Recent studies reveal that 20% or more Canadian adults get legal advice for their problems and as many as 50% of these adult Canadians end up with a civil or family law matter within 3 years.
Personal injuries, car accidents, drunk driving, child custody, divorce, and accusations of crimes are legal fields that really need the services of a lawyer.
But as most of us know, legal fees can be expensive, depending on the type of case and the lawyer you hire.
If you are charged with a crime or a victim of a crime in Ontario and can’t afford a lawyer, there are resources such as a pro bono lawyer who can help.
For instance, Legal Aid Ontario, a non-profit organization, offers certain types of legal services to low-income people. Depending on your financial situation, the legal fees can be waived or reduced.
Pro Bono Ontario is another non-profit organization that offers Ontarians who cannot afford legal services with civil matters not covered by Legal Aid Ontario or offer legal advice via their helpline.
In addition, many private law firms offer pro bono services as a way of giving back to the community.
Read on to learn more about pro bono lawyers in Ontario. You can also fill out the short online form on this page to connect with lawyers in your area who can help with your case.
Free Legal Aid in Ontario – Who Qualifies?
Legal Aid is the first option to get pro bono legal services in Ontario .
It is a government program designed to assist low-income individuals who need legal representation. But while its funds are provided by the government, it is an independent and non-profit corporation with over 5,000 participating lawyers.
To qualify, an Ontarian must have a very small income. The services offered by Legal Aid Ontario include:
- Toll-free telephone service(1-800-668-8258) for information and referrals with 20-min free legal advice on family law issues.
- Duty Counsel services for people in criminal, family, or youth court without a lawyer.
- Community Legal Clinics that provide legal assistance to low-income individuals with an emphasis on Ontario Works and ODSP housing, health care, and employment.
- Family Law Service Centres (FLSC) in Ontario providing aid to individuals who are separated and need child support or are in domestic violence situations or trying to get custody or access to their children.
- Refugee and immigration services
- Certificate Program for lawyer’s services in serious cases.
Legal Aid Ontario, depending on your circumstances, may waive all legal fees or cover some of the legal costs.
The types of cases covered by LAO are immigration and refugee matters, family law matters, landlord and tenant disputes, and some criminal charges.
Please note that drinking and driving offences, or first-time shoplifting offences, are cases not generally covered by Legal Aid unless there is bodily harm.
Qualifications for Legal Aid in Ontario
To be eligible for legal aid, you must have little or no financial resources left after paying for housing and food.
Individuals on social benefits usually qualify for legal aid. Some individuals may also qualify even if they own a home or have some savings.
The following may qualify for legal aid:
- Persons charged with a criminal offence;
- Single parents requesting child support from former partners;
- Domestic violence victims;
- Parents wanting custody or access to their children;
- People who identify as First Nation, Métis, orInuit
- Persons with mental health or problems with addiction;
- Refugees applying for Canadian immigration status or immigrants for deportation.
Note that the type of assistance you require and your financial circumstances will dictate whether you get 100% or partial coverage of your legal costs. LAO guidelines are used to determine the degree of legal aid to be applied.
Legal Aid Ontario Limits
Based on your asset level, you may have to repay some of your legal costs.
LAO will give a financial test to check if you qualify for the Certificate Program. You can use the certificate to pay for a lawyer.
Below are the guidelines for the asset levels used to determine your eligibility. If your assets are above the maximum outlined, you will need to sign a contribution agreement.
| # of Family Members | Maximum Assets |
|---|---|
| 1 | $1,504 |
| 2 | $2,255 |
| 3 | $3,007 |
Assets refer to the total of all assets including savings owned by all family members as well as real property.
Contribution Agreements & How They Work
What happens if your income exceeds the allowable limits? You may still qualify for the Certificate Program if your income is belowasecond set of income levels established by LAO and you accept a Contribution Agreement.
AContribution Agreement specifies the amount you will pay to Legal Aid Ontario based on the annual gross family income above the allowable limit. You may be asked to pay some or all of your legal costs. If LAO asks you to repay a portion of the legal fees, you can do so with monthly payments.
If you don’t agree to a Contribution Agreement, or if you think the fees are too expensive, you may request a review of the agreement if:
- You have high dental expenses
- You have high medical costs.
You can apply for Legal Aid online using the Legal Aid Online Portal, over the phone, or in-person with a legal aid worker (in detention centres or jail, a patient’s rights advocate in a hospital, or a lawyer.
Duty Counsel – Family Court Lawyers
On the day of your court hearing, you can speak to Duty Counsel at court to get legal advice or for help in working out a settlement. If you have no money for legal fees, they can give you free legal advice.
Duty Counsel cannot represent you at trial.
What Does a Pro Bono Lawyer Do?
Many disadvantaged and low-income Ontarians need legal assistance for civil, family, or criminal matters. Many experienced lawyers are assisting to address this need with free legal services or discounted fees.
The term pro bono is used in the legal profession to mean free legal assistance for the greater good rather than for profit.
Many lawyers in private practice also offer pro bono legal services and accept Legal Aid certificates as payment. You will need to inform the lawyer if you have a Legal Aid certificate during your initial consultation.
Pro bono lawyers can assist in:
- Personal Injury Claims;
- Criminal matters;
- Immigration cases;
- Civil cases.
To get free legal assistance, get help from volunteer lawyers via Pro Bono Ontario (PBO).
Pro Bono, Contingency, Legal Aid & Pay If You Win Lawyer – What is the difference?
Injury lawyers in Ontario for car accidents and slip and fall claims offer many types of fee arrangements to clients. They know that these particular clients may not be able to pay for the usual hourly rates charged by lawyers.
A pro bono lawyer normally does not charge a client anything , whether the case is lost or won. In many cases, an injury victim would want a “pro bono lawyer” because he does not have money to pay upfront fees. But he may not be averse to paying the lawyer if he is awarded compensation.
A contingency-based lawyer or “Pay if you Win” lawyer simply means the client will pay only if he wins the case or gets a settlement. But in certain cases, the client may be asked to pay for expenses such as filing fees, and other miscellaneous expenses.
Most lawyers charge contingency fees from 20% to 33% of the amount of compensation or recovery.
Legal Aid, a government-funded program, offers free lawyer services to indigent clients or a contribution arrangement whereby the client pays some of his legal costs on a staggered basis. The eligibility for these benefits is based on the individual’s economic status. Not everyone qualifies for legal aid.
It is very important to understand the fee arrangement with your lawyer. You will most likely be asked to sign a written agreement that indicates the terms of your legal services.
Need a Divorce Lawyer in Ontario but don’t have money?
Are you in need of a divorce lawyer anywhere in Ontario but don’t have money for lawyer fees?
The first step is to check Legal Aid Clinics or Legal Aid Ontario if you are in the low-income bracket. If you don’t qualify, you have other options.
Dispute Resolution
You can try dispute resolution or mediation which is less expensive than going to court. If you are in Toronto, the Ontario Family Court (Toronto) subsidizes mediation fees of up to 8 hours based on your income. This service is available to all, whether going to trial or not.
Limited Scope Lawyers
I f you want to minimize your divorce lawyer fees, you can also get a limited scope retainer. He can help you with specific matters to your case such as court appearances.
You can also get a general consultation to understand your legal rights in a divorce.
Would you like to compare divorce lawyers in your area for a limited scope? JuriGo partners have vast experience in handling divorce, child custody, and child or spousal support cases.
Fill out the short online form on this page to get free and no-obligation quotes today!
Pro Bono Domestic Violence Lawyers
Are you a victim of domestic violence? You can get legal assistance from Legal Aid Ontario with a 2-hour free consultation with a lawyer without any financial eligibility requirement.
You can also qualify for a Legal Aid Certificate to cover your legal fees. For domestic violence cases, certificates can be obtained only for:
- Contested issues/changes to existing Family Court orders;
- Survivors of domestic violence with no criminal record and charged with assault against a violent partner; and
- With an ongoing legal matter with LAO,
- First Nation, Métis, or Inuit
- Currently claiming refugee status.
Domestic violence and child protection cases are sensitive and complicated legal matters that require the expertise of a lawyer to get the best outcome.
Protect your rights and your welfare with a reliable and experienced domestic violence lawyer in your area using our short online form.
How much do lawyers cost?
For many clients, the question of how much a lawyer charges is a huge factor in determining who to hire. Of course, a top-notch lawyer may charge more per hour than a less experienced one.
Lawyers can charge hourly fees, flat fees, or contingency fees. Many lawyers also offer legal coaching or limited-scope services rather than a full or conventional retainer.
The answer to how much lawyers in Ontario charge varies based on the complexity and nature of the case, the location, and the credentials of the lawyer.
Persons who qualify for Legal Aid can go to legal aid clinics that offer services for their type of case or use Legal Aid certificates to pay for a lawyer. For those whose incomes exceed Legal Aid limits but are too low to afford regular lawyers, look for pro bono lawyers or lawyers who are willing to reduce their fees.
Compare free quotes from JuriGo using our short online form with no obligation!
Find the right lawyer that suits your budget without compromising your chances of success.
Find a Lawyer in Ontario
There are more than 50,000 lawyers in Ontario Province , all of whom spent many years studying the law to help the public.
Selecting the right lawyer for your case from this huge number, not to mention determining the proper type of lawyer – real estate, employment, family, or criminal- and figuring out how to qualify for legal aid makes it a truly daunting task.
Select the best lawyer to handle your case with JuriGo’s help!
Pro Bono Ontario’s free legal advice hotline can assist with civil matters such as consumer protection, debt, employment, housing, etc.
For more complex cases involving drunk driving offences, assault, or weapons charges , you may need to get an experienced lawyer who can devote himself to winning your case!
Not qualified or covered by Legal Aid
Is your case not covered by Legal Aid or your income doesn’t fall under allowable limits? Do you just want to make sure you get the best representation in court? You have another option – get the right attorney to devise the best legal strategy to win your case.
Get a lawyer to be on your side with expert legal advice that could change your life.
Compare lawyers in your area free of charge using our short online form below!