Can I get legal aid for a civil lawsuit in Ontario?

Legal Aid Ontario provides publicly funded legal assistance, but its civil litigation coverage is limited. Most civil legal aid funding in Ontario is directed to family law, criminal law, immigration, and refugee matters. Coverage for general civil disputes — contract claims, debt recovery, property disputes, personal injury — is very limited and not routinely available through the standard legal aid certificate program.

If you have a low income and face a civil matter, some options exist. Legal Aid Ontario runs clinics across the province that provide free legal advice on specific areas including housing, employment, and social benefits. Law school clinics in Ontario (at several universities) offer free legal assistance to eligible clients in certain types of cases. Pro bono legal services organizations such as Pro Bono Ontario provide a hotline and some free summary legal advice.

For personal injury matters, most plaintiffs' personal injury lawyers work on contingency — no fee unless you win — so cost is less of a barrier. In Small Claims Court, many people successfully self-represent, and the court's process is designed to be accessible without a lawyer.

If you are unsure whether you qualify for any legal aid or clinic service, you can call Legal Aid Ontario's intake line to ask. Accessing any available summary advice early in your dispute can help you understand your options even if full representation is unavailable.