Criminal Legal Aid Lawyer in Ontario

Understanding certificates

A Legal Aid certificate and a lawyer are different steps

Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) decides whether you qualify and issues any certificate. Aftermath Law does not issue certificates or determine eligibility. A certificate can help pay a lawyer who accepts the particular matter, but you must still find a lawyer willing and able to take it.

Aftermath Law accepts Legal Aid Ontario certificates for criminal law matters. Acceptance of a certificate does not mean that every person or issue qualifies, that a certificate covers every service requested, or that the firm has agreed to represent you. The firm must review the matter and certificate, complete conflict checks and confirm a retainer before it acts.

Criminal certificates

Seeking a criminal Legal Aid Ontario certificate

If you have been charged, the first questions are what the charge is, whether you have release conditions and when you must attend court. Legal Aid Ontario assesses both your finances and whether it covers the criminal matter. Its guidance describes possible certificate eligibility where a charge could lead to jail if convicted, as well as certain youth charges. The answer depends on your circumstances; LAO explains its criminal services.

A criminal law certificate does not automatically authorize every proceeding or a separate, unrelated charge. If bail, an added charge or another step is involved, ask LAO what the certificate covers and tell the firm what has been issued. Do not assume a lawyer has been retained merely because LAO approved a certificate.

The application

Applying to Legal Aid Ontario

You can check LAO’s current application guidance and call 1-800-668-8258 or, in the GTA, 416-979-1446. LAO offers online applications in certain circumstances; its application page explains who may use the portal. Have information about your legal issue and proof of income, if any, ready for LAO. LAO may also ask about assets or discuss a contribution agreement.

If you have already received a certificate, tell the firm what matter and services it authorizes. If you have not, you may still request our free initial consultation. LAO assesses eligibility and coverage independently from our decision whether we can accept a retainer.

If you need an interpreter when speaking with LAO, tell its representative at the start of the call. LAO says it will arrange one free of charge. Read LAO’s language-support guidance. This support is separate from the firm’s Punjabi consultations and court-interpreter arrangements.

If your criminal court date is approaching

Keep following any release conditions and check the time, courthouse and purpose on your most recent court documents. Let us know the next date when you enquire. If you do not have a lawyer and your court date is within five business days, LAO directs you to duty counsel at the court handling your case.

For a later date, call LAO at 1-800-668-8258 and have your disclosure available. Duty counsel may be able to provide assistance on a court date; this is separate from hiring a lawyer to take your case under a certificate.

The firm can discuss the allegation, the court process and the possible scope of representation in a free initial consultation. That discussion is not a promise to attend court, review disclosure or take urgent action before a retainer is accepted. Dildeep Sahi offers urgent telephone assistance 24/7 separately from scheduled consultations. If we miss your call, we will call you back as soon as possible.

What to have ready

What to have ready when contacting a criminal Legal Aid lawyer

• The charge or allegation, the date and court location shown on your papers, and the next appearance date.
• Whether you are in custody, have a bail hearing, or have release conditions affecting home, work, travel or contact.
• Whether you have applied to LAO, received a decision or certificate, and which charges or steps it identifies.
• A brief description of the issue. If receiving a reply could put you at risk, do not submit this form; contact the firm when it is safe to do so. Arrange any disclosure or document review separately; do not send sensitive evidence through the website form.

Use the free initial consultation to ask whether Dildeep can take your matter, what work is proposed and how it would be funded. If you are considering a private retainer, ask about fees and payment terms before agreeing to work. You do not need a certificate to request this first discussion. Further review and court attendance require the firm to agree to act; office visits at the Mississauga office are by appointment only.

Keep reading

Related consultation guides

Use a local consultation guide to organize the charge papers, certificate or application status and the next step you need help with.

These guides are for clients in our service areas. Aftermath Law serves them from its Mississauga office, with office visits by appointment.

Coverage

Criminal matters we discuss

Find guidance relevant to the charge or immediate step before contacting the firm. These service pages describe the legal issues; LAO determines whether any particular matter is covered by a certificate.

Explore all Criminal Law services.