Advocacy Advocacy programs are typically independent, community-based programs where trained advocates help low- and modest-income individuals to find legal information, know their legal rights, argue their case in tribunal hearings, and/or lobby for political change. Advocates cannot provide legal advice or representation, but they often have a very nuanced understanding of the legal issues that confront low- and modest-income individuals, and so depending on your circumstances, their services may be of equal or greater assistance to you than those provided by a lawyer.
Legal AdviceFree legal advice is mostly available at clinics operated by independent, non-profit organizations and staffed by either lawyers or law students. Lawyers or law students usually provide a half-hour of free legal advice to low- to modest-income clients on their particular legal issue, including a formal and binding assessment of their prospects for success and a suggested course of action. Clients can then return to the clinic for follow-up advice at a later date. Note that clinic lawyers do not provide legal representation. Also, while some clinics operate on a drop-in basis, most clinics require that clients book their appointment over the telephone or internet.
Legal AssistanceLegal assistance may involve ongoing legal advice, or it may involve having a lawyer or law student do limited legal work for you (e.g. complete court forms, draft documents). It is often difficult to distinguish legal advice from legal assistance, so you should always search for free legal assistance under Legal Advice as well. Free legal assistance is often available through legal aid (contact the Legal Services Society), through independent organizations that also offer free legal representation, and through specific free legal advice clinics.
Legal EducationThere are a number of independent, community-based programs that provide free legal education services to members of the public. Such services may include one-to-one discussions, group training sessions or educational seminars. They often cover specific areas of the law of interest to seniors, students, immigrants, workers, low-income individuals and other groups.
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Legal RepresentationLegal aid should be your first option in your search for free legal representation (a lawyer to handle your case). If your legal problem involves criminal charges, mental health or prison issues, child protection matters, serious family problems or serious immigration problems, you may qualify for legal representation through legal aid. Please consult the Legal Services Society website to see if you qualify under its rules and financial eligibility criteria. Alternatively, some independent organizations aim to provide free legal representation to individuals in specific areas of the law, or to individuals that suffer from specific disabilities.
ReferralsIf you are unsure of what program or type of service is best suited to your legal needs, you should consult an advocacy program, a courthouse program or a legal advice clinic to receive referrals. Also, advocates, law students and lawyers can provide screened referrals to programs that provide free legal representation to individuals in specific areas of the law.
Self-HelpIf you cannot or prefer not to seek a lawyer’s advice or assistance with your legal issue, you may always research your legal issue yourself. Courthouse programs can often help you to access the necessary materials, forms and knowledge required to resolve your legal issue.
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