Class 2: Where Else to Go for Help

1. Legal help for patients who are not eligible for legal aid

Although Legal Aid Ontario and community legal clinics can help many people living on a low income with their legal problems, they cannot help everyone. Some patients may make too much money to qualify, or have a legal problem that isn't covered. Here are some alternative options:

Steps to Justice [stepstojustice.ca]

• Steps to Justice is a website that provides reliable, practical, and easy to understand information about many legal topics including housing, family law, provincial offenses like speeding tickets, and wills and powers of attorney. It also has Guided Pathways that will lead your patient through a series of questions, then use the answers to fill in legal forms and letters.

Pro Bono Ontario [probonoontario.org]

• Pro Bono Ontario offers a telephone legal advice hotline run by volunteer lawyers. Pro Bono Ontario can give advice about issues like hearings in Small Claims Court, employment problems, and landlord-tenant problems – but they don't give family or criminal law advice. Pro Bono Ontario has financial eligibility criteria, but middle income earners may qualify.

Domestic Violence Certificate Program [legalaid.on.ca/services/domestic-abuse/]

• Legal Aid Ontario's domestic violence certificate program gives two hours of free legal advice to survivors who needs immediate advice on family law or immigration and refugee law issues. There is no financial eligibility requirement. These certificates are issued by shelters and community legal clinics.

The Law Society Referral Service [lso.ca/public-resources/finding-a-lawyer-or-paralegal/law-society-referral-service]

• A program run by the Law Society of Ontario that can provide up to 30 minutes of free legal advice. Your patient can ask for a referral through their website, and will get the name of a lawyer or paralegal who can give them a free consultation to help figure out their rights and options. There is no financial eligibility criteria for this program.

Private Lawyer

• Sometimes it may be necessary to hire a lawyer privately. To help with affordability, some lawyers may be willing to work "on contingency", where the lawyer doesn’t get paid until the patient gets paid. Contingency arrangements are more common with car insurance cases,
  disability insurance disputes, and accidents. Less frequently, some lawyers may also be willing to give a discount on their services, or work "pro bono" if your patient is struggling financially.