Services in Ontario

Human Rights Tribunal

Find help in your community

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:

Some specialty legal clinics provide free legal services in only certain areas of law:

Website

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: 1-866-641-8867

The Human Rights Legal Support Centre (HRLSC)

The 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.

Website

hrlsc.on.ca/en/home

Contact Information

Phone: 416-597-4900 Toll-free: 1-866-625-5179 TTY: 416-597-4903 Toll-free TTY: 1-866 612-8627

Canadian 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

Website

housingrightscanada.com

Contact Information

Phone: 416-944-0087 Toll-free: 1-800-263-1139

Ontario Ministry of Labour’s – Employment Standards Information Centre

The information centre is a telephone line that gives general information about the Employment Standard Act. They don’t give legal advice.

Website

ontario.ca/page/ministry-labour-immigration-training-skills-development

Contact Information

Phone: 416-326-7160 Toll-free: 1-800-531-5551 TTY: 1-866-567-8893

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

Website

workersactioncentre.org

Contact Information

Phone: 416-531-0778

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

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. They provide 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

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.

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
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