What is a legal clinic?
Community legal clinics are funded by LAO and operate independently. With support from LAO, they provide a range of services to their local communities in many areas of law.
A legal clinic is a community-based organization that provides legal services, including legal information, advice, or representation. They focus on areas of law that directly impact low-income individuals and families, such as;
- Housing, including issues with landlords, eviction, and tenant rights
- Income support, such as Ontario Works, the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), and Employment Insurance (EI)
- Workers’ rights, including employment standards, wrongful termination, and workplace safety
- Human rights, including discrimination and accessibility
- Immigration and refugee law, for those needing status assistance or protection
If you are living in Ontario and have a low income, you may qualify for free legal services at a community legal clinic. Every clinic sets its own legal eligibility guidelines, so please contact your local clinic to learn if you qualify.
Legal clinics can also refer you to other services that may help you. If you need special legal help, a community legal clinic may refer you to a specialty clinic that provides specialized services for specific legal issues or more vulnerable populations. This can include elderly, youth, individuals with disabilities, racialized individuals facing discrimination and more. Visit our find a legal clinic page to find one near you, or learn more about specialty legal clinics.
