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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
    • News
      • News for lawyers
      • Better Billing Bulletin
  • About
    • Legal Aid Ontario
      • About
    • Our people
      • Our clients
      • Executive team
      • Board of directors
    • column-break
    • Resources
      • News
      • Reports
      • Publications
      • Open government
      • Social media
    • column-break
    • LASA 2020
      • Legal Aid Services Act
      • LASA 2020 rules and policies
      • LASA 2020 glossary
    • Careers
      • Job openings
    • Other
      • Consultations
  • Contact

Getting started

Welcome to Legal Aid Online! To make sure this secure billing portal is effective for you, read this important information before you get started.

User agreement

Read the User Agreement very carefully before using Legal Aid Online. It contains important information about Legal Aid Ontario’s security and privacy policies.

Legal Aid Online user responsibility

Legal Aid Ontario is not responsible for any activity on Legal Aid Online by any person(s) you may have authorized to access your Legal Aid Online account. You agree to accept responsibility and liability for all transactions or activities that occur under your account whether made by you or any other designated person(s).

When you first sign in

The first time you sign in to Legal Aid Online, you will be prompted to change your password. It is important that you complete the challenge question and provide an up‑to‑date email address. Check the User Guide for more information about your password.

Bookmarking the Legal Aid Online sign-in page

When you sign in to Legal Aid Online our server immediately generates a unique and secure connection. As a result, you can’t bookmark the site once you’ve signed in. However, you can navigate to the home page, and bookmark this before you sign in:

  • Bookmarking with Internet Explorer: If you are using Internet Explorer, just add click “Add to Favourites” under the Favourites tab.
  • Bookmarking with Firefox: Open the “Bookmarks” drop‑down menu, and choose “Bookmark This Page.” You can also type Ctrl‑D to save the bookmark.

Sharing your password

We recommend that you check out the “Password Tips” section in the User Guide for more information about your password.

Post‑payment examination

After lawyer accounts are paid, some accounts may be randomly selected for post‑payment examination. Lawyers will be notified if their accounts have been selected for examination and will be notified of the results.

Message centre

Check the Message Centre when you sign in. This is where you’ll find notices about when the site will be unavailable for scheduled maintenance, and other information.

  • This form is feedback only.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Questions

I am not comfortable using technology. Is the client portal the only way to apply for legal aid?

If you are not comfortable with technology, you can speak with one of our contact centre agents. Please call 1‑800‑668‑8258 (or 416‑979‑1446 if in Toronto) Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Is a computer required to use the client portal?

The client portal is available to use on all electronic, Wi‑Fi or data enabled devices (i.e. smart phones, tablets, and computers, etc.).

What information is needed to complete an online application as seamlessly as possible?

You will need: verification of OW/ODSP, if applicable (member ID or a recent stub picture) your client ID (starts with CLT), if you have applied for legal aid before. This is not required, but helpful in expediting the process. Infographics Click here to download image. Open a larger version

How long will it take to complete an online application?

About 15 minutes. Less time is required if you are an existing LAO client because you will not be required to set up a profile and enter your personal contact information. If you are an existing client and need to update your contact information, you can do this in the portal. Infographics Click here to…

Can anyone apply for legal aid using the client portal?

Phase one has specific criteria that needs to be met in order for applicants to be able to apply online. The applicant must: be in receipt of Ontario Works, or Ontario Disability Support Program, or have no income have a criminal defence, family, child protection or Immigration/Refugee matter that is in Ontario not own any…

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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: 0 minutes

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

Legal Aid Ontario is a safe and respectful space for our clients and employees. Verbal or threats of physical abuse will not be tolerated. Abusive behaviour may result in refusal of service.

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