Legal Aid in Canada: Who Qualifies and How to Apply in Every Province and Territory

Legal aid in Canada is government-funded legal help for people who cannot afford a lawyer, delivered by a separate organization in each province and territory. Whether you qualify depends on your household income and assets, the type of legal problem you have and, often, whether your case has merit. Most programs cover serious criminal charges, family and child protection matters and refugee or immigration cases, and you apply directly to the legal aid organization where you live.

This guide explains what legal aid covers, how financial eligibility works, and how to apply in each of Canada's 13 jurisdictions, with links to the official program in each one. Figures are as of November 2026 and come from each organization's own website. It is general information, not legal advice.

What is legal aid in Canada?

Legal aid pays for, or directly provides, a lawyer or legal advice for people with low incomes. There is no single national program. Each province and territory runs its own legal aid plan through an independent commission, society or government division, and each sets its own rules.

Legal aid usually comes in three forms:

• Full representation. A staff lawyer or a private lawyer paid by legal aid (often through a "certificate") takes on your case.
• Advice and duty counsel. A lawyer gives you summary advice by phone or meets you at court on the day of your hearing.
• Information and referrals. Intake workers, online resources and clinics point you to the right service.

What does legal aid usually cover?

Coverage varies, but most plans prioritize matters where your liberty, safety or family is at stake:

• Criminal law. Charges that could lead to jail, and youth criminal charges. Legal Aid Ontario, for example, lists criminal charges that could result in jail and charges under the Youth Criminal Justice Act ^[2].
• Family law. Serious family problems, separation, parenting and support, family violence and child protection. Legal Aid BC covers "serious family problems" and child protection matters ^[5].
• Immigration and refugee law. Refugee claims and related hearings are covered in several provinces, including Ontario, BC, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan ^{[2] [5] [11] [16] [33]}.
• Some civil and poverty law. Housing, income assistance and benefits appeals are often handled by community clinics rather than certificates. Legal Aid Manitoba, for instance, lists residential tenancies and government benefits appeals, but does not cover real estate, wills and estates or civil suits between individuals ^[16].

If your problem is a personal injury claim, a dispute over money, a will or a business matter, legal aid generally will not pay for a lawyer, and you will need one of the alternatives covered below. For criminal matters, you can also compare criminal defence lawyers who accept legal aid.

Do I qualify for legal aid?

To get a legal aid lawyer, you normally have to pass two or three tests:

1. Financial eligibility. Your household income (and often assets) must be below the program's guidelines. Most programs count your spouse's income and adjust for family size.
2. Coverage. Your legal problem must be a type the program covers.
3. Merit. For many family and civil matters, the case must have a reasonable chance of success. Nova Scotia Legal Aid, for example, asks whether your issue has a reasonable chance of success before a court or hearing board ^[20].

Receiving social assistance usually helps. Quebec automatically treats people on social assistance or social solidarity benefits as financially eligible ^[12], Nova Scotia says you financially qualify if you qualify for Income Assistance ^[20], and Saskatchewan says social assistance recipients are eligible ^[19].

Some programs publish exact income limits and some do not. Where an official threshold is published, it is listed in the province sections below. Being slightly over the limit does not always mean a refusal: several programs offer contribution or repayment arrangements, and most allow you to ask for a review if you are refused.

How do I apply for legal aid in my province?

The table below summarizes where to apply in each province and territory. Details, phone numbers and published thresholds follow.

Ontario

Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) is the country's largest legal aid plan. You can apply by calling 1-800-668-8258, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern, with help available in over 300 languages, or apply online or through LAO's client portal ^[2]. LAO also offers live chat and an online Service Finder that points you to the right office or clinic ^[2].

LAO publishes thresholds for criminal certificates: the income limit is $45,440 for families of up to four people and $50,803 for families of five or more, with a $15,000 asset limit, under an increase that runs until spring 2028 ^[1]. The same income limits apply to duty counsel ^[3]. LAO covers criminal, family, domestic violence, mental health, and refugee and immigration matters, while LAO-funded community clinics handle issues such as Ontario Works, ODSP and eviction ^{[2] [4]}. Browse lawyers in Ontario who list legal aid on their profiles.

British Columbia

Legal Aid BC takes applications through its Call Centre at 604-408-2172 in Greater Vancouver or 1-866-577-2525 elsewhere in BC ^[6]. You can also apply in person at a legal aid location or by emailing an online application form, after which an intake worker should contact you within five to seven business days ^[7].

Legal Aid BC publishes net monthly household income limits. For criminal and immigration representation, the standard limit is $2,320 for one person and $4,640 for a household of four; for family representation it is $2,670 and $5,340 ^[5]. Higher limits apply to child protection, criminal early resolution and limited family representation. Assets are also assessed, with separate limits by category ^[5]. Representation covers criminal charges, serious family problems, child protection, immigration and refugee issues, and mental health and prison issues ^[5]. Legal Aid BC also runs duty counsel, Family LawLINE and family advice lawyers ^[8]. See lawyers in British Columbia.

Alberta

Legal Aid Alberta (LAA) takes applications by phone at 1-866-845-3425, Monday to Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. ^[10]. Its published net household income guidelines are $25,346 a year ($2,112 a month) for one person, rising to $48,276 a year ($4,023 a month) for a family of four and $55,518 for six or more ^[9]. LAA notes that most of its services are not free: lawyers generally bill a reduced rate of $125 an hour under the LAA tariff, and clients repay LAA through an interest-free payment plan ^[9].

LAA covers adult and youth criminal law, family law and child welfare, family violence protection orders, and immigration and refugee matters ^[11]. Compare lawyers in Alberta.

Quebec

In Quebec, legal aid (aide juridique) is delivered by the Commission des services juridiques through a network of regional offices. To apply, you contact the legal aid office in your region and book an appointment; eligibility can only be assessed at an office ^{[12] [13]}. People receiving social assistance or social solidarity benefits are automatically financially eligible ^[12].

Quebec publishes its free legal aid income scale and contribution scale as downloadable charts. Contributory legal aid costs between $100 and $800, with amounts increased by 20% in certain remote regions ^[12]. Quebec's coverage is broader than most, spanning family, criminal and penal, youth, immigration, housing, bankruptcy, administrative and social law ^[12]. Find lawyers in Quebec.

Manitoba

Legal Aid Manitoba accepts applications online, through application centres, or by phone at 204-985-8511 or 1-866-800-8056, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ^[15]. Its free legal aid guidelines are based on gross family income: $31,500 for one person and $58,500 for a family of four ^[14]. Above those limits, the Agreement to Pay pilot lets people with incomes up to $43,500 (one person) or $78,500 (four people) get legal aid if they repay all costs at legal aid rates through interest-free monthly payments ^[14].

Coverage includes criminal, family, child protection, immigration and refugee, residential tenancies, mental health, government benefits appeals and public interest cases ^[16]. Browse lawyers in Manitoba.

Saskatchewan

Legal Aid Saskatchewan takes applications through its Application Centre at 1-800-667-3764, or through a local office by phone or appointment ^[17]. Applicants must be financially eligible, have a covered legal problem and have a case with professional merit ^[33]. Youth aged 12 to 17 are eligible, as are people on social assistance or band assistance ^[19]. Net income at or below social assistance levels generally qualifies, and people up to 10% above the guideline may still qualify by paying a $40 contribution ^[18]. Covered areas include criminal, family, and immigration and refugee matters ^[33].

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia Legal Aid accepts applications online or through its local offices ^[21]. Eligibility is a three-part test of financial guidelines, area of law and legal merit ^[20]. People who are more than 50% over the financial guidelines may still qualify but may have to pay part of the cost under a contribution agreement, and people who do not qualify for a lawyer can still get information or advice ^[20]. Nova Scotia Legal Aid covers criminal, family and social justice law, including housing, income assistance, CPP and EI issues ^[21]. See lawyers in Nova Scotia.

New Brunswick

The New Brunswick Legal Aid Services Commission provides legal help to low-income people for certain family and criminal matters ^[22]. You apply by booking an appointment with your local office; offices include Fredericton (506-444-2776), Saint John (506-633-6030) and Moncton (506-853-7300) ^{[22] [23]}. Full representation requires a covered matter and meeting financial criteria based on income and household size, while duty counsel and help from the police station when you are detained have no income requirement ^[23]. A Family Advice Lawyer can give general family law information ^[23].

Newfoundland and Labrador

Legal Aid NL provides family and criminal law services, services in court and 24-hour advice for people detained by police ^[24]. Intake is at 1-800-563-9911, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (4 p.m. in summer) ^[24]. There is no fixed income level that automatically qualifies you; a Client Services Officer compares your income and assets with your debts and expenses ^[25]. Indictable offences are covered if you qualify financially, and summary offences may be covered depending on the risk of jail or job loss ^[25].

Prince Edward Island

PEI Legal Aid, part of the provincial Department of Justice and Public Safety, provides free representation to eligible low-income residents in criminal, youth criminal justice, and family and civil matters ^[26]. To apply, call to book an appointment: criminal matters at 902-368-6043 (Charlottetown) or 902-888-8219 (Summerside), and family or civil matters at 902-368-6656 (Charlottetown) or 902-888-8066 (Summerside) ^[26].

Yukon

The Yukon Legal Services Society (Yukon Legal Aid) may provide a lawyer at no cost or very low cost to low-income Yukoners in criminal, family and other matters, and through therapeutic courts ^[27]. Intake is at 867-667-5210, extension 1 ^[27]. Its eligibility table uses net household income; the limit for a single adult with no children is $27,000 a year ($2,250 a month) ^[28]. In criminal matters you must have had a first court appearance before applying, and duty counsel has no financial test ^[28].

Northwest Territories

The Legal Aid Commission of the Northwest Territories is responsible for legal aid services and hears appeals from people who are refused ^[29]. It can be reached at 867-767-9361 or 1-844-835-8050 ^[29]. The Commission does not publish income thresholds on the page we reviewed, so contact it directly to apply.

Nunavut

The Legal Services Board of Nunavut provides legal aid in criminal, family and civil law through three regional clinics: Maliiganik Tukisiiniarvik in Iqaluit, Kivalliq Legal Services in Rankin Inlet and the Kitikmeot legal centre in Cambridge Bay ^[30]. The Board reports that most clients are presumed eligible because they receive social assistance or have no income, that family matters require a complete application, and that applicants in child welfare matters are deemed eligible ^[30]. Contact your regional clinic to apply.

What is duty counsel?

Duty counsel are lawyers paid by legal aid who help people at court, often on the same day, without a full application. In Ontario, duty counsel can give advice, explain the court process, help negotiate a resolution and sometimes represent you, for criminal, family and child protection matters, provided you meet the same income limits as criminal certificates ^[3]. Legal Aid BC runs criminal, family, child protection and immigration duty counsel at courthouses ^[8]. In New Brunswick and Yukon, duty counsel has no financial test ^{[23] [28]}.

If you have a court date and no lawyer, ask for duty counsel at the courthouse before your case is called.

Where can I get free legal advice?

Free legal advice is available from several sources besides a legal aid lawyer:

• Community legal clinics. Ontario has LAO-funded community clinics that give free information, advice and representation in housing, income support, workers' rights, human rights and immigration matters. Each clinic sets its own eligibility rules ^[4].
• Student legal clinics. Law school clinics staffed by supervised students help eligible clients. LAO notes that student legal services organizations may help if you qualify ^[2], and Legal Aid Manitoba points small claims users to the University of Manitoba Community Law Centre ^[16].
• Advice lines. Free legal advice in Ontario is available through Pro Bono Ontario's hotline at 1-855-255-7256, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., for civil problems such as housing, employment and consumer issues ^[31]. BC's Family LawLINE gives family law advice to eligible callers ^[8].
• Pro bono programs. In BC, Access Pro Bono serves individuals and families of limited means and runs a legal referral service and summary advice programs ^[32].

What can I do if I don't qualify for legal aid?

If you are refused, first ask whether you can request a review or appeal; Legal Aid BC, Legal Aid NL and the NWT Legal Aid Commission all describe review or appeal routes ^{[5] [24] [29]}. Then consider:

• Contribution or repayment plans. Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Saskatchewan and Yukon all describe ways for people over the limits to pay part or all of the cost at legal aid rates ^{[9] [12] [14] [18] [20] [28]}.
• Limited-scope retainers. Many lawyers will handle one part of your case, such as reviewing a separation agreement or preparing you for a hearing, for a fixed price.
• Free consultations and lawyer referral services. Many lawyers offer a short free first meeting, and law societies and pro bono groups in several provinces run referral services.
• Unbundled family help. For family law problems, advice lawyers and duty counsel can help you represent yourself.

Our guide to how much a lawyer costs in Canada explains typical fees, and our guide to finding a lawyer in Canada walks through comparing options.

How do I find a lawyer who accepts legal aid?

If you are approved for a legal aid certificate, you may be able to choose a private lawyer who accepts legal aid work. Not all lawyers do, so ask before you book. Legal Aid Alberta keeps a lawyer directory for people applying for legal aid ^[11], and Ontario and other provinces assign or refer lawyers through their own systems.

On LawyersList, lawyer profiles show whether a lawyer accepts legal aid, offers free consultations and publishes fee information, where lawyers have provided those details. Search by city and practice area, then confirm legal aid acceptance when you call.

If you are a lawyer who takes legal aid certificates, saying so on your profile helps people who have been approved find you quickly.