Due to funding cuts in April 2019, LAO is taking steps to reduce its immigration and refugee work.
LAO does help people with some immigration problems. For example, you might be able to get help if you’re detained for immigration reasons.
Community legal clinics
Legal Aid Ontario funds community legal clinics across Ontario to give free legal services to people with low incomes. Lawyers, community legal workers, and law students can help people with some legal problems, like social assistance, housing, and workers' rights.
To get help from a clinic:
- your legal issue must be one the clinic deals with
- you must live in the area the clinic serves
- you must have a low income
Most clinics also give brief advice or what’s called "summary advice", without asking about your financial situation. If your local clinic can't help you, they may be able to refer you to someone in your community who can.
Law Society Referral Service
Website
The Law Society of Ontario has on 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 can’t wait for a legal representative to call you back, or if you don’t have a call-back number, email lsrs@lso.ca. Or, 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 Legal Information Centre
Website
Contact Information
The centre offers a free 30-minute meeting with a lawyer to anyone in Ontario by telephone or in person at their Ottawa office in any area of law in English or French. You may have to leave a message, and a lawyer will call you back.
Centre francophone de Toronto
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The Centre francophone de Toronto offers legal representation and advice in French to people living on a low income. They can help in the areas of:
- immigration and refugee law
- social assistance and disability benefits
- employment
- tenants’ rights
- human rights
- French language rights
They also have a legal advice line that gives legal information and advice in French over the telephone. You may have to leave a message, and someone will call you back.
They don’t help with family law or criminal law matters.
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. You can also search for services offered in French and for unbundled services.
Ontario Paralegal Association
Website
Contact Information
The association has an online tool to help you find a licensed paralegal. You can search by name, area of law, and location.
JusticeNet
Website
Contact Information
JusticeNet helps people find a legal professional if their income is too high to get legal aid but too low to afford legal fees. If your net family income is less than $59,000, they refer you to an online directory of lawyers, paralegals, and mediators who provide help at reduced rates.
JusticeNet is a non-profit organization. You must register and pay a $25 fee to use their website. They may return the fee if you don’t find a professional to work with.