Temporary service changes due to COVID-19
Last updated: December 5, 2022
A blend of remote and in-person services are now available as part of Legal Aid Ontario’s transition back to providing in-person services.
Clients are asked to self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and asked not to attend LAO offices and locations if experiencing symptoms. Some of our offices are equipped with Plexiglas barriers, and all offices have hand sanitizer and anti-bacterial surface wipes. Physical distancing is recommended to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Wearing a mask is strongly recommended for clients and visitors attending LAO offices and locations.
In-person services
Duty counsel offices located within courthouses are open five days a week to help clients who must appear in person that day. Priority will be given to people with emergency family matters and criminal matters where the accused person is in custody.
Please call us if you need legal advice for a family or criminal matter taking place on a future date. Our contact centre is open, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
- Toll free: 1-800-668-8258
- GTA: 416-979-1446
Important: Each court location may adopt slightly different approaches to virtual and in-person proceedings. Please contact the court where your matter is being heard if you are unsure about what is expected of you.
When possible, we encourage you to use our phone services. Call us at 416-979-1446 or 1-800-668-8258 (toll-free), Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
District offices provide a blend of remote and in-person services.
Offices will be open a minimum of two days (16 hours) per week for client service.
For all applications for legal aid services (intake services), please visit this page or contact 1-800-668-8258 (toll-free).
All locations are open on Tuesdays.
Please contact your local district office to find out what other days/times it is open as local office schedules may differ based on the needs of the communities they serve, staff resources, and court schedules. Visitors to a district office at other days/times will be directed to call LAO’s Contact Center for general inquiries.
You can also apply for legal aid Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. by calling us at 416-979-1446 or 1-800-668-8258 (toll-free).
Staff at other Legal Aid offices, including Family Law Service Centres (FLSC) and our Refugee Law Office (RLO), and the Integrated Legal Service of Ottawa (ILSO) provide a blend of remote and in-person services.
Each office will be open a minimum of two days (16 hours) per week to provide intake services.
Office schedules are determined based on the needs of the clients they serve, staff resources, and court schedules. Please contact the office you want to visit in advance to find out what days/times it is open. Visitors to an office at other days/times will be directed to call LAO’s Contact Center for general inquiries.
You can also apply for legal aid Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. by calling us at 416-979-1446 or 1-800-668-8258 (toll-free).
Temporary service changes
Cancelled or reassessed certificates
If you received a family law (domestic violence) certificate from March 1, 2020 to May 2, 2021, 2020, you did so because LAO temporarily waived eligibility requirements during the start of the COVID crisis.
As of May 3, 2021, LAO resumed applying its eligibility requirements.
If you no longer meet financial eligibility requirements, you will have received a letter notifying you that you are no longer eligible for legal aid. We will pay for all your lawyer’s services from the date your certificate started to the date of certificate cancellation.
If you own property, you must enter into a contribution agreement by way of a lien if you wish to continue receiving legal aid services.
Please refer to the letter that was sent to you and your lawyer. If you did not receive this letter, please contact us at 1‑800‑668‑8258.
Qualifying for legal aid certificates
Until further notice, LAO will be waiving eligibility requirements for legal aid applications for the following:
- Criminal defence certificates for in custody accused (excluding homicide)
To apply for legal aid call:
- Toll-free: 1-800-668-8258
- GTA: 416-979-1446
If your legal issue is not listed on this page, LAO’s regular financial eligibility rules apply.
Free legal advice over the phone
For most legal advice services, you must qualify. If you do not, basic public legal education will be provided.
Until further notice, eligibility requirements be will be waived for up to 20 minutes of free legal criminal advice over the phone for:
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In-custody accused people – clients, while detained, can be connected to a lawyer through Brydges Hotline. Clients being held in a jail or detention centre, who do not have a lawyer and have an upcoming criminal court date (within four days) will be transferred to LAO’s duty counsel advice service.
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Out-of-custody accused people who do not have a lawyer. Your information will be taken by an agent and a lawyer will call you back within 48 hours to provide legal information and advice.
Call 1-800-668-8258 (toll-free) to access this service.
Services for people accused of a crime
Until further notice, eligibility requirements will be waived for:
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Legal aid applications for criminal defence certificates for in‑custody accused people (excluding homicide). Access to this service will be made available at the police station.
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Up to 20 minutes of free legal advice over the phone for in‑custody accused people with an upcoming criminal court date (within four days) who do not have a lawyer. A lawyer will be called for the in‑custody accused person at the police department. Call 1-800-668-8258 (toll-free) to access this service.
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Up to 20 minutes of free legal advice over the phone for out-of-custody accused people who do not have a lawyer.
Call 1-800-668-8258 (toll-free) to access this service. Your information will be taken by an agent and a lawyer will call you back within 48 hours to provide legal information and advice.
- Accused people without retained counsel whose matters are more than twelve months old and who have had their cases adjourned to the Judge-Led Intensive Case Management Court (JICMC).
Important notice: You have the right to information about your case (this is called disclosure).
Contact us at 1-800-668-8258 (toll-free) to find out if you qualify for a government-funded lawyer to represent you.
If you do not have a lawyer representing you, either because you don’t qualify for legal aid, or because you have not retained a lawyer using your own money, or because you choose to represent yourself, you can follow these steps to obtain information about your case:
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Call or email the Crown Attorney’s office where you were charged.
Click here for contact information for Crown Attorney offices across the province.
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Let them know that you are a self-represented accused, and ask for:
- Your Crown Screening Form
- An appointment with an assistant crown attorney to discuss your case
When you contact the Crown Attorney’s office, be prepared to provide:
- Your full name
- Your date of birth
- A list of your charges
- The police occurrence number (found on your release papers)
- Your contact info: telephone number, email*, and home address
You may be asked to provide identification or other information to confirm your identity.
*Please make sure to tell the person you speak with if your email account is not private or secure so they know not to send you sensitive information about your case via email.
If you have a lawyer, contact them and stay in touch to make sure that you are aware of all future court dates, new disclosure materials received, and other details of your case.
Judge-led Intensive Case Management courts
What is it?
Judge-led Intensive Case Management Court (JICMC) have been set up to address the large backlog of cases resulting from the COVID‑19 pandemic.
If your matter is over twelve months old and has been adjourned to the JICMC and you do not have a lawyer, you may be eligible for help from legal aid to get a lawyer to represent you with a ìJICMC certificate,î which will cover a set number of hours with your lawyer.
What do you need to do?
Find a lawyer on LAO’s roster who accepts legal aid in your area. Contact them about a JICMC certificate. Your lawyer will then provide us with the necessary information and complete the application on your behalf. You do not need to contact LAO yourself to apply.
What is a JICMC certificate?
This is a voucher for LAO to pay your lawyer to:
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Resolve your matter. This could mean a withdrawal of charges, diversion, a peace bond or a plea.
OR
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Set the matter for trial. This includes representing you at a judicial pre-trial on trial issues but does not include representing you at the actual trial.
How to get a JICMC certificate
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You do not need to contact LAO to obtain this certificate.
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Choose a lawyer to represent you in the JICMC by visiting find a lawyer.
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Your lawyer will complete the necessary form and send it to LAO to obtain your certificate.
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If you do not have access to a computer, your local duty counsel office may be able to provide you with a list of LAO lawyers in your area.
Domestic violence
LAO has resumed its pre-pandemic financial eligibility criteria for people experiencing domestic violence.
| Number of family members | The amount of money your family makes in a year |
|---|---|
| 1 | $22,720 |
| 2 | $32,131 |
| 3 | $39,352 |
| 4 | $45,440 |
| 5 | $50,803 |
If you are eligible, you may be provided with a legal aid certificate to pay for a family lawyer.
To apply for legal aid call:
- Toll-free: 1-800-668-8258
- GTA: 416-979-1446
LAO also has a program that offers two hours of free legal advice for domestic violence survivors in Ontario who need immediate advice and assistance in relation to family law and immigration and refugee law matters. There is no financial eligibility requirement. People who are experiencing domestic violence are eligible for up to five two‑hour authorizations in a year (one per legal issue).
Call your local shelter or community legal clinic for more information.
Other sources of help:
- Luke’s Place is a community agency that helps improve the safety and experience of abused women and their children. (Safety planning)
- ShelterSafe will help you find the nearest shelter that will provide safety and support.
- Assaulted Women’s Hotline offers a 24‑hour telephone crisis line to all woman who have experienced abuse.
- Family Court Support Worker program provides direct support to victims of domestic violence who are involved in the family court process.
- Barbara Schlifer Commemorative Clinic offers legal, counselling and interpretation services to marginalized women who have survived violence.
- Law Society of Ontario offers 30 minutes of free legal advice to help determine whether a family law matter is urgent. Call their emergency family law telephone line at 1‑800‑268‑7568 (toll‑free) to access this help.
Mental health
LAO has resumed its eligibility criteria for:
- Consent and Capacity Board (CCB) matters
- Ontario Review Board (ORB) matters
Individuals or members of their care team can call 1‑800‑668‑8258 to apply for legal aid.
You may speak with a Rights Advisor from the Psychiatric Patient Rights Advocate Office (PPAO) for help to apply for legal aid. Rights Advisors are now providing help via telephone only. Visit the PPAO website for contact information.
Refugee and immigration
Immigration law services have been expanded in the following ways:
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Immigration Detention Representation Program
Legal Aid Ontario has launched a new program that uses both private practice and LAO staff lawyers to provide legal representation to all unrepresented immigration detainees in their detention review hearings.
LAO’s immigration and refugee law offices are currently operating Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., by phone only.
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Toronto office
(serving the GTA, except Hamilton and Oshawa)
Toronto: 416-977-8111
Toll-free: 1-855-854-8111 -
Hamilton office
(serving Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph, Niagara Region, London, Windsor)
Hamilton: 905-528-0134 ext. 13
Toll-free: 1-877-449-4003 ext. 13 -
Ottawa office
(serving Eastern Ontario, including Ottawa and Kingston)
Ottawa: 613-569-7448
Toll-free: 1-800-348-0006
Services for people in jail or prison
In recognition of the high risk that COVID‑19 poses to detained people, the following service changes are now in place to help lower the number of people in jail or prison.
Your lawyer may now apply for:
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A legal aid certificate if you are detained in jail prior to trial (held on remand)
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A legal aid certificate if you are incarcerated (a person found guilty and serving sentences) and qualify for temporary absence permits (TAPs).
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A legal aid certificate if you are incarcerated and are eligible for emergency early release.
Social assistance, income support, and employment insurance issues
Community legal clinics funded by LAO continue to operate across the province, providing legal representation and support to resolve legal issues with:
- Social assistance (e.g., Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP))
- Income support (e.g., Ontario Works (OW), Canada Child Benefit, Ontario Child Benefit)
- Employment insurance (EI)
- Canada Emergency Response Benefit
- Oher forms of emergency assistance
Notice: Each clinic sets its own business hours so you must call ahead to schedule an appointment.
Find the closest legal clinic to you.
Visit the following websites for the latest information about COVID-19 support programs:
- Government of Ontario website for provincial support programs.
- Government of Canada website for federal support programs.
Tenant and landlord issues
Community legal clinics funded by LAO continue to operate across the province providing legal representation and support to resolve legal issues, including:
- If you are unable to pay your rent during the COVID‑19 crisis
- Temporary changes to residential rental rules and processes
- Evictions
Notice: Each clinic sets its own business hours so you must call ahead to schedule an appointment.
Find the closest legal clinic to you.
Landlord and Tenant Board hearings
If you have received a ‘Notice of Hearing’ from the Landlord and Tenant Board, you can call your local legal clinic or contact Tenant Duty Counsel by registering at www.tdc.acto.ca.
Tenant duty counsel is a lawyer that provides legal assistance on the day of their hearing at the Landlord and Tenant Board to tenants that do not have a lawyer. People facing eviction are given priority.
More information:
- Government of Ontario temporary changes to residential rental rules and processes and how landlords and tenants can get help.
- Steps to Justice: COVID-19 housing information
- Landlords with questions about what happens if tenants are unable to pay rent during the COVIDÑ19 crisis can contact the Landlordís Self Help Centre at 1‑800‑730‑3218.
Courts and tribunals
Tribunals Ontario (Social Justice Division) has postponed all in‑person hearings until further notice.
The Consent and Capacity Board and Ontario Review Board (mental health tribunals) continue to hear some matters via phone or video conferencing.
Please visit the website of the court or tribunal scheduled to hear your matter for more information.
Government supports for individuals and families
You may be eligible to receive temporary benefits, including financial help, from the Government of Canada through one or more of their programs for individuals and families affected by the COVID‑19 outbreak. Specific programs are available for Indigenous people, women and children fleeing violence, people experiencing homelessness, seniors, and students.
The Government of Ontario is also offering financial, mental health and other supports during COVID‑19, including emergency short‑term financial relief for eligible individuals.