About Legal Aid Ontario
Fact Sheets
Expanding services for Ontario families through the Family Law Service Centres
Supporting families is a priority for Legal Aid Ontario (LAO). To help clients access the resources they need, LAO has created Family Law Service Centres (FLSCs), which are located in six communities across the province. This service will expand to other areas in the near future.
Available services
Family Law Service Centres offer a broader range of services, such as mediation and settlement conferences, so clients have an alternative to going to court with their family law issues. The centres are one-stop resources for clients seeking information, support and family legal services. Each client will be provided a focused intervention at the outset to determine how LAO can help.
FLSC offer eligible clients a range of legal resources and support for family matters, including:
- help with documents
- referrals to advice counsel
- full representation in family law cases by a staff lawyer
- referral to a private lawyer who does legal aid work, if eligible
- mediation and settlement conferences
- referrals to other social service agencies
Applications to the certificate program are available for serious domestic violence, child protection, or complex family law cases.
The centres are staffed by a lawyer manager, staff lawyers, and legal workers. Each of the FLSCs serve clients going to the family courts located in their area.
Locations
FLSCs are located in Toronto, North York, Newmarket, Brampton, Chatham and Sarnia, with more locations coming soon.
Questions?
For more information on this topic contact media@lao.on.ca
