The Law Society of Upper Canada

1. Equity Initiatives Department
2. Client Service Centre (CSC)
3. Lawyer Referral Service (LRS)
4. Certified Specialist Program
5. Compensation Fund
6. Archives Department
7. Discrimination and Harassment Counsel (DHC)

1. Pro Bono Law Ontario (PBLO)
2. Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC)
3. Volunteer Lawyers Service (VLS)
4. Law Commission of Ontario
5. Legal Aid Ontario (LAO)
6. Ontario Justice Education Network (OJEN)
7. Justice Ontario

1. Contingency Fees

1. Equity Initiatives Department
   

   To ensure access to justice, the Law Society integrates equity and diversity values and principles into its model policies, services, programs and procedures. The Law Society seeks to ensure that both law and the practice of law are reflective of all peoples in Ontario by actively participating with Aboriginal, Francophone and equity-seeking groups, through consultations, meetings and public education activities. The Equity Initiatives Department also provides resources for members of the public and the profession, such as publications and reports.

   For more information:
   Phone: 416-947-3300 ext. 2153
   Toll free: 1-800-668-7380 ext. 2153
   Fax: 416-947-3983
   Email: equity@lsuc.on.ca
   Web information

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2. Client Service Centre (CSC)
   

   The CSC is the one-stop access point to help for members of the public, lawyers or students contacting the Law Society. Client Service Centre representatives provide immediate responses to basic questions or transfer the caller directly to the appropriate department when more complex answers are required. The centre is open during regular business hours Monday through Friday.

   For more information:
   Phone: 416-947-3300
   Toll free: 1-800-668-7380
   Fax: 416-947-5263
   Contact Us form

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3. Lawyer Referral Service (LRS)
   

   LRS is a public service of the Law Society that helps people find a lawyer.  It is simple to use.  Individuals call the 1-800 number and a Client Service Representative gives that person the name and phone number of one local LRS member lawyer who is able to deal with their issue. The person calls the LRS member lawyer and receives a free consultation of up to 30 minutes.

   For more information:

   Phone: 1-800-268-8326 or 416-947-3330 (within the GTA)

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4. Certified Specialist Program
   

   The Law Society's Certified Specialist program is intended to help members of the public identify lawyers who can meet their needs for specialist assistance in complex matters and to facilitate referrals by other lawyers and professionals. Specialists are evaluated initially and periodically, and in accordance with specified standards of knowledge, skill, conduct and practice. The program is voluntary, and no lawyer in Ontario is required to be certified as a specialist in order to practise in the area of law covered by that specialty. However, only those certified by the Law Society may refer to themselves as specialists in their advertising, and are included in the Law Society's Directory of Specialists. As of January 2000, the Law Society recognizes ten areas of law in which lawyers can be certified. The Directory of Certified Specialists  is available online. A paper directory may also be requested from the Client Service Centre.

   For more information contact the Client Service Centre:
   Phone: 416-947-3300
   Toll-free:1-800-688-7380
   Fax: 416-947-5263
   Contact Us form
   Web information

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5. Compensation Fund
   

   The fund helps clients who have lost money because of a lawyer's dishonesty. It is paid for exclusively by lawyers, out of their own pockets. Over the years, it has paid out millions of dollars to clients. The fund can reimburse people up to a total of $100,000. Typical losses include theft of money from estates, from trust funds held for real estate closings, from settlements in personal injury cases and money embezzled in investment transactions.

   For more information:
   Phone: 416-947-3343
   Toll-free: 1-800-668-7380 ext. 3343
   Fax: 416-947-3479
   Email: compfund@lsuc.on.ca
   Web information

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6. Archives Department
   

   With its unique programs, the Archives department promotes access to justice by providing positive, accessible and entertaining opportunities for the public to learn about the Law Society, the legal profession and the justice system. Groups from schools, community colleges, special interest groups and law-related organizations have the opportunity to take an informative tour of Osgoode Hall. Tours focus on the history of the Law Society and the legal system in Canada and help to de-mystify the legal process. Traveling exhibitions mounted by Archives reach both traditional and non-traditional audiences and communicate complex concepts about the Law Society, lawyers and the justice system in educational and entertaining packages. Exhibitions such as Crossing the Bar on women in the legal profession and Dieu et mon Droit on Franco-Ontarians and the law deal specifically with equity issues.

   For more information:
   Phone: 416-947-3300
   Toll free: 1-800-668-7380
   Web information

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7. Discrimination and Harassment Counsel (DHC)
   

   As part of the Law Society of Upper Canada's efforts to enable equity and diversity in the workplace and the profession, and to help stop discrimination and harassment, the Law Society provides a Discrimination and Harassment Counsel service free-of-charge to the Ontario public and lawyers. The Discrimination and Harassment Counsel confidentially assists anyone who may have experienced discrimination or harassment by a lawyer or within a law firm or legal organization.

   Discrimination and Harassment Counsel (DHC)

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1. Pro Bono Law Ontario (PBLO)
   

   Pro Bono Law Ontario promotes access to justice in Ontario by creating and promoting opportunities for lawyers to provide pro bono (free) legal services to persons of limited means.  Access to justice is fundamental to a free and democratic society.  In Ontario, lawyers are members of a self-regulating profession that is vital to the integrity of the justice system.  With this privilege, lawyers bear the responsibility to help ensure that those of limited means and other vulnerable populations are not excluded from the justice system.

   Since 2002, PBLO has been working to:

   • promote a pro bono culture,
   • develop the pro bono capacity of the private bar,
   • eliminate barriers to participation, and
   • develop pro bono projects that address unmet legal needs in both urban and rural communities across Ontario.

   For more information:
   Pro Bono Law Ontario
   130 Queen Street West
   Toronto, ON M5H 2N6
   Phone: 416-977-4448
   Toll free: 866-466-PBLO
   Email: info@pblo.org
   Web information

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2. Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC)
   

   Please note: PBSC does not provide legal advice. Our students assist public interest organizations and community groups, but we are not set up to serve individuals directly. If you are an individual requiring legal advice, please consult Legal Aid Ontario at 1-800-668-8258, the Lawyer Referral Service at 1-900-565-4577, or a lawyer. For $6, the Lawyer Referral Service will provide the name of a lawyer who will provide a free consultation of up to 30 minutes to help you determine your rights and options.

   PBSC matches volunteer law students with public interest organizations, community groups, government agencies, tribunals, legal clinics and lawyers. PBSC students conduct public legal education; research pending legislation, legal issues and policy questions; draft policies for organizations and manuals for their clients; and help organizations provide legal information and assistance to their clients, among other projects - all pro bono for 3-10 hours a week. All projects require lawyer supervisors. Lawyers can assist by volunteering as supervisors for approximately 5-10 hours a year. PBSC welcomes lawyers who have pro bono or public interest cases where students would be of assistance. PBSC also runs the Family Law Project through which law students are trained and assist unrepresented people to fill out required forms in family court.

   For more information, please contact:

   Pro Bono Students Canada

   655 Spadina Ave.
   Toronto, ON M5S 2H9

   Phone: 416-946-0930
   Fax: 416-934-4536

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3. Volunteer Lawyers Service (VLS)
   

   VLS was created to develop, implement and coordinate strategies to promote pro bono legal services in Ontario to non-profit and charitable community based organizations. VLS provides pro bono legal assistance, information seminars, speakers bureau and factual resource material.

   For more information:
   Janice Wiggins, Project Director
   Volunteer Lawyers Service
   130 Queen Street West
   Toronto, ON M5H 2N6
   Phone: 416-977-4448
   Toll free: 866-466-PBLO
   Email: info@volunteerlawyers.org
   Web information

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4. Law Commission of Ontario
   

   The Law Commission of Ontario (LCO) is the result of a partnership between the Ministry of the Attorney General, the Deans of Ontario's six law schools, the Law Foundation of Ontario and the Law Society of Upper Canada.

   The LCO's mandate is to recommend law reform measures to increase access to and the relevance and effectiveness of the legal system, to clarify and simplify the law and to consider technology as a means of increasing access to justice. The LCO is also mandated to stimulate debate about law and provide scholarly research.

   Consultation is a vital element of our work. We would like to hear from you. We welcome your views on any aspect of our programme of law reform and invite you to suggest areas of the law which we should be investigating in order to make recommendations for improvement.

   For more information:
   Law Commission of Ontario
   Computer Methods Building,
   Suite 201, 4850 Keele St.,
   Toronto, ON
   Canada M3J 1P3
   Tel: 416-650-8406
   Fax: 416-650-8418
   Email: LawCommission@lco-cdo.org
   Web information

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5. Legal Aid Ontario (LAO)
   

   The guiding principle behind almost 40 years of legal aid in this province has been that the legal system must be affordable and accessible to all Ontarians, regardless of their ability to pay. Today, Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) continues to play a vital role in our justice system, helping almost 1,000,000 people every year. Legal Aid clients are sometimes faced with the most serious and fundamental issues in life: loss of liberty, family breakdown, deportation, loss of income, loss of housing.

   For more information:
   Check the white pages in your phone book under "Legal Aid" for the local legal aid area office or community legal clinic, or visit the Legal Aid Ontario Website .

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6. Ontario Justice Education Network (OJEN)
   

   The Ontario Justice Education Network (OJEN), is a charitable organization that facilitates opportunities for students and others to develop an understanding of our justice system..

   OJEN is a collaborative network of organizations and individuals who work together at both the provincial and the local level to promote understanding, education and dialogue in support of a responsive and inclusive justice system.  Membership on the Network includes provincial legal institutions, government ministries, educational bodies and organizations involved in delivering justice education.  The three Chief Justices of Ontario were OJEN's founding directors and remain members of the Network.

   OJEN's flagship program, Courtrooms and Classrooms, aims to enhance students' understanding of the operation of the legal system through direct contact with members of the legal profession. The program includes bringing students to courtrooms, and lawyers and judges to classrooms.  Other initiatives include Summer Law Institutes for teachers, Law Day activities, the development of curriculum resources, local mock trials, law symposia for students, Art in the Courts and local projects focused on marginalized communities. Learn more, including how to get involved with OJEN

   For more information:
   Sarah McCoubrey
   Executive Director

   Ontario Justice Education Network
   Osgoode Hall, 130 Queen St. West
   Toronto, Ontario
   M5H 2N6
   Phone: 416-947-5274
   E-mail: ojen@lsuc.on.ca

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7. Justice Ontario
   

   The Justice Ontario website and hotline provide Ontarians with a one-stop entry point for accessing legal resources and basic information on the most common justice-related topics. A project of the Ministry of the Attorney General, it also provides easy access to legal resources such as lawyer referral services and family law information centres.

   A Justice Ontario Access Partnership of groups with expertise in all areas of the justice system, including the Law Society, has also been created to continually improve the website's content and to link the site to "next step" expertise.

   Web information

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1. Contingency Fees
   

   Contingency fees

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Fact sheets

• Equity and Diversity in the Legal Profession
• Access to Justice
• The Changing Face of the Legal Profession