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Detecting legal problems

This tip sheet sets out some common things you might hear clients say when they have a legal problem. It also links you to legal information that may be helpful.

Giving legal information

Community workers who are not legally trained can only give legal information – not advice. This tip sheet gives examples of both in order to help you understand the difference.

Clues to reliable legal information

There is a lot of legal information available online – so much that sometimes it can be hard to tell what you can rely on. This tip sheet provides a checklist of what to look for when assessing the legal information you find online.

Sources for online legal information

This tip sheet lists several websites where you can find reliable online legal information for people in Ontario.

Legal services in Ontario

This tip sheet describes and gives contact information for free or low-cost legal services in Ontario.

Hiring and working with a lawyer

This tip sheet sets out some examples of when it is important to consult a lawyer. It also gives tips on interviewing a lawyer and discussing fee structures with a lawyer.

Making referrals for legal services

This tip sheet outlines some things to consider when making referrals for legal services.

Tip sheet series: Legal information and referral skills for community workers

Table of contentsCLEO (Community Legal Education Ontario/ Éducation juridique communautaire Ontario) Updated in March 2020

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Helping people detect their legal problems is important. When you make a person aware of their legal problem, they can then look for legal information and get legal help. Knowing what the legal problems are will also help you point them to the right information and give them useful referrals to resources in their community.

Detecting issues that can evolve into legal problems is also helpful. Being aware of potential legal problems can help people avoid a legal problem or help them deal with one before it gets more serious. The following questions may help give you a sense of whether someone has a legal problem or a problem that may evolve into a legal problem. 

Do they describe a life event? When people come to you for help, do they mention a life event? A life event is something big that happens in a person’s life that changes their situation. For example, getting married, separating from a spouse or partner, having children, losing a job, starting to get income support from the government, or being evicted from a home, are life events. Life events sometimes trigger legal problems.

Did they bring legal documents or legal forms? When people come to you for help, do they bring or tell you about legal documents or letters they received, or forms they filled in or need to fill in? This kind of paperwork may tell you that their problem has a legal aspect.

Do their statements flag a legal problem? When people come to you for help, do they say things that make you think this could be a legal problem? The following statements, for example, flag a legal problem: “My ex-partner has stopped paying child support as he’s starting a new family.” “My employer is always commenting on my appearance.” “Are there any shelters close by?” “I have bedbugs and my landlord said he has no money to fix the problem.”

If you aren’t sure whether a problem is a legal one, search websites like CLEO’s Steps to Justice (stepstojustice.ca) using key words. For example, you can search for “child support”, “domestic violence”, or “tenant rights”. If someone brings you a document or form, you can do a search using the form’s name. For example, if you see a form that has ‘Form L1’ on it, an online search will tell you that it is an application form to evict a tenant who hasn’t paid rent.

Here are some examples of life events, sorted by area of law. The first column gives examples of what you might hear someone say. The second column lists related legal forms or documents that a person may bring with them or mention, or that you may want to point them to. The third

Detecting legal problemsCLEO (Community Legal Education Ontario/ Éducation juridique communautaire Ontario)

Updated in September 2019

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Detecting legal problems / Updated September 2019

column gives the URL of legal information on CLEO’s Steps to Justice site that you might suggest to someone in these situations.

Consumer law – legal problems

Life events – Significant life events that might trigger a legal problem in this area of law:

z owing money to someone

z declaring bankruptcy

z paying for a good or service and not getting a satisfactory deal

What you might hear someone say Documents a person might bring with them

Related legal information

“A collection agency has been hassling me about my debt payments.”

Demand letters from a collection agency or a lawyer – demanding that the person take a certain action, such as pay money

Consumer Complaint Form

bit.ly/S2Jcon1

“I can’t afford my car payments.” Credit report or consumer report – This report shows details of a person’s credit history.

bit.ly/S2Jcon2

“The repair shop charged me more than they said they would.”

Copy of invoice from the dealer

Flyer from the dealer setting out their rates

bit.ly/S2Jcon3

“I felt pressured to buy something from a door-to-door salesperson.”

Not applicable bit.ly/S2Jcon4

“I bought something from a door-to-door salesperson, but it broke right away.”

Not applicable bit.ly/S2Jcon5

“I want to cancel my payday loan agreement.”

Loan agreement – This is a contract between a lender and a borrower, usually in writing. The agreement includes the terms, which means it says what each person promises to do.

bit.ly/S2Jcon6

“Someone asked me for a credit check.”

Form to fill out to consent or agree to a credit check

bit.ly/S2Jcon7

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 Employment law – legal problems

Life events – Significant life events that might trigger a legal problem in this area of law:

z getting a first job

z getting a new job

z being fired

z being laid off

What you might hear someone say Documents a person might bring with them

Related legal information

“I have been working extra hours but my employer isn’t paying me for these hours.”

Overtime agreement – a document that an employee might be asked to sign to agree to work more hours than the Employment Standards Act allows for

Employment Standards Claim Form

bit.ly/S2Jemp1

“I was laid off without notice or extra pay.”

Record of Employment bit.ly/S2Jemp3

“I got a job but I quit because my employer changed my job description and salary.”

Letter from employer stating change in job description and salary

bit.ly/S2Jemp4

“I have chronic back pain from the heavy lifting I have to do at work. My boss offered me a different job that pays less.”

Request to provide information about their need for accommodation at work – an employer might ask for a medical report if the employer asks to be accommodated for a disability

bit.ly/S2Jemp5

“I feel uncomfortable with the way my employer talks to me. He is always commenting on my appearance.”

Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario Notice of Application

bit.ly/S2Jemp6

“I wasn’t hired and I think it’s because of my disability/race/age/gender/other human rights ground.”

Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario Notice of Application

bit.ly/S2Jemp7

Detecting legal problems / Updated September 2019

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Detecting legal problems / Updated September 2019

Employment law – legal problems, continued

What you might hear someone say Documents a person might bring with them

Related legal information

“I got hurt at work.” Worker’s Report of Injury/Disease (Form 6) – A form an employee might fill out when they have had an injury at work or if they suffer from a disease they believe was caused by their working conditions

bit.ly/S2Jemp8

Family law – legal problems

Life events – Significant life events that might trigger a legal problem in this area of law:

z living with a partner

z getting married

z separating from a spouse or partner

z having and raising children

z experiencing domestic violence

The Ontario Court Services website lists all the forms used in family law court cases such as divorce, child custody and access, child and spousal support.

What you might hear someone say Documents a person might bring with them

Related legal information

“I want to change my separation agreement.”

Copy of the separation agreement

Form 26B: Affidavit for Filing Domestic Contract or Paternity Agreement

bit.ly/S2Jfam1

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Detecting legal problems / Updated September 2019

Family law – legal problems, continued

What you might hear someone say Documents a person might bring with them

Related legal information

“I want to know how to get a divorce.”

Form 8 Application

Form 25A

bit.ly/S2Jfam2

“My ex-partner is making more money now, so I want him/her to pay more child support.”

Form 13: Financial Statement (for Support Claims)

Support Deduction Order

bit.ly/S2Jfam3

“My ex-partner is having a child with someone else and is saying he/she doesn’t have to pay child support anymore.”

Copy of the support agreement

bit.ly/S2Jfam4

“I think my partner is hiding income to avoid paying child support.”

Copy of the support agreement bit.ly/S2Jfam5

“My ex-partner keeps changing the time he/she will pick up our kids.”

Copy of the separation agreement

bit.ly/S2Jfam6

“There was a fight in my home and someone called the police.”

Copy of a police report related to the incident.

bit.ly/S2Jfam7

“Are there any shelters near here? My partner has been abusing me.”

Not applicable bit.ly/S2Jfam8

Housing law – legal problems

Life events – Significant life events that might trigger a legal problem in this area of law:

z moving into or out of an apartment

z moving in with a roommate

z moving to another country

z buying a home

The Landlord and Tenant Board website lists many of the forms used in housing law, including the ones mentioned below. When a landlord wants to evict someone, usually the first step is to give them a written notice. This notice should have a name that starts with “Notice to End Your Tenancy…”, and should have one of these numbers at the top: N4, N5, N6, N7, N8, N12, or N13.

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Detecting legal problems / Updated September 2019

Housing law – legal problems, continued

What you might hear someone say Documents a person might bring with them

Related legal information

“I’m behind on my rent and my landlord said I have to move out.”

Form N4 – Notice to End a Tenancy for Non-payment of Rent

Form L1 - Application to Evict a Tenant for Non-payment of Rent and to Collect Rent the Tenant Owes

bit.ly/S2Jhou1

“My landlord asked me to move out so that their family can move into the home, but I want to stay.”

Form N12 – Notice to End a Tenancy Because the Landlord, a Purchaser or a Family Member Requires the Rental Unit

Form L2 – Application to End a Tenancy and Evict a Tenant

bit.ly/S2Jhou2

“My landlord has threatened to evict me because I make too much noise.”

Form N5 – Notice to End your Tenancy for Interfering with Others, Damage, or Overcrowding

Form L2 – Application to End a Tenancy and Evict a Tenant

bit.ly/S2Jhou3

“My landlord has threatened to evict me because of damage I did to my apartment.”

Form N5 – Notice to End your Tenancy for Interfering with Others, Damage, or Overcrowding

Form L2 – Application to End a Tenancy and Evict a Tenant

bit.ly/S2Jhou4

“There is an eviction order against me, but I can’t find another place to move.”

Notice to Vacate – This is a notice a tenant may get that tells them the date that the Court Enforcement Office (Sheriff) plans to come to change the locks to the rental unit.

bit.ly/S2Jhou5

“My heat isn’t working properly and my landlord hasn’t fixed it.”

Form T6 – Tenant Application about Maintenance

bit.ly/S2Jhou6

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Detecting legal problems / Updated September 2019

Housing law – legal problems, continued

What you might hear someone say Documents a person might bring with them

Related legal information

“Someone broke into my apartment and my landlord said I have to fix the window myself.”

Form T6 – Tenant Application about Maintenance

bit.ly/S2Jhou7

“My apartment has bedbugs and my landlord said he doesn’t have the money to pay for an exterminator.”

Form T6 – Tenant Application about Maintenance

bit.ly/S2Jhou8

“My landlord comes into my apartment whenever he wants to do repairs without giving me notice.”

Form T2 – Application about Tenant Rights

bit.ly/S2Jhou9

“My landlord says I can’t have guests over late at night.”

Letter from landlord saying the person can’t have guests

Copy of tenancy agreement witha clause saying “no guests”

bit.ly/S2Jhou10

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Giving legal informationCLEO (Community Legal Education Ontario/ Éducation juridique communautaire Ontario)

Updated in September 2019

Legal information is not the same as legal advice. Community workers who are not legally trained can only give legal information – not advice. This means that you can’t tell people who have a legal problem what they should do or what they should say.

Legal information is general information that can help people understand their legal rights, how legal processes work, and how to get more help. It can be shared with the general public through the web, print materials, media, or workshops, or given to someone looking for help with a legal problem. A community worker who is not legally trained can give legal information.

Legal advice involves one person giving their opinion to another person about how that person should deal with a specific legal problem. Only licensed legal professionals can provide legal advice in Ontario. Legal advice is always confidential between the lawyer and the person, and can only be shared with the person’s permission.

If someone asks me for legal information, what should I do?Many community workers are asked for help by people who have legal problems. Often, it’s not clear to workers what they can say that is helpful but does not cross the line into legal advice.

Community workers can feel comfortable:

z pointing someone to reliable information on a website or pamphlet

z suggesting they attend a legal information workshop

z referring them to licensed legal professionals or other services that can help them

But people often ask for more specific help or information. If they do this and you give them legal information, make sure to tell them that you can’t give legal advice. You can’t tell them what to do or what to say.

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Giving legal information / Updated in September 2019

Here are some general tips on what to say when you get those questions:

z If they’re asking about how to deal with their situation, and you know that a particular law or rules might apply, you can tell them this and point to the rules.

n You shouldn’t say, “This law applies to your situation.” That is legal advice.

z If they’re asking for help with completing a form, you can tell them that you can help fill it out as long as they tell you what they want to say, and you just write it down.

n You shouldn’t fill out the form using your own words or tell them what words to use.

z If they want to know whether they’re using the right form, you can help them read the instructions on the form and look for other information that might be helpful in understand-ing whether it’s the right form.

n You shouldn’t say that you know for sure that it’s the right form.

z If they want you to explain what a letter from a lawyer means, or what a legal document means, you can read the document to them out loud, or translate it into their language. You can help them understand the letter or document by explaining legal terms or other complicated words or phrases in plain language.

n You shouldn’t give them your interpretation or views of what the letter or document means or what they should do.

z If they want you to go with them to an appointment at a lawyer’s office, or even to a hearing in a court or tribunal, you can do this. And you can explain the general court process and the expected etiquette in court.

n You shouldn’t tell them what to say in court or speak on their behalf in court.

Where can I find out more? For more about the difference between legal information and legal advice, see:

z CLEO Connect’s “5 steps to help clients” - see step #4 “Learn the difference between legal information and legal advice”.

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There is a lot of legal information available online – so much that sometimes it can be hard to tell what you can rely on. When looking for legal information online, ask:

1. Am I getting the information from a trustworthy source? z Does the organization have the appropriate expertise?

It’s important that legal information is reviewed by an experienced lawyer on a regular basis. Government, legal aid, and community legal clinics all have lawyers on staff. If you find legal information on the site of a non-profit and you’re not sure if a lawyer was involved in preparing it, check the “About us” page or contact the organization to find out.

z Are contact details given?Reliable legal information providers tell you how to contact them, usually by giving an email address and a phone number, and sometimes a mailing address.

2. Am I getting complete and unbiased legal information? z Is the information free?

Commercial businesses are trying to sell services. Their information can be incomplete or biased as a way of encouraging you to buy their services.

z Does the website or legal information have ads? Most organizations that present complete, unbiased information, such as government, legal aid, community legal clinics, and non-profits, don’t have paid ads on their websites.

3. Does the legal information apply to my location? z Does the information apply to Ontario?

Always check to make sure that the law applies to Ontario. Some information may apply to Ontario but be produced by the federal government.

4. Is the legal information up-to-date? z Does the information tell you when the information was produced or most recently

reviewed? Laws change and legal information needs to be reviewed for accuracy on a regular basis. Check when the information was produced or last reviewed by someone with legal expertise.

Clues to reliable legal informationCLEO (Community Legal Education Ontario/ Éducation juridique communautaire Ontario) Updated in September 2019

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Source Description Languages Contact info

General - multiple topicseneral - multiple topics

CLEO

(Community Legal

Education Ontario)

legal information

focused on low-income and

disadvantaged communities

English and French;

some information in

other languages

cleo.on.ca

Order print publications

online or call

416-408-4420

CLEO - Steps to Justice

(EN)

Justice pas-à-pas

(FR)

Step-by-step legal

information for people in

Ontario

• checklist, forms, and self-

help guides

• live chat support

English and French stepstojustice.ca (EN)

justicepasapas.ca (FR)

CLEO Connect Your

Legal Rights

library of legal information

created by organizations

across Ontario

English; some

information in French

and other languages

cleoconnect.ca/

yourlegalrights

Cliquezjustice.ca legal information on several

legal topics

French cliquezjustice.ca

Ministry of the

Attorney General

legal information about

family, criminal, and wills and

estates law

English and French bit.ly/govonca

Settlement.org

Etablissement.org

legal information for

newcomers

English and French;

some information in

other languages

settlement.org (EN)

etablissement.org (FR)

Consumer law information

CLEO - Steps to Justice

& Justice pas-à-pas

legal information about

consumer law

English and French stepstojustice.ca (EN)

justicepasapas.ca (FR)

Consumer Protection

Ontario

legal information about

consumer law

English and French bit.ly/consumeron

Sources for online legal informationCLEO (Community Legal Education Ontario/ Éducation juridique communautaire Ontario)

Updated in March 2020

Page 2 of 4

Source Description Languages Contact infoConsumer law legislation:

• CollectionAgenciesandDebtSettlementAct: ontario.ca/laws/statute/90c14

• ConsumerProtectionAct: ontario.ca/laws/statute/02c30

• ConsumerReportingAct: ontario.ca/laws/statute/90c33

Employment law information

CLEO - Steps to Justice

& Justice pas-à-pas

legal information about

employment law

English and French stepstojustice.ca (EN)

justicepasapas.ca (FR)

Human Rights Legal

Support Centre

legal information about

human rights in employment

English and French;

some information in

other languages

hrlsc.on.ca

Ontario Ministry of

Labour

legal information on the

EmploymentStandardsAct

and health and safety law

English and French;

some information in

other languages

bit.ly/minlabour

info line: 416-326-7160 or

1-800-531-5551

Workers’ Action

Centre

legal information on issues

affecting workers in low-wage

and precarious employment

English and French;

some information in

other languages

workersactioncentre.org

info line: 416-531-0778 or

1-855-531-0778

Employment law legislation

• EmploymentStandardsAct:ontario.ca/laws/statute/00e41

• HumanRightsCode (workplace discrimination): ontario.ca/laws/statute/90h19

• OccupationalHealthandSafetyAct: ontario.ca/laws/statute/90o01

Family law information

CLEO - Steps to Justice

& Justice pas-à-pas

legal information about family

law

English and French stepstojustice.ca (EN)

justicepasapas.ca (FR)

CLEO’s Steps in a

Family Law Case

step-by-step legal information

on the family law process

English and French bit.ly/cleofamilycourt

CLEO’s Guided

Pathways to Divorce

Forms

series of online questions that

help users fill in divorce forms,

and legal information

English and French bit.ly/divorcepathways

Family Law Education

for Women (FLEW)

legal information on women’s

rights and family law

English and French onefamilylaw.ca

Ministry of the

Attorney General

legal information on a range

of issues that can be dealt

with in a family court

English and French;

some information in

other languages

bit.ly/ministryfamily

Family Court and

Beyond (Luke’s Place)

legal information for women

leaving abusive relationships

English familycourtandbeyond.ca

Sources for online legal information / Updated in March 2020

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Sources for online legal information / Updated in March 2020

Source Description Languages Contact infoFamily law legislation

• ChildandFamilyServicesAct: ontario.ca/laws/statute/90c11

• Children’sLawReformAct:ontario.ca/laws/statute/90c12

• DivorceAct:bit.ly/canadadivorceact

• FamilyLawAct: ontario.ca/laws/statute/90f03

Housing law information

CLEO - Steps to Justice

& Justice pas-à-pas

legal information about

housing law

English and French stepstojustice.ca (EN)

justicepasapas.ca (FR)

Advocacy Centre for

Tenants Ontario

legal information and tip

sheets for tenants

English and French acto.ca

Centre for Equality

Rights in

Accommodation

legal information about

housing and human rights law

English and French equalityrights.org

Federation of Metro

Tenants’ Associations

legal information and fact

sheets for tenants

English; some info in

several other languages

torontotenants.org

hotline: 416-921-9494

Human Rights Legal

Support Centre

legal information about

human rights in employment

English and French;

some information in

other languages

hrlsc.on.ca

Landlord and Tenant

Board

legal information for tenants

and landlords

English and French sjto.gov.on.ca/ltb

Housing law legislation

• ResidentialTenanciesAct:ontario.ca/laws/statute/06r17

• HumanRightsCode (discrimination in housing): ontario.ca/laws/statute/90h19

Human rights information

CLEO - Steps to Justice

& Justice pas-à-pas

legal information on human

rights law

English and French stepstojustice.ca (EN)

justicepasapas.ca (FR)

Human Rights Legal

Support Centre

legal information about

human rights issues in Ontario

English and French;

some information in

other languages

hrlsc.on.ca

Human rights legislation

• HumanRightsCode: ontario.ca/laws/statute/90h19

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Sources for online legal information / Updated in December 2019

Source Description Languages Contact info

Immigration and refugee law information

CLEO - Steps to Justice

& Justice pas-à-pas

legal information on

immigration law

English and French stepstojustice.ca (EN)

justicepasapas.ca (FR)

CLEO - Steps to Justice

& Justice pas-à-pas

legal information on

refugee law

English and French stepstojustice.ca (EN)

justicepasapas.ca (FR)

Settlement.org

Etablissement.org

legal information for

newcomers

English and French;

some information in

other languages

settlement.org (EN)

etablissement.org (FR)

Immigration and refugee law legislation

• ImmigrationandRefugeeProtectionAct: http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/I-2.5/

Legal information for seniors

Advocacy Centre for the

Elderly

legal information for seniors

on comsumer protection,

elder abuse, health care

consent, home and long-term

care, pensions, powers of

attorney, and wills

English acelaw.ca

Legislation affecting seniors

• ConsumerProtectionAct: ontario.ca/laws/statute/02c30

• HealthCareConsentAct:ontario.ca/laws/statute/96h02

• Long-TermCareHomesAct: ontario.ca/laws/statute/07l08

• RetirementHomesAct:ontario.ca/laws/statute/10r11

Legal information for young people

Justice for Children

and Youth

legal information for

children and youth on child

protection and custody,

education, homelessness,

human rights, provincial

offences, and criminal justice

English and French jfcy.org

Legislation affecting young people:

• ChildandFamilyServicesAct:ontario.ca/laws/statute/90c11

• EducationAct: ontario.ca/laws/statute/90e02

• YouthCriminalJusticeAct: laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/Y-1.5

Page 1 of 3

Service Description Contact info

General (many services are free if you are on a low income)neral - multiple topics

Community legal

clinics

They provide free legal advice and representation to

low-income people in Ontario’s communities. Most

clinics provide services in housing, social assistance, and

employment. Some provide services in consumer protec-

tion, and immigration and refugee law.

bit.ly/ontarioclinics

• Enter address or postal

code in the search bar

Specialty community

legal clinics

Some clinics provide legal advice and representation in

areas of law that affect specific marginalized communities.

Some examples: people with disabilities, people with

HIV/ AIDS, Indigenous peoples, and youth.

bit.ly/specialty-clinics

Student Legal Aid

Services Societies

These student-run legal clinics at Ontario law schools

provide legal advice and represent people in several

types of civil law cases and also minor criminal cases.

bit.ly/studentlass

Legal Aid Ontario They provide a variety of legal services for low-income

people who need help with some types of criminal, family,

immigration, or refugee law problems.

bit.ly/ONlegalaid

1-800-668-8258

Pro Bono Ontario They provide free legal advice in some areas of law and

help people fill in forms at Ontario courts on a drop-in

basis. They also have self-help centres in Toronto and

Ottawa.

probonoontario.org

1-855-255-7256

JusticeNet This non-profit service refers people to legal

professionals who are willing to work on a reduced fee

basis in several areas of law. It is available to people who

can’t access Legal Aid Ontario services. Not available in all

cities or towns in Ontario.

Make online request for

referral:

justicenet.ca

Law Society of

Ontario Referral

Service

This service refers people to legal professionals who will

provide free consultations of up to 30 minutes. If in crisis,

call 416-947-5255 or 1-855.947-5255.

Make online request for

referral:

lsrs.lso.ca/lsrs/welcome

Legal services in OntarioCLEO (Community Legal Education Ontario/ Éducation juridique communautaire Ontario)

Updated in March 2020

Page 2 of 3

Service Description Contact info

Consumer law

Student Legal Aid

Services Societies

At some locations, they give legal advice on some

consumer law problems.

bit.ly/studentlass

Community legal

clinics

Some clinics give legal advice related to consumer law

problems.

bit.ly/ontarioclinics

Employment law

Human Rights Legal

Support Centre

They provide legal advice to people who have

experienced discrimination at work.

hrlsc.on.ca

1-866-625-5179

Pro Bono Ontario They host periodic employment law clinics. probonoontario.org

1-855-255-7256

Community legal

clinics

Some clinics provide legal advice related to consumer law

problems.

bit.ly/ontarioclinics

Family law

Legal Aid Ontario

Family Law Services

Legal Aid Ontario offers several family law services to low-

income people across Ontario. These include:

• family law service centres where people can get legal

advice and representation

• helping people get a certificate to pay for lawyers.

bit.ly/familylao

1-800-668-8258

Legal Aid Ontario

Family Duty Counsel

They provide lawyers at family courts in Ontario to give

same-day legal advice to people.

1-800-668-8258

Legal Aid Ontario

Family Law Service

Centres

These service centres offer a range of supports and

services to people on low incomes for family matters.

bit.ly/familylsc

Legal Aid Ontario

Metro Toronto Family

Law Services

This program connects eligible people in Toronto with a

lawyer who can help them with their family law problem.

Interpretation services available.

416-696-2992(Toronto only)

Barbara Schlifer

Clinic

This clinic for women experiencing violence provides

legal advice and counselling services.

schliferclinic.com

Family Law

Information Centres

These centres offer several services, including legal advice

and document support for low-income people.

bit.ly/flicsont

Family Limited Servi-

ces Scope Project

This service connects people with lawyers who provide

services for part, but not all, of their legal matter.

familylawlss.ca

Student Legal Aid

Services Societies

At some locations, they give legal advice on some

family law problems.

bit.ly/studentlass

Legal services in Ontario / Updated in March 2020

Page 3 of 3

Legal services in Ontario / Updated in March 2020

Service Description Contact info

Housing law

Community legal

clinics

Most clinics provide legal advice related to housing law

problems.

bit.ly/ontarioclinics

Human Rights Legal

Support Centre

They provide legal advice to people who have

experienced discrimination in their housing situation.

hrlsc.on.ca

1-866-625-5179

Student Legal Aid

Services Societies

At some locations, they give legal advice on some

housing law problems.

bit.ly/studentlass

Tenant Duty Counsel They provide legal workers at Landlord and Tenant

Board hearings in Ontario to give same-day legal advice

to people who appear there without a lawyer.

bit.ly/actotdc

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How can a lawyer help me? If you have a legal problem, a lawyer can help you figure out what to do. They can tell you how the law applies to your situation and what your options are. They can tell you what they think will happen based on other cases they have worked on, and help you get the best result possible.

Lawyers do many different things. You might ask a lawyer to:

z review letters or legal documents, such as employment contracts or separation agreements

z draft legal documents for you, such as wills, powers of attorney, contracts, or separation agreements

z speak for you in court or at a tribunal

Legal issues can have serious consequences. Having a lawyer is especially important if:

z you have been charged with a crime and you could go to jail

z you are afraid for your or your family’s safety and security

z you have been told that you could get deported from Canada

z you have a hard time reading legal documents or advocating for yourself

z the person on the other side of your problem has a lawyer

How can I find a lawyer? 1. There are a few ways to find the names of lawyers in your area:

2. Referrals from friends and family. Ask them if they’ve worked with a lawyer on a similar issue, and if they were happy with the lawyer and why.

3. If you have a low income, and are facing some types of criminal, family, immigration, or refugee law problems, you may be able to get a lawyer for free from Legal Aid Ontario. You can call them at 1-800-668-8258. Before you call, get together all documents related to your legal issue, your income, and where you live. If you get an appointment to see someone, make sure to bring your identification, such as your driver’s licence, passport, or permanent residence card, with you.

4. If you have a low or middle income, you may be able to find a lawyer with lower fees through JusticeNet (www.justicenet.ca). The lawyers listed there charge fees based on your income.

5. You may be able to find a lawyer through the Law Society Referral Service at lsrs.lso.on.ca/lsrs. After you submit your request online, a lawyer will call you within 3 business days for a free, 30-minute consultation. After that, you can decide if you want to hire them. You can also request a lawyer who speaks a specific language.

Hiring and working with a lawyerCLEO (Community Legal Education Ontario/ Éducation juridique communautaire Ontario)

Updated in September 2019

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Hiring and working with a lawyer / January 2018

How can I find a good lawyer? Once you have found a few names, you may have to do some research and meet with a couple of them before you decide who to hire. You can search for lawyers by name in the Law Society of Upper Canada’s Lawyer Directory to see if they are licensed or if they have been disciplined, then look at their websites or read reviews of them. You can then call the lawyers’ offices and ask to set up an appointment for a consultation. Ask whether there is a fee for the consultation.

Interview a lawyer

At your first appointment, the lawyer will interview you about your situation. Bring all documents related to your legal problem to your meeting as the lawyer will want to see them.

It’s best to tell your lawyer all the facts of your situation, even if they are personal or embarrassing. The lawyer must keep your information confidential, which means that they cannot tell anyone about your case without your permission. Look for a lawyer you feel comfortable with and who answers your questions in a way you can understand.

Once the lawyer understands your situation, they will give you their legal opinion and discuss your options. They will also tell you what they think is likely to happen based on their experience. You might not be able to get everything you want, but it’s your lawyer’s job to tell you what they think is realistic. You must make a choice and give your lawyer instructions on what you want them to do.

Take notes during your first meeting and ask the lawyer your own questions. For example, you can ask:

z How long have you been working in this area of law?

z What experience do you have with clients who have been in similar situations?

z Can I talk to one of your previous clients as a reference?

z Will you check with me to get my okay before you...

z How often will I hear from you? Will it be by phone, email, or mail?

z Will anyone else work on my case?

z If I have questions, who should I contact?

z When can you start working on my case?

You should also tell the lawyer about any needs you have like:

z needing an interpreter

z how to communicate with you

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Hiring and working with a lawyer / January 2018

Discuss fees

Find out what the lawyer’s fees are. Most lawyers bill you by the hour or part of an hour, although some lawyers might charge a flat rate. Usually lawyers also charge you for “disbursements” like court filing fees or courier fees. Often you have to pay a retainer fee at the beginning in order to hire or “retain” the lawyer. The total amount you pay will probably be more than the retainer. If it is less, then the lawyer should give the rest of your money back to you.

Usually, lawyers help you with your case the whole way through. To save some money, you could look for a lawyer who provides “unbundled services,” which means that they help you with just some parts of your case, such as drafting a document or representing you in court. This can help you save money, but you have to do more work on your case.

Unbundled services are also called limited scope services. If you plan to handle part of your case by yourself, you could get help from a legal coach. A legal coach can help you understand the process and prepare to represent yourself.

If you need to go to a tribunal or small claims court, you may want to hire a paralegal instead of a lawyer. Paralegals work in many different areas of law and they are usually less expensive than lawyers.

When discussing fees with a lawyer you may hire, ask questions like:

z How much do you charge?

z How is it calculated? Is it daily, hourly, or parts of an hour?

z How much do you think my case will cost overall? What could make it cost more?

z How can I help keep the cost down?

z Will you ask me before you do something that will make it cost more?

z What will you bill me for?

z Will you bill me for phone calls, emails, or your assistant’s time?

z How much will your retainer be? What does it cover?

z Do you offer unbundled or limited scope services?

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Many people, especially marginalized ones, end up getting referred to the wrong legal service — and then they’re told to phone or go somewhere else. This is frustrating and can lead to “referral fatigue”. And it becomes less likely that the person will take the steps they need to deal with a legal problem in a timely way.

Here are some things to consider when making referrals to legal services to try to make sure that the people you refer end up in the right place.

1. Does the legal office serve the area where the person lives or works? z Some legal offices that provide cheap or free legal services, such as community legal clinics,

can only serve people that work within a specific geographic or “catchment” area.

z You can find the correct community legal clinic to refer someone to by conducting a postal code search on the Legal Aid Ontario website.

2. Does the legal office give help for the type of legal problem the person is dealing with?

z Legal offices vary in the services that they provide. It’s a good idea to check the websites of the legal offices you are referring people to in order to see whether they can help.

3. Does the legal office require the person to meet financial eligibility criteria? z Many cheap or free legal services get public funding and must restrict some or all of the

services they offer to people who make less than a certain amount of money. And financial eligibility criteria are typically set at a very low income threshold.

z But some places may be able to offer legal information or advice by telephone to people who do not qualify financially.

4. Does the legal office offer services that are accessible for the person? z If the person you are referring has special needs, phone or check the website of the legal

office if possible to find out how the office can accommodate those needs.

5. Does the legal office have someone who speaks the person’s language? z Some legal offices can access telephone interpretation services, while others cannot afford

to. You could suggest to the person you’re referring that they ask a friend or family member to help them communicate with the legal office.

Making referrals for legal servicesCLEO (Community Legal Education Ontario/ Éducation juridique communautaire Ontario)

Updated in September 2019