The purpose of legal aid is to make sure that people who do not have money to pay a lawyer can still get the legal help they need. Legal Aid offers different kinds of help, depending on your legal problem. You may need a lawyer to go to court with you, or you may just need some advice or some assistance with court documents. But you may be able to get legal aid even if you have a job and own a house. Legal aid staff will look at your personal financial circumstances to decide if you qualify.
Every situation is different.
It all depends on your family responsibilities and your monthly expenses. If you qualify financially, legal aid may be able to help. This is not a complete list, please talk to your local legal aid office about your specific case. An offence which would not result in a jail fine, but which would cause you to lose social assistance benefits, workers compensation payments or your job. When you need a lawyer to go to court with you, for criminal, family, immigration, refugee and some types of civil cases, Legal Aid Ontario offices may be able to give you a certificate that will allow you to hire your own lawyer.