Changes to summary legal advice services at Legal Aid Ontario due to COVID-19 pandemic

March 26, 2020

From Legal Aid Ontario – As part of our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) is working to offer more resources to clients through the telephone and online.

Effective March 24, LAO is making the following changes to our summary legal advice services across the province:

Clients who would have received in-person legal aid services through the Family Law Information Centres will be able to get help from LAO over the phone by calling 1‑800‑668‑8258.
Clients can also receive over-the-phone summary legal advice services for criminal matters by calling 1‑800‑668‑8258.
More family staff lawyers are being added to increase capacity.
During this time, LAO will waive financial eligibility requirements for summary legal advice. Legal eligibility requirements remain in place.

LAO will ensure service level of having a family or criminal staff lawyer respond to an inquiry within 48 hours or less.

These changes will start to take effect until further notice, and will be fully implemented by Friday, March 27, 2020.