Other Legal Matters

Getting Help with Other Legal Matters in London

The Law Society Referral Service

The Law Society Referral Service (LSRS) used to be known as the Lawyer Referral Service (LRS).

The Law Society Referral Service is designed to provide callers with up to 30 minutes of consultation either by phone or in person at no charge.  A Legal Information Officer will receive the call and assess the needs of the client and then provide the name of a lawyer or paralegal who best fits the client’s stated needs. The service is not designed to provide legal advice or second opinions, and any fees should be discussed with the lawyer or paralegal.  This online service is found at www.lawsocietyreferralservice.ca

Legal Aid Ontario

The Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) program is funded by the Ontario Government. If you are a low-income person, LAO may be able to provide you with legal assistance. To financially qualify, this usually this means that you have little or no money left after paying for basic things like food and housing.

LAO’s toll-free number (1-800-668-8258) connects low-income Ontarians to legal aid services, assistance and information. It’s available to help people in Ontario:

• get free help from a lawyer—also known as summary advice—to help you deal with your legal problem
• get information about legal aid services
• learn the legal aid services for which you qualify
• ask about your legal aid application.

Call any time between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Best time to call: 9 to 10 a.m.

If you want to speak to somebody about a specific legal issue, click here for a list of people to call depending on your issue.

If you want to speak to somebody from the London LAO office, you can contact them here:

London District Office
150 Dufferin Ave., 8th floor Suite 802, Mail Room Box 25
London ON  N6A 5N6

Phone: 519-433-8179
Toll-free: 1-877-449-4001

Fact Sheet on Children’s Aid

Has children’s aid contacted you? It is important for you to get legal advice immediately—whether children’s aid has taken your child or children into care or you are dealing with an agency outside the court process. Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) has developed a Fact Sheet which can be helpful. You can find it here.

Duty Counsel

LAO funds a criminal and family duty counsel program at the Courthouse. Duty counsel are lawyers who are available for on-the-spot advice and representation for people attending the Criminal or Family Courts – free of charge.

Although they won’t represent you at trial, they may represent you if you wish to enter a guilty plea, depending on the seriousness of the charge. People are met on a first come, first serve basis. If you want to speak to a lawyer on duty you should be at the Courthouse well in advance of your court time.

Contact:

London Courthouse
80 Dundas St., 2nd Floor
London ON  N6A 6A3

Monday – Friday 9:30am-4pm

Criminal Law Information Centre

The Criminal Law Information Centre (CLIC) is located at the London Courthouse.  It’s a drop-in centre where people facing criminal charges can get 20 minutes of free legal advice from a lawyer. Available services include:

• general information on what happens on a first or subsequent appearance
• review and discuss disclosure
• referral to other services
• advice on consequences of a guilty plea
• information about the Direct Accountability program
• assistance in preparing documents for a bail variation
• advice on responding to an application for a peace bond
• information on procedures for representing yourself at trial

Contact:

London Courthouse
Main Floor – 80 Dundas St.
London ON  N6A 6A3

Tuesdays 2pm-4pm
Phone: 519-660-3000

Family Law Information Centre

The Family Law Information Centre (FLIC) is located at Family Court.  It’s a drop-in centre with service on a first come-first serve basis. At FLIC, you can get legal advice, obtain court forms and brochures, information about mediation and community resources.

Contact:

London Courthouse
Main Floor – 80 Dundas St.
London ON  N6A 6A3

Monday-Friday 9am-3pm
Phone: 519-660-3001

Community Legal Services

Community Legal Services (CLS) is a non-profit organization at the University of Western. The clinic provides free legal assistance to people who cannot afford a lawyer. CLS is staffed by Western Law students working under the supervision of lawyers.

CLS provides assistance for:

• Family Law; parenting/custody/Access, child support, spousal support, Assistance to “kin” Claimants in child protection proceedings (Except divorce, appeals of family law decisions, marriage annulments, adoptions, division of family property upon separation, Child Protection (CAS matters))
• Criminal Law; Serious Provincial Offences, Serious Municipal Offences
• Small Claims court; under $35,000.00; matters with the dispute amount is less than $5000.00
• Landlord and Tenant Matters (Except evictions)

Contact:

Community Legal Services
Room 120 – Faculty of Law
The University of Western Ontario
London, ON  N6A 3K7

Monday-Friday 9am-4:30pm
Phone: 519-661-3352

Dispute Resolution Centre

The Dispute Resolution Centre (DRC) is a free service run by CLS which provides mediation services for people who wish to resolve their dispute quickly, efficiently, and effectively. The types of disputes they will mediate include:

• breach of contract
• debts owed
• roommate and landlord-tenant disputes
• neighbour disagreements
• employment issues

Contact:

Dispute Resolution Centre
Faculty of Law, Room 126
Western University
London, Ontario N6A 3K7

Phone: 519-661-4044
Fax: 519-661-3428
Email: [email protected]