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Legal Aid Ontario
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Français LAO Client Portal
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  • Services
    • Temporary service changes due to COVID-19
    • COVID-19 and the courts: Answers to frequently asked questions
    • Our services
    • Criminal legal issues
    • Domestic violence
    • Family legal issues
    • Mental health legal issues
    • Refugee and immigration legal issues
    • Youth legal issues
    • Legal clinics
    • How to apply
    • Find a lawyer
      • Finding the right legal aid lawyer
    • What do you think about our services?
    • Languages
    • Contact us
  • For legal professionals
    • COVID-19: Ongoing list of supports for lawyers
    • LASA 2020 process updates for lawyers
    • Changes to policies and certificate coverage
    • Roster resources
      • Audit & Compliance
      • Billing
      • Case management
      • Forms library
      • Legal Aid Services Act, 2020 policies
      • Legal Aid Online
      • LAO LAW
      • Minimum experience requirements
      • More resources
    • Do legal aid work
    • Mentoring
    • Test case funding
    • News for lawyers
    • B3 Newsletters
    • Contacts for lawyers
  • Corporate
    • About
      • By-laws
      • Our clients
      • Board of Directors
      • Executive Team
      • Board Advisory Committees
      • Sidney B. Linden Access to Justice Award
      • French Language Services
    • Legal Aid Services Act, 2020
      • LASA 2020 Rules and Policies
      • LASA 2020 glossary
    • Consultations
    • LAO Consultation Registry
    • Open Government
    • Reports
    • Publications
    • News
    • Social media
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
  • FAQ

Refugee Law Office

Where to go:

  • Hamilton Refugee Law Office
    110 King Street West Suite 780
    Hamilton L8P 4S6
    Telephone: 905‑528‑0134
    Toll-free: 1‑877‑449‑4003

  • Ottawa Immigration & Refugee Law Office (part of Ottawa ILSO)
    275 Slater Street Suite 1101
    Ottawa K1P 5H9
    Telephone: 613‑569‑7448

    Services are available in French at this location

  • Toronto Refugee Law Office
    20 Dundas St West Suite 201
    Toronto M5G 2C2
    Telephone: 416‑977‑8111

    Services are available in French at this location

About the office

Legal Aid Ontario’s (LAO) refugee and immigration program is internationally recognized for its legal services provided to people trying to enter or remain in Canada.

LAO’s Refugee Law Office helps clients prepare claims for refugee status at refugee determination hearings before the Immigration and Refugee Board.

They are experienced in human rights work and refugee advocacy. Help is available in a variety of languages and arrangements can be made for interpreters and the translation of documents if required.

What LAO covers

If you qualify for legal aid services, LAO can help:

  • fill in your Basis of Claim and related forms to claim refugee status.
  • represent you to explain why you are claiming refugee status.
  • prepare a written appeal of your case if you are turned down for your refugee claim.
  • prepare an application that asks the Federal Court to decide whether or not there has been a legal mistake if you’ve been turned down or are not eligible to appeal.
  • prepare your motion to delay your removal from Canada until the Federal Court has made a decision on your judicial review application.
  • represent you if the government is trying to take away your status as a Convention refugee or protected person.
  • help you prepare a written appeal that asks the government to assess the danger you face in your country of origin.
  • help you write a danger opinion if you were granted Convention refugee or protected person status, but the government is trying to have you removed to your country of origin anyway on the grounds of serious or organized criminality or national security.
  • This form is feedback only.
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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: The CLSC is currently closed.

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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Legal Aid Ontario land acknowledgement

Land acknowledgement: Legal Aid Ontario recognizes that its work, and the work of its community partners take place on traditional Indigenous territories across the province.

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