Appeals Assistance Project
Free legal services are available to eligible unrepresented litigants before:
- Ontario Court of Appeal
- Divisional Court
- Federal Court of Appeal (No criminal appeals. Contact us for further information)
It is important to note that this is NOT a lawyer referral service. We rely on volunteers who may or may not be able to take on qualified cases.
Even if you propose to represent yourself in court, it can be important to obtain legal advice on whether you have valid grounds on which to proceed. If you cannot afford the services of a lawyer, you may be able to obtain assistance from The Advocates' Society Appeals Assistance Project. This project provides pro bono legal advice and representation to qualified unrepresented litigants.
In order to qualify for the program:
- you must have been refused legal aid;
- you must meet financial eligibility guidelines;
- your case must have some reasonable prospect of success; and
you must be willing to waive solicitor-client privilege to allow your pro bono counsel to speak to your previous counsel, if any, about the merits of your case and any other matters relating to your case.
How the Project Works:
The Appeals Assistance Projects relies on a roster of qualified volunteer lawyers who represent litigants like you at the Ontario Court of Appeal, Divisional Court, and the Federal Court of Appeal.
These lawyers will represent you on a pro bono basis, which means that they will not charge you for their work. You will, however, be responsible for any disbursements, such as court fees, photocopying expenses, etc.
- When your case has reached perfection (all necessary documents have been filed) you should contact the project coordinator.
- The coordinator will conduct a detailed intake with you to determine if you are eligible for pro bono representation.
- If you qualify, the coordinator will match you with a pro bono lawyer. (Note that there is no guarantee that a lawyer will be found for you since all participating lawyers do so on a voluntary basis.)
- Once you receive the name of a pro bono lawyer, it will be your responsibility to contact them and arrange an initial consultation meeting. The goal of this meeting is to determine if the lawyer will be able to represent you and ensure you are comfortable with this lawyer.
- When you agree to enter into a solicitor-client relationship with the pro bono lawyer, you will be asked to sign a retainer agreement that outlines:
- the kind of work your lawyer has agreed to do for you,
- that the lawyer has waived their hourly billing rate, and
- that you will be responsible for disbursements.
For more information about the Appeals Assistance Project, contact us at:
phone: 416-597-0770 x 200 - This number is for the Appeals Assistance Project only.
CLICK HERE to download an application form.
