How can your client apply for legal aid?

Depending on your client’s circumstances, there are different ways that they can apply for legal aid.

1. If they have access to a phone: Anyone who meets the financial eligibility requirements can call Legal Aid Ontario at 416-979-1446 or toll-free at 1-800-668-8258 (Bell Relay service is also offered at 1-800-855-0511).

• Hours: 8 AM to 7:30 PM, Monday to Friday
• Service is offered in over 300 languages 
• For shorter wait times, call earlier in the morning, between 8:30 AM-10 AM, and avoid Mondays, if possible.

2. If they have access to a computer: If your client doesn’t own property and one of the following applies to them, they can apply online:

• Receive Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program payments
• Have no income
• Are new to Canada
• Are living in a shelter
• Are incarcerated 

3. If they are in custody: They can still apply and in fact, it can be helpful to do so as soon as possible to avoid any delay in getting legal assistance. To apply for legal aid, your client has a few options:

• Online: They can apply online if they have access to a computer.
• Legal Aid Worker: Depending on where your client is in custody, they might be able to apply for legal aid by speaking to the institution’s legal aid worker. There are workers that visit federal institutions to take certificate applications. 
• By Phone: They can apply by calling 1-800-668-8258 if they have access to a phone.
• Through a Lawyer: During the COVID-19 pandemic, lawyers can apply for a legal aid certificate on behalf of clients in custody. A lawyer will be able to download and fill out the Lawyer Inmate Request Form for Legal Aid Service and email it to InmateLawyerApp@lao.ca on their behalf.

4. If they are in the hospital: If your client is currently in a hospital involuntarily due to mental health concerns, they can access legal aid through the hospital’s rights’ adviser or the patient advocate. During the COVID-19 pandemic, anyone in a mental health facility will be able to qualify for free legal assistance if they are dealing with Consent & Capacity Board issues or Ontario Review Board matters. If this might apply to your client, you can help them call 1-800-668-8258 to apply.

Note: Once your client has submitted their application, they should hear back within 5 business days, but it can sometimes take longer depending on the complexity of the issue.

How You Can Help:

• Step 1: Talk to your client about the circumstances of their issue to figure out where you might need to refer them. 
• Step 2: Flag the area of law that your client might be dealing with (e.g., housing, income assistance, criminal, family, employment, etc.)
  • If they tell you that they were charged with a crime or are experiencing a family issue, you can help them access duty counsel services at the courthouse or you can help them apply for a legal aid certificate or access LAO staff office services.
  • If what they are telling you sounds like a civil legal issue (e.g., eviction, loss of income assistance, lost job, issues with debts, etc.), you can help them locate and contact their closest community legal aid clinic.
  • If they tell you that they have experienced discrimination or a human rights violation, review the list of specialty legal aid clinics to see if any might fit your client’s circumstances, then help them contact the clinic, if applicable.
• Step 3: Help your client gather any information or documents that might be relevant to their issue. This includes things like receipts, statements, tickets, custody agreements, bail conditions, etc. They will also need to have proof of income for themselves and for all the members of their household. This can be anything from recent pay stubs, social assistance cheque stubs, or employment insurance statements.