Temporary service changes due to COVID-19

Until further notice, eligibility requirements will be waived for legal aid applications for the following matters:

• Criminal defence certificates for in‑custody accused (excluding homicide)
• Urgent Child, Youth, and Family Services Act (CYFSA) matters
• Family court assistance, including initial and motion to change proceedings, for individuals experiencing domestic violence.
• Psychiatric patients seeking help with Consent and Capacity Board (CCB) and Ontario Review Board (ORB) matters.

To apply for legal aid call:

• Toll-free: 1-800-668-8258
• GTA: 416-979-1446
• Bell Relay: 1-800-855-0511

If your legal issue is not listed on this page, LAO’s regular financial eligibility rules apply.

Until further notice, eligibility requirements be will be waived for up to 20 minutes of free legal advice over the phone for:

• A family law matter, including issues involving a Children’s Aid Society.

  Call 1-800-668-8258 (toll-free) to access this service.

• 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.

• 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.

Until further notice, eligibility requirements will be waived for:

1. 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.
2. Up to 20 minutes of free legal advice over the phone for in-custody accused peoplewith 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.
3. Up to 20 minutes of free legal advice over the phone for out-of-custody accused peoplewho 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.

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:

1. Call or email the Crown Attorney’s office where you were charged.
   

   Click here for contact information for Crown Attorney offices across the province.

2. 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.

Until further notice, eligibility requirements will be waived for anyone experiencing domestic violence that needs the following legal aid services:

• 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
  • Bell Relay: 1-800-855-0511

• Up to two hours of free legal advice and referrals.

  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.
• Steps to Justice has COVID‑19 related family law information to help you understand your rights and options.
• 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.

Until further notice, anyone in a mental health facility qualifies for free legal help with:

• 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.

In recognition of the high risk that COVID‑19 poses to detained people, until further notice immigration law services have been expanded in the following ways:

• LAO’s Immigration Duty Counsel Program now provides legal representation at immigration detention hearings at all provincial detention centres, except Ottawa and Kingston. Please call the immigration and refugee law office nearest to the detention centre for more information.

• Legal representation by staff lawyers is available for immigration detention hearings in Ottawa and Kingston by request (613-569-7448 (local) or 1-800-348-0006 (toll-free)).

• Representation at a detention hearing continues to be available from private lawyers acting on a legal aid certificate.

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.

• 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

Learn more about how to get free legal help for detention review hearings.

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:

• A legal aid certificate if you are detained in jail prior to trial (held on remand)

• A legal aid certificate if you are incarcerated (a person found guilty and serving sentences) and qualify for temporary absence permits (TAPs).

• A legal aid certificate if you are incarcerated and are eligible for emergency early release.

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:

• Steps to Justice for information about income support programs.
• Government of Ontario website for provincial support programs.
• Government of Canada website for federal support programs.

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 during the COVID-19 crisis, you can call your local community legal clinic or tenant duty counsel at 1-877-374-0391 (toll‑free).

Tenant duty counsel is a lawyer that provides legal advice and referrals on the day of their hearing at the Landlord and Tenant Board to tenants that do not have a lawyer. Priority is given to people facing eviction.

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 Landlord’s Self Help Centre at 1‑800‑730‑3218.