Legal Assistance

If you are a party to a proceeding before the Ontario Labour Relations Board, you may want to get a lawyer to advise you or represent you.

LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE

When you call the LRS, it will provide you with the name of a lawyer who will provide a free consultation of up to 30 minutes to help you determine your rights and options. You can access the service by calling:  1-800-268-8326 or 416-947-3330 (within the GTA)

For more information go to the Law Society of Upper Canada’s website at www.lsuc.on.ca  and follow the tabs to “For the Public” and “Lawyer Referral Service”.

LEGAL AID

If you think that you cannot afford a lawyer, you may be able to qualify for legal aid. The purpose of legal aid is to make sure that people who do not have money to pay a lawyer still have access to the justice system.

To apply for legal aid, you must visit a Legal Aid Office and obtain a Legal Aid Certificate. The Certificate entitles you to hire the lawyer of your choice.

Legal Aid Offices are located throughout the province of Ontario. For the office nearest you, please call the Ontario Legal Aid Plan, in Toronto at (416) 979-1446; from outside Greater Toronto at 1-800-668-8258.

COMMUNITY LEGAL CLINICS

For some legal problems, Community legal clinics may be able to help you. The clinics have lawyers and trained legal staff to advise or represent you. You do not need a Legal Aid Certificate to go to a clinic. Clinics do their own financial assessment to see if you qualify for their services. To locate the clinic nearest you, look in the Yellow Pages under "Lawyers/Legal Aid".

Workers may also consider contacting the Toronto Workers' Health & Safety Legal Clinic (416-971-8832 or www.workers-safety.ca) which provides free information, legal advice and representation to low income workers who face health and safety problems at work.

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