Can a self-represented litigant get free or low-cost legal advice through the Law Society in Ontario?

The Law Society of Ontario operates a referral service that connects members of the public with a lawyer or licensed paralegal for an initial consultation about their legal issue, which can be a practical starting point for someone representing themselves who needs guidance on a specific question rather than full representation. This service is generally free to use in the sense that there's no charge to be matched with a professional, though the consultation itself, or any further work, is typically arranged and paid for separately based on what that lawyer or paralegal charges, unless a free introductory meeting is offered.

Beyond the referral service, income-qualified individuals may be able to access legal aid or community legal clinics for certain types of matters, though general civil litigation in Superior Court is more limited in this respect than areas like family or criminal law, where legal aid coverage tends to be broader. A self-represented litigant looking for low-cost help is often better served by combining a short paid consultation, a limited-scope retainer for a specific document or step, and their own research, rather than assuming a single free resource will cover an entire case from start to finish.