Legal Aid
Finding the Right Legal Aid Lawyer
What's a Legal Aid Certificate?
If you are a low-income Ontarian, you may be eligible for a Legal Aid Ontario certificate. You can take or send your LAO-issued certificate to a private practice lawyer, in HCLS for example, who accepts legal aid. If the lawyer acknowledges the certificate, he or she agrees to represent you for a specified number of hours, in a legal proceeding, up to and including a trial.
Choosing the Right Lawyer
These questions can help you decide on the best possible person:
• How much experience with or knowledge about my kind of case do you have?
• Here is what I hope will happen – is this realistic?
• What are my legal options?
• Will anyone else in your office handle an
important part of my case, such as appearing in court?
Planning for Your First Meeting
Before and during your first meeting:
• Bring all of your court papers.
• Prepare a list of questions to ask.
• Be prepared to explain your legal issues clearly, and limit the number of emails you send and telephone calls you make. Your certificate gives your lawyer specific hours for each stage of your case. The time spent on emails and talking to you counts toward these hours and uses time that the lawyer could spend preparing for your case.
• Bring along paper, so you can write down what the lawyer tells you.
• If you do not understand something, ask for an explanation.
Contact Us
Better yet, give us a call!
We're always ready to hear what you have to say.
Call or text us at: (613) 519-4518
Home Counsel Legal Services
116 Lisgar Street, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0C2, Canada
*Please note that all in-person consultations at our office must be scheduled in advance. HCLS does not accommodate walk-ins.*
Hours
Mon | 09:00 a.m. – 05:00 p.m. | |
Tue | 09:00 a.m. – 05:00 p.m. | |
Wed | 09:00 a.m. – 05:00 p.m. | |
Thu | 09:00 a.m. – 05:00 p.m. | |
Fri | 09:00 a.m. – 05:00 p.m. | |
Sat | Closed | |
Sun | Closed |
Meetings can be scheduled outside of regular business hours upon request and approval.
Disclaimer : Information which appears on this website is for general information only and does not create a solicitor-client relationship nor should it be construed as legal advice. If you require legal advice based upon your own particular situation, please speak to one of our lawyers.
Copyright © 2024 Home Counsel Legal Services Professional Corporation - All Rights Reserved.
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Legal Aid Certificates
Home Counsel Legal Services (HCLS) is currently accepting new Legal Aid clients for family and child protection law cases in the areas of Ottawa, Cornwall, Perth, Brockville and L'Orignal.