Free legal aid in Canada: Legal Aid in every province, income limits, and when you need a lawyer
Where to find a free or low-cost lawyer in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Nova Scotia, who qualifies, what your options are if your income is over the limit, and how to check that the person in front of you is actually licensed.
Every Canadian province has a legal aid organization that pays for a lawyer for people on a limited income in criminal, family, and immigration and refugee cases. In Ontario, for example, a single person qualifies for a legal aid certificate in a family or immigration case if their gross income is no more than $18,795 a year, and in a criminal case if it's no more than $45,440. Even if you're over the limit, Ontario offers a free first consultation of up to 30 minutes through the Law Society's referral service.
This guide points you to the official services; it isn't legal advice about your case.
Legal aid organizations in six provinces
| Province | Organization | How to apply |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | Legal Aid Ontario | Toll-free 1-800-668-8258, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or online |
| Quebec | Aide juridique (Commission des services juridiques) | An appointment at the legal aid office in your area |
| British Columbia | Legal Aid BC | Greater Vancouver 604-408-2172, elsewhere in BC 1-866-577-2525, or online or in person |
| Alberta | Legal Aid Alberta | Toll-free 1-866-845-3425, Monday to Friday |
| Manitoba | Legal Aid Manitoba | Winnipeg 204-985-8500, toll-free 1-800-261-2960 |
| Nova Scotia | Nova Scotia Legal Aid | Online, by phone or at the nearest office |
In Ontario, the service is available in more than 300 languages, and in British Columbia in more than 100 languages through interpreters. Ask for an interpreter in your own language when you call, rather than explaining your case in a language you're not comfortable in.
Income limits: Ontario's figures as an example
Each province sets its own limits, and not all of them publish fixed tables on their websites. Ontario publishes the following gross family income limits:
| Family size | Family, immigration and refugee cases | Criminal cases |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $18,795 | $45,440 |
| 2 | $32,131 | $45,440 |
| 3 | $39,352 | $45,440 |
| 4 | $45,289 | $45,440 |
| 5 | $50,803 | $50,803 |
You'll be asked to disclose your assets, such as bank accounts, investments and property, and you may be asked to pay part of the cost depending on your income. Duty counsel at court, in family, criminal and child protection matters, has an easier test: income of up to $45,440 for a family of one to four people, and assets of no more than $15,000.
In Quebec, the system is different: the service is either completely free or available for a set contribution of between $100 and $800, depending on your situation. People receiving social assistance or social solidarity benefits are automatically financially eligible, and minors are eligible free of charge. Eligibility is only decided at the legal aid office, and the Commission publishes its income table on its website.
What legal aid covers, and what it doesn't
The provinces share similar priorities: criminal cases, serious family disputes and child protection, immigration and refugee cases, and mental health. Some go further: Manitoba, for example, covers residential tenancy matters and appeals of government benefit decisions, and Nova Scotia covers housing and income support matters.
On the other hand, don't expect legal aid to cover buying property, wills and estates, business matters, or civil lawsuits claiming damages. Manitoba excludes these explicitly, so check with your province's organization before assuming a matter is covered. If you're starting a business, these are things you'll need a paid lawyer for.
Community legal clinics in Ontario
Alongside legal aid certificates, Legal Aid Ontario funds a network of community legal clinics: local organizations that provide legal information, advice and representation. You can find the nearest clinic by entering your address or postal code in the service finder on Legal Aid Ontario's website, or by calling the same toll-free number.
The difference between clinics and duty counsel is clear: duty counsel helps you at court in family, criminal and child protection matters, while clinics work independently in areas such as housing, income support and human rights. Clinics are useful for the everyday problems newcomers run into, such as housing disputes. Before a dispute gets to that point, read our guide to renting your first apartment so you know what your landlord can and can't do.
Advice lines and free consultations
- Ontario: the Law Society Referral Service gives you the name of a lawyer or paralegal who offers a free consultation of up to 30 minutes so you can understand your rights and options. You request it online at findlegalhelp.ca; in a crisis, for example if you're in custody, you call 1-855-947-5255, or 416-947-5255 within the Greater Toronto Area. The service is for Ontario residents only, the lawyer or paralegal gets back to you within three business days, and you can ask for someone who speaks your language or accepts legal aid certificates.
- British Columbia: the Family LawLINE for telephone advice on family matters, and duty counsel at the courts.
- Quebec: a free telephone consultation if you're arrested.
- Nova Scotia: brief legal advice in a single consultation, in addition to full representation for those who qualify.
The free consultation in Ontario isn't free legal work: its purpose is to help you understand your situation, and you shouldn't expect the lawyer to draft any documents for you during it. The service won't give you a second referral for the same matter.
Lawyer or paralegal in Ontario?
Ontario is unusual in that paralegals are licensed by the same body as lawyers, the Law Society of Ontario, and they're a lower-cost option for certain matters:
| Matter | Licensed paralegal | Lawyer |
|---|---|---|
| Small Claims Court, up to $50,000 | Yes | Yes |
| Traffic tickets and municipal by-law offences | Yes | Yes |
| Administrative tribunals, such as the Human Rights Tribunal and social assistance appeals | Yes | Yes |
| Some minor criminal offences, such as theft under $5,000 | Yes | Yes |
| Family matters such as divorce and custody | Only those holding an FLSP licence, within a limited scope | Yes |
| Anything outside the licensed scope, such as buying property or serious crimes | No | Yes |
Some paralegals hold an additional licence as Family Legal Services Providers (FLSP), who can help with family court procedures within a limited scope. For immigration, IRCC accepts a paid representative only if they're a lawyer who is a member of a provincial or territorial law society, a notary in Quebec, a paralegal who is a member of the Law Society of Ontario, or an immigration consultant who is a member of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants. Using anyone else can get your applications returned or refused. You'll find professionals in our immigration lawyers directory and our immigration consultants directory.
Check the licence before you pay
In Ontario, the Lawyer and Paralegal Directory on the Law Society's website lists every current licensee, and anyone who has lost their licence in the last ten years. If you can't find the name, the person may not be licensed in Ontario. Every other province has its own law society regulating the profession; there are 14 in Canada, brought together by a national federation.
Ask for a written fee agreement and a receipt for every payment. Don't trust anyone who promises you a guaranteed outcome. When you look for a lawyer in our lawyers directory, check their name in their provincial law society's register before the first appointment. If you need your documents translated for court or immigration, start with our translators directory, and for non-legal settlement help, see our settlement services directory.
Before you call: steps that save you time
- Sum up the type of case in one sentence: family, criminal, immigration and refugee, housing, or benefits. That determines the right service from the start.
- Gather your income figures: your family's gross annual income, your account balances, and any property or investments. You'll be asked about them in every province.
- Organize your case documents: the court notice, the hearing date, the refusal or eviction letter, with their dates. Legal deadlines can be short, so don't put off calling.
- Call when it's less busy: Legal Aid BC, for example, says calls peak around noon and the pressure eases around 3 p.m.
- Ask for an interpreter: don't hesitate to ask for your language, and don't rely on a relative to interpret for you on a sensitive legal matter.
If you're in Ontario and don't know where to start, the service finder on Legal Aid Ontario's website will direct you to the nearest office or clinic based on your address. For general information about the province, see our Ontario page.
Frequently asked questions
Is legal aid only for citizens?
Immigration and refugee cases are at the core of what these organizations cover, so they're not limited to citizens. What matters is your income, the type of case and your province, so call and ask about your situation.
My income is slightly over the limit. Is that the end of it?
Not necessarily. Quebec has its contribution system of $100 to $800, and in Ontario the duty counsel limit is higher than the certificate limit for family cases, on top of the free consultation through the referral service.
How do I know an immigration consultant is licensed?
They must be a member of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants. Otherwise, they're not allowed to represent you before IRCC for a fee.
Can a paralegal handle my divorce?
A regular paralegal can't. Some are licensed as Family Legal Services Providers who can help with family court procedures within a limited scope, so ask about this directly and check it in the Law Society's directory.
What documents should I prepare before calling?
Have your financial information ready, along with any papers from the court or from the other party in your dispute, because that's what legal aid organizations ask for when you call. Organize your other steps in My Canada Journey.