Basic Needs Guide

Legal Services

Finding yourself in a legal situation can be very confusing and difficult. Understanding your situation and knowing your rights is crucial; however, affording a lawyer to assist you is not always easy. If you are faced with this problem, there are organizations in the community that you can turn to for affordable legal representation. Waterloo Region Community Legal Services and Legal Aid Ontario both provide low income individuals with legal aid; however, each organization can only deal with certain types of legal matters. You can contact both organizations to find out if they can help with your situation.

If neither of these organizations can help you, there are still more options. The Law Society of Upper Canada provides a Lawyer Referral Service. The service works by referring you to lawyers in the area who have agreed to provide a free half hour consultation. Note, though, that while the consultation is free, you will be charged a $6.00 fee to your phone bill for this service.

You can also check the Yellow Pages for lawyers in your area, and call to ask if any of them will offer you a free consultation.

Previous: Internet Access
Next: Child Care Services
Basic Needs Guide: What's Next

Resources

Law Society of Upper Canada, Lawyer Referral Service

Osgoode Hall, 130 Queen St W, Toronto
phone: 1-900-565-4577
crisis: 1-800-268-8326 (toll-free)

Legal Aid Ontario

50 Queen St N, Ste 830, Kitchener
phone: 743-4306

Ontario. Ministry of the Attorney General, Office of the Children's Lawyer

393 University Ave, 14th Flr, Toronto
phone: (416) 314-8000

Waterloo Region Community Legal Services

170 Victoria St S, Kitchener
phone: 743-0254

Waterloo Region Community Legal Services

Cambridge Self Help Food Bank, 54 Ainslie St S, Cambridge
phone: 743-0254