Two things surprise people: legal aid coverage varies enormously by province and by area of law, and there are several free options that are not legal aid at all.
Start with the legal aid plan for your province, but don't stop there if you're turned down — the options below are separate, and several have no means test.
How to use this
1Apply to your provincial legal aid plan first
Eligibility depends on income and the type of matter. Criminal, family, immigration and refugee matters are most commonly covered; most civil and commercial matters are not.
2If refused, try clinics and pro bono programs
Community legal clinics, law school clinics and pro bono programs operate separately from legal aid and often have different or no means tests. Clinics frequently specialise — housing, employment, benefits, immigration.
3Use duty counsel and court help centres
If you are in custody or appearing in court, duty counsel can assist on the day at no cost. Many courthouses also have self-help or information centres.
4Ask about reduced fees and unbundling
Many lawyers offer limited-scope ('unbundled') services — reviewing a document or coaching you for a hearing — at far lower cost than full representation. Law society referral services can also connect you to a short free consultation.
Directory
Canada — provincial legal aid plans
- Legal Aid Ontario
- Commission des services juridiques (Quebec)Administers Quebec's legal aid.
- Legal Aid BC
- Legal Aid Alberta
- Legal Aid Saskatchewan
- Legal Aid Manitoba
- Nova Scotia Legal Aid
- Legal Aid New Brunswick
- PEI Legal Aid
- Legal Aid Newfoundland and Labrador
Canada — other free and low-cost help
- Community legal clinicsSpecialist clinics for housing, employment, benefits, immigration and more — separate from legal aid, often with different eligibility.
- Pro Bono Ontario / provincial pro bono organisationsFree legal help programs, including telephone hotlines in some provinces.
- JusticeNetReduced-fee referral service for people with modest incomes who don't qualify for legal aid.
- Law society referral servicesMost law societies operate a service connecting the public with a lawyer for a short free consultation.
- Law school legal clinicsSupervised student clinics at most Canadian law schools — commonly overlooked and often free.
United States
- Legal Services Corporation (LSC)Funds civil legal aid providers across the US; its directory locates your local provider.
- LawHelp / state legal aid websitesState-by-state guides to free legal help and self-help resources.
- Public defender's officeFor criminal matters where you cannot afford counsel.
- Law school and bar association pro bono clinics
Bodies are named rather than linked so nothing here can go stale — search the exact name to reach the current official site.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does legal aid cover any legal problem?
- No. Coverage varies by province and is concentrated in criminal, family, immigration and refugee matters. Most civil and commercial disputes are not covered.
- What if I'm just over the income limit?
- Try community legal clinics, pro bono programs and reduced-fee referral services such as JusticeNet — they operate separately from legal aid with different eligibility.
- Is duty counsel free?
- Yes. Duty counsel assists people in custody or appearing in court on the day at no cost, though it is limited-scope rather than ongoing representation.
- What is unbundled or limited-scope service?
- Hiring a lawyer for part of a matter — reviewing a document, drafting, or preparing you for a hearing — rather than full representation. It substantially reduces cost.
- Can law students help me?
- Yes. Most Canadian law schools run supervised clinics providing free assistance, often in housing, employment, benefits and small claims matters.
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General information, not legal advice. LegalCounselNearMe is not a law firm. Processes and eligibility vary by province and state — confirm current details with the body concerned.