Legal Resourcing
A collection of legal clinics, resources, and information/research hubs for legal information.
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We also have a separate section with resources for current prisoners, including legal support.
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Legal Advice
A legal support line that is accessible to prisoners or their supporters on Mondays between 1pm EST - 5pm EST. Prisoners can call collect to speak with someone about human rights issues, internal complaints, healthcare complaints or charter challenges. 613-894-HELP (4357).
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LSO has an 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. If you’re in custody, call 1-855-947-5255 or 416-947-5255, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.
The LSO also has a directory that lists the names of licensed lawyers and paralegals in Ontario. You can search by name, address or postal code, language, and area of law.
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Ontario Legal Information Centre (OLIC)
OLIC offers a free 30-minute meeting with a lawyer to anyone in Ontario by telephone or in person at their Ottawa office 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. Call their toll-free line at 1-844-343-7462.
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Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC)
The OHRC administers the Ontario Human Rights Act. If you believe you’ve been discriminated against under one of the protected grounds, you can file a complaint with the OHRC, who will investigate it. 416-326-9511 or 1-800-387-9080 (toll-free) or 1-800-308-5561 (TTY)
Muslim Legal Support Centre (MLSC)
MLSC is a non-profit organization that defends the rights of Muslims in Ontario and connects people to culturally-informed and accessible legal services. Provides a range of free legal services, including legal advice and education (including criminal law), referrals, test case litigation and law reform. 416-350-2914.
Human Rights Legal Support Centre (HRLSC)
HRLSC provides human rights legal services to individuals in Ontario who have experienced discrimination or a violation under the Human Rights Code. Call the HRLSC telephone advice line at 1-866-625-5179. If you’re not able to communicate by telephone because of a disability, e-mail them at accommodation@hrlsc.on.ca. Mark the e-mail clearly as a “request for accommodation”.
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Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC)
The Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC) provides legal support to low-income Black folks in Ontario dealing with individual and/or systemic anti-Black Racism.1-877-736-9406 or 416-597-5831.
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JusticeNet helps people in Canada 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.
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Legal clinic for disabled folks in Ontario. ARCH only practices in disability rights law. They provide a range of legal services, including summary legal advice, basic legal information, and referrals on disability-related areas of the law to people with disabilities. 1-866-482-2724 (Toll-free) or 1-866-482-2728 (TTY).
Obtain a legal aid certificate which will cover the costs of a private lawyer. If you’re in detention or jail, speak with the legal aid worker at your facility.
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Legal Support for Indigenous People
Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services (NALSC)
NALSC provides legal services to Indigenous peeoples living in the Nishnawbe-Aski region, with offices in Thunder Bay, Timmins, Sioux Lookout, and Kenora. Community Legal Workers with NAN speak the languages of the communities they serve (English, Cree, Objiway, Oji-Cree), and can help individuals obtain legal advice, legal aid certificates, and court support. 1-800-465-5581 | 807-622-1413
Keewaytinok Native Legal Services
KNLSC is a community legal clinic in the Moosonee/James Bay area of Northern Ontario, Canada.
Manitoulin Legal Clinic
The Manitoulin Legal clinic is located on Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation and serves Indigenous people in the District of Manitoulin. 705-368-3333
Northwest Community Legal Clinic
The NWCLC serves low income residents of the Kenora and Rainy River Districts from three offices located in Fort Frances, Kenora,
and Atikokan. They can help with areas of workplace and housing law, obtaining ID's or accessing supports, and legal advice on simple criminal matters.
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Fort Frances
206 Scott Street
Fort Frances, ON P9A 1G7
807-274-5327 or Toll-free: 1-800-799-2485
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Kenora
Suite 6 – 308 Second St. S.
Kenora, ON P9N 1G4
(Market Square, enter off Chipman Street)
807- 468-8888 or Toll-free: 1-800-403-4757
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Atikokan
101 Main St. W.
PO Box 1676
Atikokan ON P0T 1C0
Telephone: 807-597-2811
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Aboriginal Legal Services Toronto (ALST)
ALST provides services to low-income Aboriginal people in Toronto only. Services include: Aboriginal Court workers; Gladue reports and aftercare; poverty law services (including police complaints); a criminal diversion program for adults and youth; an alternative process for child welfare cases; and test cases and law reform. ALST is trans-positive and Two Spirit-friendly. 1-416-408-3967 or 1-844-633-2886.
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Community Legal Assistance Sarnia
Community Legal Assistance Sarnia provides free legal services for people with low incomes in Sarnia-Lambton, Aamjiwnaang, Bkejwanong (Walpole Island) and Kettle and Stony Point, including Baamsedaa “Let’s Walk Together” program which provides referrals and support for Indigenous peoples. 519-332-8055 or Toll Free: 1-888-916-2527
Hamilton Community Legal Clinic
The HCLC offers the YÉN:TENE program. This program provides support for FNMI clients of Hamilton clinic in all areas of service. 289-680-4544
Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC)
There are 27 Indigenous Friendship Centres located in towns and cities across the province. They provide services for children and youth, education, culture, healing, justice and health. Their justice services include court worker programs, community justice programs and Gladue report writers. 416-956-7575 or Toll Free: 1-800-772-9291
Student Law Clinics
Student Legal Services Organizations (SLSO)
SLSOs are clinics affiliated with law schools where law students serve clients under the supervision of instructors. SLSOs help people in their local area with a range of legal issues, including minor crimes, immigration and human rights issues.
Kingston/Queen’s University
303 Bagot Street, Suite 500
613-533-2102
London/Western University
1151 Richmond Street Rm 120
519-661-3352
Toronto/University of Toronto
655 Spadina Ave
416-934-4535
Toronto/Osgoode at York University
4700 Keele S
416-736-5029
Ottawa/University of Ottawa
17 Copernicus Street
613-562-5600
Thunder Bay/Lakehead University
401 Red River Rd
807-346-7815
Windsor/University of Windsor
443 Ouellette Ave. Suite 200
519-253-7150
Online learning hubs
Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO)
CLEO is a free resource for anyone seeking information about the justice system and their legal rights in Ontario. Their Steps To Justice portal has step-by-step information to help people understand what to expect as they navigate the system. They also have a section devoted to other resources that’s worth checking out.
John Howard Society of Ontario (JHS)
JHS Ontario also has a resource section with info about navigating the criminal legal system in Ontario. They have primers on navigating adult correctional institutions, a Police Record Hub, a Learning Hub, and links to other provincial and community-based resources. They also have a guidebook on the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
LAO is another go-to resource for help on understanding your rights and how the justice system works in Ontario. They have sections for various areas of law, including criminal legal issues and youth legal issues.
Canadian Judicial Council (CJC)
The CDC has an online Criminal Law Handbook for people looking to represent themselves in criminal court.