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Legal Aid Ontario is a publicly funded government program that helps people with a low income receive legal representation and advice.
Legal Aid is most often available for serious criminal matters where there is a strong likelihood of someone going to jail. However, Legal Aid may also cover other areas of the law such as:
- Criminal law
- Family law
- Refugee and immigration law
- Mental health law
- Clinic law (sometimes referred to as poverty law)
Am I eligible to receive Legal Aid?
Requirements may vary by province. To qualify for Legal Aid in Ontario you basically must make enough money to pay for basic necessities like your food and housing and have no money left over.
| Number of Family Members | Amount of Money Your Family Earns in a Year (for most Family Law Cases) | For Domestic Abuse Cases and Child Protection Cases |
| 1 | $18,795 | $32,131 |
| 2 | $32,131 | $39,352 |
| 3 | $39,352 | $45,440 |
| 4 | $45,289 | $50,803 |
| 5 | $50,803 | $59,440 |
| Single Boarder | $12,330 |
Source: https://www.legalaid.on.ca/will-legal-aid-pay-for-my-lawyer/
Each Province will have different financial guidelines when considering providing Legal Aid. Also, Legal Aid may pay all legal costs for your case or, depending on your finances, you may need to pay part of your legal fees and Legal Aid will cover the rest (this is called ‘Partial Contribution’).
How Do I Apply for Legal Aid?
Applying for Legal Aid differs in each province. To apply for Legal Aid in Ontario:
- Apply online: Currently only available for people who do not own any property and either:
- Receive Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program payments
- Have no income
- Are new to Canada
- Are living in a shelter
- Are incarcerated
- Call 416‑979‑1446 or toll free at 1‑800‑668‑8258 or through Bell Relay service at 1‑800‑855‑0511 from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (EST).
If you are already in jail or are seeking services such as summary legal advice, please call from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Ask a legal aid worker, if you are in jail or a detention centre
- Ask a rights’ advisor or patient advocate, if you are in a hospital
- Ask your lawyer, if you are out of custody and applying for legal aid in a criminal matter
What do I need before I apply?
- Any documents about your legal case
- Proof of your income if you have any. For example, recent pay stubs, social assistance cheque stubs, or employment insurance statements
Speaking with Legal Aid is difficult and if the individual is already incarcerated, it can be almost impossible. We would recommend getting a FedPhoneLine Collect Calling package for the incarcerated individual to make contacting Legal Aid easier. See our Pricing Packages here: https://fedphoneline.com/en/packages-and-pricing
For more detailed information on the mandate and activities of the Legal Aid Program, please click here: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fund-fina/gov-gouv/aid-aide.html
Or contact:
Programs Branch
Department of Justice Canada
284 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0H8 Canada
Telephone: (613) 941-4193
Fax: (613) 954-4893
E-mail: pb-dgp@justice.gc.ca