Legal Aid Ontario is an independent organization, funded primarily by the Government of Ontario.  It provides a variety of service to low income people in Ontario. These include:

• assistance in retaining a lawyer - through the certificate program;
• limited assistance in court and summary advice and assistance - through the duty counsel programs; and
• representation regarding certain legal issues that frequently affect low income Ontarians - through the Community Legal Services or "clinics".

More information about Legal Aid Ontario in general can be found at their main web site, www.legalaid.on.ca.

Many of our members contribute to Legal Aid Ontario's efforts to make legal services accessible to low income Ontarians by:

• representing clients whose services are covered by legal aid certificates;
• serving as duty counsel; and
• serving on various Legal Aid Ontario committees.

Our Find-A-Lawyer feature allows searches for lawyers who accept legal aid certificates.  On the search page, select one of the following three areas of practice:

• Legal Aid - Criminal
• Legal Aid - Family
• Legal Aid - Immigration

In order to provide services, Legal Aid Ontario is dependant on lawyers who are committed to access to justice. 

However, fewer lawyers across Ontario are financially able to provide services through Legal Aid Ontario. There is a growing crisis in providing legal aid services in Ontario.  Nonetheless, our members maintain their commitment to these services, which are so important to many Onarians and to the justice system in Ontario.

Even when paid for services, participating lawyers are not paid anywhere near normal "going rates". 

To all those who believe it is necessary for all residents of Ontario to have access to essential legal services, we encourage you to promote increased funding to Legal Aid Ontario by the Government of Ontario, in order that:

• the types of cases covered be widened to include those areas that are essential but currently excluded;
• the allotments of time for services be increased, so that lawyers are paid for all reasonable work necessary to provide quality representation; and
• the hourly rate paid to lawyers be increased, so that accepting legally aided cases be financially viable.

We also encourage the Government of Canada to improve their contributions to Legal Aid Ontario, so they are more reflective of the costs of immigrations, as well as youth and federal criminal charges.

There is no justice but justice for all.