Legal Resources and Information

Below is a list of Law Society resources and other organizations that provide legal information and services in Ontario.

Law Society Referral Service (LSRS): Connect with the Law Society of Ontario to find a lawyer or paralegal for a free consultation of up to 30 minutes to help you determine your rights and options.  www.findlegalhelp.ca, Crisis Line: 416-947-5255 / Toll Free: 1-855-947-5255 

Lawyer and Paralegal Directory: A complete listing of legal professionals who are licensed by the Law Society to offer legal services in Ontario. Each listing includes the practising status of the lawyer or paralegal. The directory is searchable by name, practice area, language, city or postal code. www.lso.ca/LawyerParalegalDirectory

Certified Specialist Program: Search by speciality area for lawyers who provide specialist assistance in complex matters and to facilitate referrals. Search online or contact Client Service Centre at 416-947-3300, Toll free: 1-800-668-7380 or email lawsociety@lso.ca for a printed copy.

Discrimination and Harassment Counsel (DHC): A service free-of-charge to the Ontario public, lawyers and paralegals. The Discrimination and Harassment Counsel confidentially assists anyone who may have experienced discrimination or harassment by a lawyer, lawyer licensing candidate or a paralegal. LSO.ca/DHC

Trustee Services and the Unclaimed Trust Fund: If you are looking for information or documentation from the files of a lawyer or paralegal who is no longer practising, Trustee Services may be able to help you. www.lso.ca /Trustee-Services-and-the-Unclaimed-Trust-Fund

About Paralegals: Paralegals are an integral part of the legal system. They are professionally educated and insured and are licensed by the Law Society of Ontario to serve the public and provide access to justice. Paralegals can provide an affordable option for those in need of legal services or representation. 

Visit our About Paralegals page for more information about paralegals and how they serve Ontarians.

Civil Society Organizations: To make lawyer and paralegal services more accessible, the Law Society has approved a registration system that enables lawyers and paralegals to provide their professional services to the public as employees of charities and not-for-profit corporations. www.lso.ca/cso

You speak French - know your rights:  Did you know that you are entitled to receive legal services in French from a lawyer or paralegal? www.lso.ca/FrenchRights

Choosing the right legal professional: Access information about the differences between lawyers and paralegals, protecting yourself when seeking legal help, and how to prepare to meet your lawyer or paralegal. www.lso.ca/ChoosingaLegalProfessional

Legal Aid Ontario (LAO): Legal Aid Ontario gives low-income people access to a range of legal services tailored to meet their legal needs through its website and toll free number.1-800-668-8258 www.legalaid.on.ca

Law Help Ontario: A self-help legal clinic offered by Pro Bono Law Ontario, providing a range of services to unrepresented litigants with civil matters to help them understand court procedures — or meet with a volunteer lawyer — at no charge. www.lawhelpontario.org
 

Ontario Legal Information Centre: The Ontario Legal Information Centre offers a free 30-minute meeting with a lawyer to anyone in Ontario who is facing a legal problem or whose legal problem is within Ontario. The Centre’s services are confidential, available in person or by telephone, in both English and French. https://centreinfojuridique.ca/en/

Pro Bono Ontario’s Free Legal Advice Hotline: Promotes access to justice in Ontario by creating and promoting opportunities for lawyers to provide pro bono (free) legal services to persons of limited means. Toll free 1-855-255-7256 or www.probonoontario.org

Justice Ontario: A useful resource on Ontario Law. www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca 

The Ministry of the Attorney General's website has electronic court forms available to assist you with Family, Civil and Small Claims Court proceedings in Ontario. www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/forms/  

e-laws: provides access to official copies of Ontario statutes and regulations. www.ontario.ca/laws

Ontario Justice Education Network (OJEN): A charitable not-for-profit, non-governmental organization that develops innovative educational tools to introduce young people to the justice system.http://ojen.ca

Your Legal Rights: A project of CLEO, a resource of legal information in Ontario. yourlegalrights.on.ca

CLEO’s Guided Pathways to Family Court Forms: Online tool to help people fill out the court forms they need to apply for a divorce in Ontario. stepstojustice.ca/guided-pathways-divorce-forms

Cliquez-Justice: French-language information on various areas of law. www.cliquezjustice.ca  

Ontario Courts: All levels of Ontario Courts. www.ontariocourts.ca

Canadian Bar Association - Separating or Divorcing Couples: For couples who are separating or divorcing and looking for information on what can be done to reduce stress levels.
www.cba.org/For-The-Public/Separating-or-Divorcing-Couples

Association des juristes d'expression française de l'Ontario advocates for lawyers who work towards the promotion of justice in French and English, the official languages of Ontario courts. ajefo.ca

National Self-Represented Litigants Project: Resources for self-represented litigants including educational content, provincial legal helplines and supports. https://representingyourselfcanada.com/

Family Justice Centre (FJC): The FJC hosts virtual legal clinics for Ontarians dealing with family law issues who are unable to afford a lawyer, but do not meet the threshold to qualify for legal aid services. At the virtual clinics, family law lawyers supervise law students in the delivery of free unbundled legal services to self-represented litigants in Ontario. The FJC also develops public legal education resources to support self-represented litigants in navigating the family law process. https://www.probonostudents.ca/family-justice-centre