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Programs and services across Ontario - Police stops and searches
Programs and services across Ontario - Police stops and searches
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LAO has services for people who have been charged with a crime. This includes:
- criminal duty counsel who can give you free legal advice if you don’t have a lawyer on the day of your hearing
- a free summary advice line that lets you talk to a lawyer for up to 20 minutes to get information and general advice about your criminal law matter.
- a legal aid certificate program if you have a low income and if your legal issue is one that LAO covers
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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
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During the COVID-19 situation, LAO is offering more telephone support. Anyone can use this service to get legal advice and information. It doesn’t matter what your income is.
LAO has a free summary advice line that lets you talk to a lawyer for up to 20 minutes to get information and general advice about your criminal law matter.
This includes information about your legal options and what might happen, first appearance procedures, how to prepare for a pre-trial, diversion, bail, guilty pleas, and sentencing. You can also ask about whether you qualify for a legal aid certificate.
You usually have to call and give some information about your legal issue and where you live, and a lawyer will call you back.
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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
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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.
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The Ontario Legal Information 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.
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.
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The association has an online tool to help you find a licensed paralegal. You can search by name, area of law, and location.
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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.
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The OPP is the police force in places that don’t have a local police service. If you live in one of those areas and need a police record check done, contact the OPP. For example, you might need a record check if you’re applying for a job, have signed up for volunteer work, or are adopting a child.
You can get the request form you need from:
Call 211 if you’re not sure what police force to contact for a police record check.
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The Office is an independent agency that receives and looks into all complaints about police in Ontario.