Who is eligible to get legal advice by phone (summary legal advice)?
All callers can receive general legal information from one of our legal professionals, such as information about:
- the law
- forms
- court processes
- referrals to community supports and other services
To receive specific information or advice from a lawyer to help with your unique situation (summary legal advice), you must meet LAO’s legal and financial eligibility criteria.
Financial eligibility
You may be required to meet the following financial criteria in order to qualify for summary legal advice services:
| Family size | Income must be below |
|---|---|
| Single boarders | $45,440 |
| 1 | $45,440 |
| 2 | $45,440 |
| 3 | $45,440 |
| 4 | $45,440 |
| 5+ | $50,803 |
Effective March 3, 2025, the asset threshold is $15,000 regardless of family size.
We understand that your individual situation may be unique and complex, and not all cases are required to meet the legal and financial criteria listed above to be granted summary legal advice services.
Legal eligibility
Please note that speaking to a lawyer by phone is for family matters only.
If you have a criminal matter
Our criminal summary legal advice services are for those looking for information or advice about:
- First appearance or any court appearances, including charge resolution (plea, sentencing, diversion)
- How to connect with duty counsel
- Transferring charges to another jurisdiction
- Consequences of various sentences
If you have a family matter
Our family summary legal advice services include information or advice about:
- Options for resolving family matters
- Domestic violence
- Decision-making responsibility and parenting time
- Child support
- Going to family court
Please note that the list above is not exhaustive. Call us to learn if your family legal matter meets our legal criteria for summary legal advice.
For more information on summary legal advice, visit our webpage.