F Criminal Justice and Legal Services

Legal Aid Ontario

admin — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 09:47:12 -0400

Office phone: 416-979-1446
Toll-free phone: 1-800-668-8258
Fax: 416-979-2948 Administration
E-mail: info@lao.on.ca
Web site: www.legalaid.on.ca
Address: Provincial Office, 375 University Ave, Ste 404, Toronto, ON, M5G 2G1
Location: (Intersection) Toronto Central (University Ave-Dundas St W)
Ward: Toronto Centre-Rosedale (Ward 27)
Officers: Robert Ward, President and Chief Executive Officer
Languages of service: English ; sign interpreters arranged through Canadian Hearing Society and paid by Legal Aid Ontario
Eligibility: Persons with low incomes - see below for specific services
How to apply: Call for information - certificate application -- no appointment needed, but bring all documents related to case and to personal finances - proof of social assistance required
Physical access: Wheelchair accessible building including main entrance and barrier free washrooms - parking close to entrance
Service description: Free legal information and advice

arranges for payment of lawyers through Legal Aid Certificates in cases requiring legal representation
out of court settlement conferences for some civil cases

Legal Aid Certificates -- reimburses participating lawyers for services rendered on behalf of client

financial assessment required
only granted for some types of legal problems, usually criminal, immigration or family law matters
client may have to agree to repay all or part of legal fees
seniors who collect Guaranteed Income Supplement (and do not own property) may have lawyer reimbursed for will preparation

Advice Lawyer -- people who qualify for legal aid financially but whose particular cases are not eligible for a certificate are able to receive some assistance and advice, particularly in family law matters or where a person needs help to file documents
Community Legal Clinics -- provincial office funds and sets policy for independent, specialty and student legal clinics in Toronto (indexed under LEGAL SERVICES and its subheadings)

for services beyond information and advice, clients usually required to meet financial or case eligibility guidelines and not be eligible for Legal Aid Certificate
formal representation only available in particular areas such as tenant issues, immigration, pensions, social assistance, Employment Insurance (EI), workers compensation, poverty law
client may be asked to contribute towards disbursements

Organization type: Non Profit
Subjects: Legal aid; Legal information
Record ID: MET0601
Last complete update: 2007-12-20
Last modification date: 2008-05-07

Court Support and Counselling Services

admin — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 15:01:47 -0500

Office phone: 416-789-9793
Fax: 416-789-9793 Call first
Officers Annabelle Nathan, Executive Director
Hours: Flexible, including early evenings and Sundays
Area served: Primarily downtown and North York courts
Languages of service: English ; access to interpreters for other languages
Fees: Court support -- free

counselling services -- fees on a sliding scale
Criminal Injuries Compensation Board -- hourly fee

Service description: Services for victims of violence

court support -- help in going to police to charge an abuser
preparation for upcoming trial
how to be effective on the witness stand
court accompaniment
counselling -- individual counselling for children, women and men who have experienced abuse including verbal, physical or sexual violence
counselling for men and women victimized by childhood sexual abuse and incest
conflict mediation
Criminal Injuries Compensation Board -- assistance with applications for claims

Organization type: Non Profit ; Registered Charity

Criminal Injuries Compensation Board

admin — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:55:53 -0500

416-326-2900
Toll-free phone: 1-800-372-7463 ; 1-800-37-CRIME
Fax: 416-326-2883
E-mail: info.cicb@ontario.ca
Web site: www.cicb.gov.on.ca
Address: 439 University Ave, 4th Fl, Toronto, ON, M5G 1Y8
Location (Intersection): Toronto Central (University Ave-Dundas St W)
Ward: Toronto Centre-Rosedale (Ward 27)
Officers David Salisbury, Chief Administrative Officer
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30-5
Area served: Ontario
Languages of service: English ; French ; interpreters or translators for other languages available for scheduled hearings, including American Sign Language interpreters
Eligibility: Victims of crimes of violence occurring in Ontario that result in personal injury or death
crime must be an offence under the Canadian Criminal Code
any offence involving a motor vehicle is excluded, unless the vehicle was used as a weapon of assault

How to apply: Apply to Client Services Unit within two years of crime, whether or not assailant has been apprehended or convicted - extension possible in some circumstances
Physical access Wheelchair accessible building including main entrance and barrier free washrooms - braille, tone and voice elevator - street parking close to entrance
Service description: Administers Compensation for Victims of Crime Act
payments may be awarded for reasonable expenses, pain and suffering, lost pay due to inability to work, loss of support for dependants as a result of the victim's death, support of a child born as a result of rape, medical expenses, funeral expenses, other related costs
part of Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General

Organization type: Non Profit

Ontario Victim Services Secretariat

admin — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:44:14 -0500
Ontario
Ministry of the Attorney General
Ontario Victim Services Secretariat
Victim Support Line
416-314-2447 Toronto area ;
Toll-free phone: 1-888-579-2888
Fax: 416-212-1091
Web site: www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/about/vw/vsl.asp
Mail Address: 18 King St E, 7th Fl, Toronto, ON, M5C 1C4
Officers Ann Swallow, Manager, Regional Programs Support, 416-326-2431
Hours: Automated information -- Monday - Sunday 24 hours
information counsellors -- Monday - Sunday 8 am-10 pm
offender information -- Monday - Friday 9-5
Victim Liaison Unit -- Monday - Friday 9-5
Languages of service: English ; French
Service description: Toll free information and support line
provides information on criminal justice system, including arrest and release procedures, parole, probation, conditional sentences, police responsibilities, how to be a witness at a criminal trial
provides access to counsellors for referral to services for victims of crime
provides information on specific adult offenders on probation, provincial parole, and conditional sentences of less than 2 years in custody
allows registration with the automated Victim Notification System, which provides information on changes in release status of an offender
provides access to Victim Liaison Unit

Organization type: Provincial Government

The Law Society of Upper Canada

admin — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 11:52:21 -0500
The Law Society exists to govern the legal profession in the public interest.
The Law Society Can

Address your complaints about a lawyer by:
Assisting you with concerns about your lawyer's service
Investigating complaints about a lawyer's behaviour or conduct
Disciplining lawyers who are found guilty of professional misconduct

Compensate you for some financial losses resulting from an ontario lawyer's dishonesty.

You can apply to the Law Society's Compensation Fund for reimbursement for money or property lost as a result of a
lawyer's dishonesty.

Help you find a lawyer.
You can contact our Lawyer Referral Service when you need help finding a lawyer.
The Member Directory is particularly useful if you are looking for a specific lawyer.
our Directory of Certified Specialists lists lawyers who have been certified as an expert in certain areas of law.
Tribunal decisions record details of recent discipline cases resulting from our complaints process.
The Law Society's Client Service Centre can help if you are looking for information about a member's practising status or discipline history or if you are looking for the location of a certain lawyer's files - for example if you are trying to locate an original will and the lawyer who prepared it has retired.
Support Access to Justice
The Law Society supports a number of services, such as the Public Legal Education Task Force and Pro Bono Law ontario, that help to make sure the public is well served by the legal system of ontario. Read the Access to Justice Fact Sheet for more about these and other programs.
The Law Society Cannot

Investigate complaints about lawyers' fees.
The Law Society cannot order your lawyer to reduce the amount billed to you for services provided.

If you have a problem with your bill, there are two things you can do:
talk to your lawyer
contact the Assessment office of the Superior Court of Justice to make an appointment to have your bill reviewed

Provide legal advice.
Staff in the Law Society's Client Service Centre cannot provide legal advice, but can give you information about our complaints process, and direct you to other legal resources.

Order your lawyer to compensate you for losses resulting from negligent acts.
All practising lawyers in ontario are required to have professional liability insurance. They are insured by LAWPRo, the Lawyers' Professional Indemnity Company. If you believe your lawyer was negligent, you may obtain the advice of another lawyer to pursue a claim for compensation.

Office phone: 416-947-3300
Toll-free: 1-800-668-7380
Fax: 416-947-5263
E-mail: lawsociety@lsuc.on.ca

Address: The Law Society of Upper Canada, Osgoode Hall, 130 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario M5H 2N6
Complaints:
Toll-free: 1-800-268-7568
General line: 416-947-3310
E-mail: comail@lsuc.on.ca

If you are e-mailing a complaint, please include your full name, address and phone number.

Lawyer Referral Service (LRS)
Toll line: ($6.00/call): 1-900-565-4LRS (4577)
E-mail: lawrefer@lsuc.on.ca

If in crisis, contact: Toll-free: 1-800-268-8326 or 416-947-3330 (i.e. victims of domestic violence; incarcerated or institutionalized callers)

Paralegal Regulation
The Law Society will receive calls of inquiry at 416-947-3315.