When you are facing a legal problem such as separation, child support, divorce, harassment, or criminal charges, legal information will help you understand what to do.
These types of legal matters can cause severe anxiety and stress especially if you have no idea what to do or where to go. The good news is that you don’t need to face this alone!
You will need to find a lawyer eventually to help you resolve your legal matter but in the beginning, you must first understand exactly what you are facing and what your options are.
For this to happen, you must seek free lawyer consultations in Ontario to help you plan your next steps fast.
Where can you get free lawyer consultations in Ontario? Read on to know more or fill out the short online form on this page to connect with reputable lawyers near you.
What happens in a lawyer consultation?
A lawyer consultation is not designed to resolve a legal problem. Rather, it is an occasion to see how the lawyer can help with your legal situation. In order to do so, the lawyer will need to know as much as he can about your situation.
This meeting is also for you to see if the lawyer is the right person for the job.
For the most part, the consultation is a time for gathering information about your problem. The lawyer will need to have the facts to get a clear picture of the issues at hand. It will also be helpful if you can show documents pertinent to your problem and explain what happened.
The lawyer will then make an assessment of your problem and lay out the options available to you. He will also advise you what needs to be done to bolster your legal remedies such as missing evidence or documents, witnesses, etc.
If you choose to proceed with the lawyer, he will present a retainer agreement which indicates his hourly rate or flat fee. Depending on your case, some lawyers may suggest a contingency fee arrangement.
In some instances, the lawyer could also refer you to another lawyer who specializes in your legal matter.
For this reason, free lawyer consultations in Ontario are advisable and can be obtained in just a few steps.
When to consult a lawyer
Don’t think that you should consult a lawyer only for serious matters such as when you are facing criminal charges, or suffered a serious injury. Both these situations do require the services of a good lawyer. But you will be surprised to know that many everyday transactions also benefit from lawyers’ services.
Here are a few examples of when to consult a lawyer.
- harassment at the workplace
- custody dispute
- tenant and landlord dispute
- wrongful termination
- sexual assault
- drunk driving charges
- personal injury claim
- divorce
- marriage
- child support
- business startup
- business incorporation
- real estate purchase or sale
- loss of immigration status and deportation
Remember, most lawyers specialize in specific fields of law such as immigration law, business law, family law, or criminal law.
Make sure to consult a lawyer who is an expert in the type of legal matter you need help with.
Questions to ask yourself before Hiring a Lawyer
- How important is your legal problem? Are you at risk of losing your children, going to jail, being deported, or in danger?
- Can you reach an amicable and fair resolution without a lawyer? Are you okay with dealing with the problem on your own?
- Does the other party have a lawyer?
- Are you willing to take the legal matter to court?
- Can you afford a lawyer?
- Are you qualified under Legal Aid eligibility requirements?
- Can another professional besides a lawyer assist you?
- Are you able to do some of the tasks by yourself and some tasks with a lawyer?
By answering these questions, you will have a clearer idea of whether you must hire a lawyer or not.
While some minor problems may not require a lawyer, some problems are better handled by a lawyer to avoid serious consequences such as jail, stiff fines, or a criminal record.
Compare lawyers using our short online form to find the right lawyer to assist you and save time and money.
How to get a Free Lawyer consultation
Your goal must be to find a lawyer you can trust and feel comfortable with. Choose wisely by comparing lawyers until you find the right one for you. You can do this by scheduling 2 or more lawyer consultations.
There are a number of ways to get a lawyer consultation free of charge.
- Contact Legal Aid Ontario (LAO)
LAO provides legal assistance to low-income Ontarians with certain kinds of family, criminal, or immigration issues. To apply for legal aid, call the Client Service Centre telephone access number 1-800-668-8258.
You can visit a legal aid office or ask help from their service centres to apply for a legal aid certificate which you can use to pay a lawyer.
Domestic violence victims and persons with urgent immigration or refugee matters can also get a FREE 2-hour consultation with a volunteer lawyer.
Legal Aid Ontario places priority in helping domestic violence victims and abuse victims. They can do the following:
- Relax the financial eligibility test for women who are victims of abuse
- Extend services to all survivors of abuse regardless of immigration status in Canada
- Offer free telephone interpretation services for non-English or non-French speaking individuals
- Contact Community Legal Clinics
Community legal clinics provide legal assistance in some legal matters like family benefits, workers’ compensation, immigration, social assistance, and property rental disputes.
Other clinics may be limited to family law matters. You don’t need a Legal Aid certificate to obtain services from a community legal clinic. However, they have different eligibility requirements from LAO.
- Contact Pro Bono Ontario
Pro Bono Ontario aims to help Ontarians who can’t afford a lawyer to access legal services. Volunteer lawyers assist low-income individuals who have legal issues, especially those who fall under the cracks because they don’t qualify for Legal Aid or whose problems are not covered by government agencies.
They usually are in environments frequented by people with legal issues such as hospitals, courthouses, and schools.
You can contact 1-855-255-7256 to get access to a lawyer’s services.
- Call community agencies such as counseling services, women’s shelters, etc. These agencies can usually refer a lawyer. Ask family, friends, co-workers, and people in your community if they can recommend a lawyer.
- Check with the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) Directory of Lawyers or you may contact the LSO lawyer referral service at 1-855-947-5255. Participating lawyers offer a free 30-minute consultation so you can get general information regarding how the law can help in your situation.
- Ontario Legal Information Centre
The Ontario Legal Information Center provides 30-minutes free legal advice in French or English. You can speak to a lawyer on the phone or meet one in person in their offices in Ottawa. You can also contact 1-844-343-7462.
- Legal Aid Duty Counsel
If you are appearing in a criminal, family, or youth court without legal representation, you can get help from the duty counsel.
A duty counsel is a lawyer who can help low-income individuals prepare for their courtroom appearance. They can help you with documents, questions about court procedures, negotiate a settlement, or represent you in certain cases. For criminal court, they can aid with bail hearings, guilty pleas, diversion, and adjournment.
If your case is complex and you are facing serious consequences such as imprisonment, you need a lawyer who will devote his time and efforts to getting you the most positive outcome possible.
Compare Free Quotes from Lawyers across Ontario
JuriGo.ca is a vast network of lawyers serving Ottawa, Toronto, Greater Sudbury, Vaughan, Mississauga, Kitchener, Hamilton, etc.
You can also fill out our short online form to connect with reputable lawyers in your area. You will receive free lawyers’ quotes with no obligation on your part.
What to do if you don’t pass Legal Aid Income Requirements
Have you had a free consultation with a Legal Aid lawyer but told you don’t pass Legal Aid income requirements? If you can’t afford a lawyer, there is still hope.
You can request a review of the decision if you don’t agree with the denial. You must write to Legal Aid within 22 business days from the notice of denial. If you are presently in jail or hospital, the request can be sent within 52 days of the notice of denial. If you miss these timelines, Legal Aid will not consider your request.
You can also speak to Legal Aid about other ways that they can help you to pay for a lawyer.
If you can afford to pay some of your legal fees, there are lawyers who are willing to work on contingency basis (meaning you pay only if you win compensation from accident or personal injury claims) or for partial services to reduce legal expenses.
Get help for Criminal, Family, or Workplace Legal Matters!
A lawyer can help you understand your rights and responsibilities and the legal remedies available to you. When you are faced with a legal dispute, having a lawyer by your side will help you navigate the complex legal procedures you must go through.
Finding the right lawyer to assist you is not something you do with a snap of your fingers. This is a major decision that you have to consider carefully because a lot could be at stake, including your freedom!
It all starts with getting a free lawyer consultation so you can get legal advice, compare lawyers and how they plan to help you resolve your problem, and prepare for your fight.
You can fill out the short online form below to get connected to experienced and reliable lawyers near you! Get quotes to compare at no cost or obligation.