Services in Ontario - Human rights at work
Legal clinics
Website
https://www.legalaid.on.ca/services/legal-clinics/Contact Information
Phone 416-979-1446 Toll-free 1-800-668-8258 TTY 416-598-8867 Toll-free TTY 1-866-641-8867Legal 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. Most help with:
- Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program
- tenants’ rights
- the Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, and the Guaranteed Income Supplement
- employment problems
Some clinics can help with immigration and refugee problems or debt and consumer problems.
Search for the clinic in your area using your postal code.
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:
Ontario Ministry of Labour’s – Employment Standards Information Centre
Website
https://www.ontario.ca/page/ministry-labour-immigration-training-skills-developmentContact Information
Phone 416-326-7160 Toll-free 1-800-531-5551 TTY 1-866-567-8893The information centre is a telephone line that gives general information about the Employment Standard Act. They don’t give legal advice.
Workers’ Action Centre
The Workers’ Action Centre gives workers free information and advice. Call them to get:
- information about your rights at work
- help figuring out how to deal with an employment problem
The Human Rights Legal Support Centre (HRLSC)
Website
http://www.hrlsc.on.ca/en/homeContact Information
Phone 416-597-4900 Toll-free 1-866-625-5179 TTY 416-597-4903 Toll-free TTY 1-866 612-8627The centre gives free legal information and advice to people who have experienced discrimination. If you’re Indigenous, press 4 to reach the Indigenous Service intake staff. The centre can:
- help you fill out an application to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario
- give legal advice about how to deal with discrimination
- provide legal representation at mediations and hearings, in some situations
There is also an online tool that can help you figure out if your situation might be discrimination.
Francophone legal advice lines
LAO has 4 free regional advice lines that can give legal information and advice in French over the telephone to people living in:
- Eastern Ontario
- Northern Ontario, and parts of central Ontario including:
- Barrie
- Parry Sound
- Muskoka and Kawartha Lakes regions
- Greater Toronto Area
- Southwestern Ontario
The advice lines do not help with family law or criminal law matters.
The 519
In Toronto, the 519 is an agency committed to the health, happiness and full participation of the LGBTQ2S communities. This includes services for:
- families and children
- counseling
- housing
- education and training
- newcommers
- youth
Law Society Referral Service
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
https://www.centreinfojuridique.ca/en/Contact Information
Phone 613-842-7462 Toll-free 1-844-343-7462The Ontario Legal Information Centre offers a free 30-minute meeting with a lawyer to anyone in Ontario by telephone in English or French. They can provide legal information in any legal topic, and referrals to services. You have to leave a message and a lawyer will call you back.
Sexual Harassment and Assault Resource Exchange (SHARE)
Website
https://hrlsc.on.ca/share/Contact Information
Phone (416) 597-4900 Toll-free 1-866-625-5179 TTY (416) 597-4903 Toll-free TTY 1-866 612-8627The Sexual Harassment and Assault Resource Exchange (SHARE) offers free, confidential legal information to people who have experienced sexual harassment or assault at work. SHARE is a project of the Human Rights Legal Support Centre. When calling, press 5 to reach the SHARE intake staff.
Pro Bono Ontario Workplace Sexual Harassment Hotline
The hotline provides free legal assistance to people who have experienced workplace sexual harassment. People can speak to a lawyer who will:
- give advice and assistance on steps they can take themselves
- help draft letters and basic legal documents
- make referrals to pro bono and other lawyers
Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres
Website
https://sexualassaultsupport.caThe Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres (OCRCC) is a network of sexual assault centres across Ontario. The ORCC is not a crisis service. For help right away, they have a listing of sexual assault support services across Ontario.
The ORCC’s work includes advocating for survivors of sexual violence, talking to the media about sexual violence myths, and making policy recommendations to government on issues relevant to sexual violence. Contact them using their online form.