September 16, 2024
Tribunals Ontario is observing the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, 2024. Our offices will be closed on September 30 and proceedings will resume as scheduled on October 1. Filing deadlines for September 30 will be extended to October 1 and applicable timelines that are calculated by business day will be extended one day.
TO Getting legal help
Learn about the external legal resources and services that can provide support for Tribunals Ontario matters.
Important: Some of these options for legal help have financial eligibility requirements. You must contact the organization to determine if you qualify.
On this page
Ontario’s Community Legal Clinics provide legal services for low-income individuals and families in several areas of law.
Legal Aid Ontario
Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) provides legal assistance for low-income people. Ontario’s Community Legal Clinics, are funded by Legal Aid Ontario to provide legal services for low-income individuals and families in several areas of law.
Landlord’s Self-Help Centre
The Landlord Self-Help Centre is the only community clinic funded by LAO that provides services exclusively to small-scale landlords across Ontario. Learn more about their services .
Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario
The Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO) is a specialty community legal clinic, funded by the LAO, with a provincial mandate to advance and protect the interests of low-income tenants. Learn more about their services .
Human Rights Legal Support Centre
The Human Rights Legal Support Centre (HRLSC) provides legal advice and assistance to people in Ontario who have experienced discrimination contrary to the Human Rights Code. Their services may include information about your rights under the Code, advice and guidance on filing applications at the HRTO, and legal representation at mediation and hearings. The HRLSC can also provide culturally sensitive Indigenous legal support and accommodations for persons with disabilities.
JusticeNet
JusticeNet is a not-for-profit service helping people in need of legal expertise, whose income is too high to access legal aid and too low to afford standard legal fees.
Reduced fees are calculated according to a sliding scale which takes into account the number of individuals supported and amount of income from all sources.
Clients who have a low income should contact Legal Aid Ontario to determine eligibility before applying for this program.
Law Society of Ontario
The Law Society of Ontario (LSO) has a referral service which provides the name of a lawyer or licensed paralegal who will provide a free consultation of up to 30 minutes to help you determine your rights and options. The Law Society also produces a guide to handling everyday legal problems and gives advice on finding and choosing a lawyer. This information is available in the “Public Resources” section of the Law Society’s website.
Justice for Children and Youth
Justice for Children and Youth (JFCY) is a legal aid clinic that serves low-income children and youth under 18 and homeless youth under 25. JFCY staff lawyers provide direct legal assistance to eligible children and youth in the Greater Toronto Area. JFCY also offers summary legal advice, information and assistance to young people, parents (in education matters), professionals and community groups across Ontario.
Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth
The Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth (The Advocate’s Office) responds to concerns from children, youth, and families seeking or receiving services in the areas of youth justice, child welfare, children’s mental health, development services and children’s treatment services.
The Advocate’s Office can help youth through a process at a board or tribunal and may sometimes intervene directly on their behalf.
Pro Bono Ontario
Pro Bono Ontario’s Education Law Program provides free child advocacy for families whose children face challenges to their rights in school related to accommodating special needs/disabilities; unfair expulsions, suspensions, exclusions or transfers; being denied the right to attend school; and bullying or harassment.
Community Legal Education Ontario
Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO) produces free legal information in print and online, in English and French and other languages, on many topics including housing and social assistance. Your Legal Rights is a website of Community Legal Education Ontario which has practical legal information on a wide range of legal topics produced by hundreds of organizations. You can also find a map and full listing of community legal clinics – general service, specialty community legal clinics, and student legal aid services societies in Ontario.