How can your client find a lawyer that accepts legal aid certificates?
Once your client has their certificate, they will need to find a lawyer who will accept it and agree to represent them. It’s important to explain to your client that they can’t take their certificate to any lawyer, but that they’ll need to confirm ahead of time that the lawyer accepts certificates.
How You Can Help:
- Step 1: If your client needs help finding a lawyer in the area, you can help them navigate Legal Aid Ontario’s “Find a Lawyer” directory. This directory lets you filter based on location and area of law (e.g., family, criminal, refugee, etc.) but doesn’t identify which lawyers take legal aid certificates. Some local community legal aid clinics might be able to give you some names of lawyers in the area who accept certificates though and you can help your client contact the clinic to ask.
- If you or your client are unable to use the directory, you can help them contact the Client Services Centre at 416-979-1446 or toll-free at 1-800-668-8258.
- Step 2: Help your client contact the lawyer’s office and remind them to explain that they intend to use a legal aid certificate. You should also remind them to ask about any documents they should bring to their first appointment.
- Step 3: Help your client gather the required information and documents to bring with them when they meet with their lawyer. This can include anything that might be relevant to their issue like receipts, statements, tickets, custody agreements, bail conditions, etc.
