Services in Ontario
Finding a lawyer or paralegal
Ontario Coalition of Service Providers for Refugee Claimants
This website has a list of settlement organizations that can help people making a refugee claim.
Website
refugeehouses.caImmigration Detention Representation Program
The Immigration Detention Representation Program (IDRP) is a free service available from Legal Aid Ontario (LAO). It’s for anyone in immigration detention in Ontario who needs representation at a detention review hearing.
Legal clinics
Legal Aid Ontario funds legal clinics across Ontario. There are two types of legal clinics: community legal clinics and specialty legal clinics.
Community legal clinics provide free legal services to people with low incomes who live in their area. Search for the clinic in your area using your postal code. Most help with:
- income assistance
- tenant rights
- employment problems
Some clinics can help with immigration and refugee problems or debt and consumer problems.
Some specialty legal clinics provide free legal services to specific groups of people with low incomes:
- Advocacy Centre for the Elderly
- Aboriginal Legal Services
- ARCH Disability Law Centre
- Black Legal Action Centre
- Centre Francophone du Grand Toronto
- Chinese and South Asian Legal Clinic
- Centre for Spanish Speaking Peoples
- HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic Ontario
- Justice for Children and Youth
- South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario
Some specialty legal clinics provide free legal services in only certain areas of law:
Website
legalaid.on.ca/services/legal-clinicsContact Information
Phone: 416-979-1446 Toll-free: 1-800-668-8258 TTY: 416-598-8867 Toll-free TTY: 1-866-641-8867Canadian Centre for Housing Rights (CCHR)
CCHR is an organization that works with tenants mainly by telephone and email.
Tenants facing eviction can get information about the eviction process and services that can help them. Tenants renting in Toronto can also get help if their landlord has applied for a rent increase above the guideline, or help with maintenance and repair applications to the Landlord and Tenant Board.
CCHR’s human rights services include helping tenants who:
- are being discriminated against when looking for housing
- are being harassed
- need accommodation for a human rights reason, such as a disability
- want general information about human rights or the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario
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.
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.
Website
legalaid.on.ca/lawyersOntario 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.
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 the size of your family. You must register and pay a small fee to use their services.
Website
justicenet.ca