Legal Aid

Usually, if you need assistance from Legal Aid, you will need a Legal Aid Certificate. To obtain this, you must find a lawyer who is willing to take your case, and then apply to have the lawyer’s fees covered by Legal Aid. The lawyer will write a letter to Legal Aid, recommending that the certificate is issued.

You can find a lawyer who accepts legal aid work here.

Once you have obtained a lawyer, you must complete an application at the Legal Aid office for a Legal Aid Certificate to be approved. You are required to produce verification of income, assets, and expenses. If you are approved for a certificate, you may not be required to pay back the “value” of the certificate (i.e. lawyer’s fees). If you are required to pay it back, Legal Aid will set up a reasonable payment schedule.

Note: If you own your house, a lien may be placed on it, until legal aid is reimbursed

Over the past few years, drastic cuts have been made to the Legal Aid system. This means that fewer people have access, and that fewer cases are defined as “essential”. You can no longer access the assistance of Legal Aid for civil cases, such as wrongful termination from your job.

Although many issues no longer fall under the Legal Aid Certificate program, legal representation may be accessed through the Legal Clinic System.

London Legal Aid Office:

802-150 Dufferin Ave., 8th Floor, London, Ont. N6A 5N6

Mail Room Box 25

Tel: 519-433-8179

Toll Free: 1-877-449-4001