What is covered by Legal Aid Ontario?

Asked by: Stephania Marquardt  |  Last update: August 12, 2023
Score: 4.2/5 (45 votes)

If a person qualifies financially, the types of cases that may be covered by Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) include: certain criminal charges, issues regarding family law matters (including domestic violence), immigration and refugee matters, landlord and tenant matters, and some civil cases and final appeals.

How does Legal Aid Ontario work?

If you qualify, LAO will provide you with a certificate that covers the cost of a private lawyer who accepts legal aid work for a certain number of hours. You can bring this certificate to a lawyer and they will represent you in court throughout your case.

How does someone qualify for Legal Aid Ontario?

When you apply for our services, you must undergo a financial eligibility test. This test allows us to determine whether a client qualifies for our services. Financial eligibility for an individual is based on three components: the family unit, the income of the family unit, and the assets of the family unit.

What is the monetary cutoff for legal aid in Ontario?

A certificate guarantees that a lawyer will be paid for representing a legal aid client for a certain number of hours. The financial threshold for a single applicant without dependents is increasing from the current $17,731 in gross annual income to $18,795 in gross annual income.

Do you have to pay for legal aid in Ontario?

If you have an income or own property, you may qualify for a certificate with a contribution agreement. This means you will be required to repay LAO some or all of your legal fees, based on your income level. A contribution agreement outlines how much you will repay LAO.

Block fee eligible charges billed as block fee

21 related questions found

What if you can't afford a lawyer in Ontario?

Pro Bono Law Ontario

Pro Bono offers a free legal advice hotline for up to 30 minutes of legal advice and assistance. The toll-free number is 1-855-255-7256. For more information, please visit https://www.probonoontario.org/hotline/.

What can a lawyer do if you don't pay them Ontario?

Most people just ignore calls and letters from collection agencies. Lawyers, on the other hand, are not bound by the Collection and Debt Settlement Services Act. They can obtain a Court judgment, and then proceed to seize the assets of your delinquent client or garnish their wages.

Who is eligible for legal aid in Canada?

Legal aid, with respect to criminal matters, is provided to those individuals and organizations who are financially unable to secure legal services from their own resources. This is an attempt to provide equal access to justice for those who are economically disadvantaged.

How much does a legal aid lawyer make in Ontario?

Average Legal Aid Ontario Lawyer yearly pay in Canada is approximately $103,343, which is 7% above the national average.

How long does it take to get legal aid Ontario?

How long after I send in my documents does it take to get a legal aid decision? It can take up to five business days after we receive your information. If your case is complicated, it might take longer.

What if you can't afford a lawyer in Canada?

Finally, in virtually every location across Canada, there is a government funded Duty Counsel system available if you attend court without representation. Duty Counsel is funded by Legal Aid and assists unrepresented people with individual court appearances.

How do I contact legal aid in Ontario?

The fastest way to get legal aid help is to call Legal Aid Ontario toll-free at 1‑800‑668‑8258 from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you are in a correctional facility or seeking services such as summary legal advice, please call from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Who governs legal aid Ontario?

The corporation, which is governed and managed by its board of directors, establishes policies and priorities for the provision of legal aid services based on its financial resources. The corporation advises the Attorney General on all aspects of legal aid services in Ontario.

Does legal aid in Ontario provide duty counsel for anyone appearing in small claims court without legal representation?

If you qualify, and need legal help on your day of court, you can talk to our lawyers at the courthouse (they are called duty counsel). Duty counsel can: give you advice and information. tell you about your rights and what you have to do.

Who is eligible for legal aid in Victoria?

Victoria Legal Aid focuses on helping people who: cannot afford a private lawyer; have an intellectual disability, an acquired brain injury or mental illness; are in a psychiatric inpatient unit; are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness; are a child or young person going to the Children's Court; cannot speak, ...

What's the highest paid lawyer?

11 of the highest-paying lawyers
  1. Immigration lawyer. National average salary : $67,296 per year. ...
  2. Employment law associate. National average salary: $83,580 per year. ...
  3. Personal injury lawyer. ...
  4. Civil litigation attorney. ...
  5. Real estate attorney. ...
  6. Intellectual property attorney. ...
  7. Bankruptcy lawyer. ...
  8. Family lawyer.

What is the highest payment for a lawyer?

Which type of law you specialize in
  • Patent attorney: $180,000.
  • Intellectual property (IP) attorney: $162,000.
  • Trial lawyer: $134,000 (remember, this is average; trial lawyers especially can be sink-or-swim)
  • Tax attorney: $122,000.
  • Corporate lawyer: $115,000.
  • Employment lawyer: $87,000.
  • Real Estate attorney: $86,000.

What is the average salary for a first year lawyer in Ontario?

The average salary for First Year Attorney is $126,986 per year in the Toronto, ON.

What cases are not covered by legal aid Canada?

A drinking and driving offence, unless it caused bodily harm, or a first-time shoplifting offence are examples of cases that would not typically be covered.

Is Pro Bono Ontario legit?

Pro Bono Ontario is a non-profit organization committed to helping Ontarians with their everyday civil legal needs.

Is legal aid free in Alberta?

The majority of Legal Aid Alberta's services are not free. For most issues, Legal Aid Alberta lawyers charge a reduced hourly rate of $125.00 plus miscellaneous fees. The fees a lawyer can charge are outlined in our Legal Aid Tariff. A copy of the Tariff is available on our website, LAA Tariff.

Do lawyers ask for money upfront?

The most common type of “retainer” fee is actually an advance fee deposit, usually between $500 and $5,000. These advance fee deposits are paid up front, like a down payment, and then the lawyer subtracts her hourly fees and costs. Most lawyers require advance fee deposits for most kinds of cases.

Can you sue for legal fees Ontario?

In matters that proceed to trial, the Rules of the Small Claims Court (in conjunction with section 29 of the Courts of Justice Act) provides that a successful party may recover expenses associated with legal representation fees (i.e. your paralegal fees) for up to 15% of the amount being claimed in the action.

What to do if a client refuses to pay Ontario?

Seek Legal Advice

If you decide that the invoice is substantial enough to hire a lawyer, you can request that they prepare a demand letter. Sometimes a nudge from a lawyer is enough to get the client to pay. The lawyer might suggest other courses of action too, depending on the circumstances.