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LAO Client Portal
  • Legal Help
    • Apply for legal aid
      • What is legal aid?
      • Do I qualify for legal aid?
      • Apply now
      • Client Portal
    • Our services
      • About our services
      • Family legal issues
      • Criminal legal issues
      • Refugee and immigration legal issues
      • Domestic violence legal issues
      • Mental health legal issues
      • Youth legal issues
      • Getting help at court (duty counsel)
      • Services in French
    • column-break
    • Find help
      • Find a lawyer
      • Find a legal clinic
      • Find a duty counsel office
      • Find a legal aid office
      • Speak to a representative
    • column-break
    • FAQ
      • Frequently asked questions
    • Other
      • Languages
      • What do you think about our services?
      • Contact
  • For Legal Professionals
    • For roster lawyers
      • Legal Aid Online
      • About Legal Aid Online
      • Contacts for lawyers
      • Forms library
      • Billing
      • Mentoring
      • Audit and compliance
      • LAO LAW
      • Case management
      • Roster resources
      • Test case funding
    • column-break
    • Working with legal aid
      • Join legal aid roster
      • Minimum experience requirements
      • Careers
    • LASA 2020
      • Legal Aid Services Act 2020 policies
      • LASA 2020 process updates for lawyers
    • column-break
    • Duty counsel
      • Service guides
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    • LASA 2020
      • Legal Aid Services Act
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Where can I speak to a lawyer about my rights?

If you need legal help on the day you are in criminal or family court, you can talk to our lawyers (they are called duty counsel) at the courthouse.

If you have been arrested or are detained by police, tell the police officer you want to speak to a lawyer. The police officer will call a lawyer that you can speak to over the phone.

If you have a family issue and you qualify, you can talk to a family lawyer over the phone for 20 minutes. Call us at 1-800-668-8258 from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If you have qualified for a legal aid certificate, then you can find a lawyer to accept your case and then speak to that lawyer directly.

You can also find a lawyer on your own by using the Law Society Referral Service by visiting their website or calling 1-855-947-5255.

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Questions

I have court tomorrow and I do not have a lawyer. Who can help me?

What are duty counsel?

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Need legal help?

Call us toll free at 1‑800‑668‑8258 Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST) for help in over 300 languages.

Current wait time: 1 minutes

Wait times: Monday is our busiest day. For faster service, try calling Tuesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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