Legal Aid Ontario provides access to legal services for people who have low-income.
You have to be eligible to get legal aid services and your legal need must be one that LAO covers.
Does legal aid pay for everything?
Depending on your financial situation, you may be asked to repay some or all of your legal fees. This is most likely if you have assets, such as a house or property, or if you receive money as part of a settlement or judgement.
Find out more about repaying legal aid.
Not all lawyers accept legal aid.
LAO or the lawyer referral service can give you the name of a lawyer who accepts legal aid.
When you contact a lawyer, it is important to say you have applied for or have received legal aid services.
Make sure you are comfortable with the lawyer you choose. If you want to change lawyers, contact LAO first. It is unlikely that you will be allowed to change lawyers.
Call LAO for more information about your situation at 1-800-668-8258 (free anywhere in Ontario) or 416-979-1446 in the GTA. You can get legal aid help in more than 120 languages. You can also access LAO from outside Ontario by making a collect call to 416-979-1446.
Community agencies can help you prepare to apply for legal aid. To find help, go to Services Near Me and search for "legal aid" in your area.
Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) - The LAO website has information about the Legal Aid program, legal aid clinic listings and publications.
Legal Aid Ontario: What is it and how can it help you? - This webinar describes Legal Aid Ontario's services, what they cover, who is eligible, and how to apply. You need speakers or headphones to listen to this webinar. From Community Legal Education Ontario.