The Hope for Wellness Helpline is available to all Indigenous people across Canada. Experienced and culturally competent counsellors are reachable by telephone and online ‘chat’ 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Telephone support is available in English, French, Cree, Ojibway, and Inuktitut. Online Chat services are only available in English and French.
This project assists self-represented litigants with their civil claims in Calgary’s Queen’s Bench Masters and Justice Chambers. The project includes a “storefront” afternoon shift where self-represented litigants and get summary legal information regarding civil matters in the follow areas of law: civil, bankruptcy, real estate, and court procedure. Hours of operation are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday morning and afternoon.
The Lloydminster Legal Clinic is run out of the Red Deer Central Alberta Community Legal Clinic offices They service all of Central Alberta as well as Medicine Hat, Fort McMurray and Lloydminster with the assistance of our partner agencies. For more information and to see if you qualify for an appointment with a lawyer please call 587-789-0727
The Community Legal Clinic – Medicine Hat provides free legal information and advice to low to moderate income people who have a legal issue but do not qualify for Legal Aid.
You can call them for help with any of the following legal issues:
*Please note, they do not provide representation in court. Refer to their Programs and Services or contact their office at 403-712-1021 for more information.
The Edmonton Community Legal Centre is a non profit organization that offers free legal information, advice and representation for people living with low income in the Edmonton area. The Centre helps individuals and families who have legal problems in the following areas: Landlord and Tenant; Employment/ Wrongful Dismissal; Small Claims; Income Support Advocacy; Human Rights; Debt; Immigration. The Centre is also part of the PBLA Civil Claims Duty Counsel project out of the Provincial Court.
Do you need help with a civil matter in Provincial Court? Civil Claims Duty Counsel can provide help with: summary legal advice, procedural information, help with trials, mortions and other appearances, an help completing forms. The service is available at the Edmonton Law Courts Building. Please note: This program does not assist with family or criminal law matters.
Do you need help with a civil matter in Provincial Court? Volunteer lawyers can provide legal advice, information on court procedures, help preparing for trials, motions and other appearances, including help completing forms. This service is available at the Calgary Courts Centre. Assistance is provided on a first-come, first-served basis. The program does not assist with: family, criminal or corporate law matters, matters in Court of Queen’s Bench or other Appeal Courts, and pre-trial conferences and mediations.
Do you need help in Masters or Justice Chambers? The program offers a free legal advice clinic on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons for bankruptcy, foreclosure, other civil matters, as well as preparing for court. Help is available on Tuesday and Thursday mornings for applications, bankruptcy matters, motions and other appearances. Please note: This Program does not assist with: family, criminal or corporate law matters, matters in Provincial Court or other Appeal Courts, and pre-trial conferences and mediations.
Eastside Community Mental Health Services (ECMHS) offers immediate, no-cost, mental health support from an integrated, ethnocultural team.
This resource, Support Services for Albertans, is a comprehensive, but not exhaustive, list of organizations across the province that provide a multitude of services that compliment the support Legal Aid Alberta is able to provide. The resource mainly focuses on organizations offering legal supports to residents, but also provides information about organizations that provide social supports for some of the most vulnerable members of our communities. This includes, but is not limited to, women in abusive relationships, Indigenous Albertans, youth, and the homeless.
The NCSA mission is to contribute to the holistic development and wellness of the Aboriginal individual, family and community. Programming in this Alberta-wide organization include Criminal, Youth and Family Courtworkers; Correction centres and youth probations; and Family and community wellness.
Since April 2015, the Association des juristes d’expression française de l’Alberta (AJEFA – French-speaking Lawyer’s Association of Alberta) .is operating the first Alberta Legal Information Centre, which is providing legal information, support and referral services with regard to clients’ legal questions. These services are provided in French or English, in person or remotely, free of charge and in addition to existing resources.
The Family Law Project provides basic legal information on the following topics:
In addition, the Family Law Project assists people in obtaining uncomplicated child support orders and variations, as well as related applications.
United Cultures of Canada Association is a non-profit community based organization located in Edmonton, Alberta. It provides a variety of program and services to Edmonton’s multicultual community. Their mandate is to create situations of social inclusion for immigrant communities leading to their effective participation and successful integration into Canadian society. Included in the many initiatives offered by the Association are publications on human rights, domestic abuse, interpreting services and a free Multicultural Family Law Facilitation (Interpreting) Service
The mission of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Edmonton is to foster the dignity and worth of women who come into conflict with the law, and help them live as valued members of their communities. They are a not-for-profit organization that has existed in Edmonton since 1977. The society offers a variety of programs for women and girls including a legal clinic. The Legal Clinic Program assists federally sentenced women at Edmonton Institute for Women by addressing their legal needs.
The Central Alberta Women’s Outreach Society provides basic needs and emotional support for individuals as well as providing education and support in specific areas such as domestic violence, family law, and the effects of crisis on families. The Society offers a legal information and referrals program. This program provides legal information and referrals to individuals as they navigate through the legal and judicial system. Their staff will assist clients to identify legal issues and prioritize legal needs.
The Calgary Chinese Community Service Association is an ethnocultural community service agency. CCSA offers four core programs: Children and Youth, Integration and Civic Engagement (ICE), Health Program, and Legal Program. Their Law and Advocacy Program is funded by the Alberta Law Foundation and provides a range of services including: basic legal information and referrals, Commissioner for Oaths and Notary, a free legal outreach clinic and will and estate documents drafting services.
Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association (CIWA) is a non-profit organization established in 1982 as a registered charity. CIWA is a culturally diverse settlement agency that recognizes, responds to, and focuses on the unique concerns and needs of immigrant and refugee women, girls and their families. The organization’s website details their service areas including legal services, crime prevention education, and civic engagement services.
Immigrant Services Calgary is a comprehensive immigrant settlement agency. ISC provides information on housing, education, the Calgary school systems, employment, health care, documents, citizenship and immigration, accreditation and general help in adjusting to life in Canada. Services provided also include offering advice in immigration law for permanent residents and Canadian citizens.
This Guide provides a list of Indigenous organizations and services in Alberta. Also included are national and umbrella organizations with offices located elsewhere.The Guide is compiled and produced by the Ministry of Indigenous Relations in order to provide contact information for these Indigenous organizations and services
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Probono Law Alberta provides help for individuals through their Court Based Programs.PBLA engages volunteer lawyers in programs operating out of the Calgary Court Centre and Edmonton Law Courts. Visit their website for locations and times.
Legal Aid’s Duty Counsel Program provides summary legal advice and assistance to unrepresented persons for preliminary appearances before the courts and selected tribunals is offered at no cost to the person. Duty Counsel generally plays two key service roles: the formal role as amicus (friend of the court) where Counsel offers assistance to the client in sorting through what should be ready and properly prepared before court for presentation to the judge, and the less formal role as advisor helping the client to understand what is taking place in and out of court.
Duty Counsel are lawyers who assist people without a lawyer and can offer limited advice. Duty Counsel services are provided free of charge.
Assistance is provided in various areas of law:
This website is provided as a free service to Albertans seeking limited scope legal services. Check out their Guide for Clients which is intended to help clients understand the legal service options available, and whether limited legal services are right for you. The site also provides a listing of Alberta lawyers participating in the service.
If you have been charged with an offence, SLS’s volunteer law student caseworkers are able to act as your agent (representative) in the Provincial Court of Alberta. SLS caseworkers act under the supervision of advising lawyers. The program can help low income Albertans SLS provides information on assault, impaired driving, driver’s license suspenstion arrest warrants jaywalking tickets, traffice offences, pardons and criminal record suspension and more…
The Association of Translators and Interpreters of Alberta ) is the only association of certified translators, court interpreters, and conference interpreters in the province of Alberta. The Association was founded in 1979 and is the only member for Alberta of the Canadian Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters Council (CTTIC). Through the CTTIC, the Association is affiliated with the International Federation of Translators (FIT). The primary aim of ATIA is to meet the needs of clients by ensuring, through its standards and certification procedures, that their interests are protected, and by facilitating their contacts with professional translators and interpreters.
The goal of the Court Assistance Program (King’s Bench Amicus Program) is to improve access to justice for self-represented litigants appearing in King’ Bench Justice and Masters Chambers. This program brings volunteer lawyers into Chambers, where they act as ‘amicus curiae’ and help the court understand the issues related and the positions taken by unrepresented litigants. The program offers opportunity for courtroom advocacy in a positive environment, which can give great skills-building experience for lawyers and students, and the program is beneficial for overall professional development, mentoring, networking, building collegiality, and enhancing the public image of the legal profession. This service is available in Calgary and Edmonton. Check with the courthouse for dates and times.
If you are a current or potential immigrant to Calgary this website will connect you to resources to support your success in a new life in Canada. Services are provided by a large staff of multi-cultural professionals, who understand and have experienced the settlement process. The Centre offers a full suite of services, including: English language training for adults, supports for finding and retaining employment, and first-language settlement supports for individuals and families.
Calgary Legal Guidance offers legal advice and assistance to newcomers who are looking for help in various immigration law matters.
If you would like help with Immigration Law, please email immigration@clg.ab.ca. CLG staff will tell you if they can help with your case, tell you more about our clinics with volunteers trained in immigration law, or how you can find a private lawyer skilled in immigration law.
Ecojustice is a national independent charitable organization which provides legal services free-of-charge to charities and citizens on the front lines of the environmental movement, helping ensure equitable access to environmental justice nationwide. We advocate for effective laws, use the courts to make sure they are implemented and enforced, and give a voice to Canadians in decisions that affect the air, water and land we all depend on.
The Women’s Centre of Calgary is an ongoing source of information, support and advocacy. The Centre offers women quick access to emergency food, personal care supplies and bus tickets. It provides referrals to other agencies for food, clothing, furniture, housing, health, employment, education and recreation. The Centre operates a Legal Advice Clinic where volunteer lawyers provide free, half-hour legal advice sessions to women. The clinic is aimed at providing women with the preliminary information and support they may need to access the legal system.
The Office of the Child and Youth Advocate (OCYA) is an independent office of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, mandated to work with vulnerable young people.
This includes young people receiving or attempting to access services under the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act and the Protection of Sexually Exploited Children Act; or who are involved with the youth justice system.
The Volunteer Lawyers Service (VLS) program is operated out of the Pro Bono Law Alberta office. VLS is a pro bono program, initiated by the United Way of Calgary and Area, the Canadian Bar Association Alberta, the Law Society of Alberta, and the Association of General Counsel of Alberta. The VLS assists eligible non-partisan charitable organizations in obtaining pro bono legal services that would otherwise be unavailable to them due to a lack of financial resources.
Student Legal Services of Edmonton (SLS) is a student-managed, non-profit society dedicated to helping low-income individuals in Edmonton and area understand their legal issues and solve their legal problems.
Student Legal Assistance (SLA) is an association of law students at the University of Calgary which provides year-round free legal assistance and representation to University of Calgary students and members of the public who are unable to afford legal services. Our services include: Representing qualifying individuals in Provincial Court for criminal, traffic, family and civil matters in Calgary, Banff and surrounding areas; Providing legal advice and services at the Calgary Drop In Centre; Assisting students with academic appeals; and Providing summary legal advice.
Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC) is a national network of law schools and community organizations that matches law students who want to do pro bono work with public interest and non-governmental organizations, government agencies, tribunals and legal clinics during the academic year and during the summer. Over the past decade the program has expanded to include the Family Law Project, where students provide legal information to unrepresented individuals at the Provincial Family Court.
PBSC at the University of Alberta matches law students with eligible non-profit organisations to provide pro bono legal services under the supervision of a lawyer. PBSC does not provide legal assistance to individual cases. It functions as a project of Student Legal Services of Edmonton.
Legal Aid Alberta provides quality, effective legal advice and representation that enables eligible Albertans to resolve their legal issues; Eligibility guidelines are on its web site. It is an independent, publicly funded, not-for-profit organization that provides a broad range of services in the following areas:
Grande Prairie Legal Guidance (GPLG) is a non-profit joint initiative between Edmonton Community Legal Centre. They offer services over the phone (780.882.0036) or in-person at their offices.
Family Court Counsellors provide services, at no cost, to families who are involved in parenting disputes and are living separate and apart. The service is designed for people who are not represented by a lawyer. Services may include: Information on options and services for resolving family issues; Referrals to services and programs including mediation; Information on the effects of separation and divorce on children; Help to negotiate agreements; Assistance with court applications, arranging court dates and presenting the case in Provincial Court.
The Edmonton Community Legal Centre is a non profit organization that offers free legal information, advice and representation for people living with low income in the Edmonton area. The Centre helps individuals and families who have legal problems in the following areas: Landlord and Tenant; Employment/ Wrongful Dismissal; Small Claims; Income Support Advocacy; Human Rights; Debt; Immigration. The Centre also offers a Commissioner for Oaths Clinc once a month – see https://www.eclc.ca/programs-services-commissioner-of-oaths-clinic/ for information. The Centre is also part of the PBLA Civil Claims Duty Counsel project out of the Provincial Court. Members of the public can receive 30 minutes of summary legal advice on a first come first serve basis. NOTE: The Centre is not able to provide assistance in the areas of criminal law.
The Central Alberta Community Legal Clinic (CACLC) provides legal advice and information to people who cannot afford a lawyer and do not qualify for legal aid. Volunteer Lawyers provide information and summary legal advice in the Clinic Program about a variety of legal matters including family and civil law, by appointment only.
Calgary Legal Guidance provides free legal advice for individuals with low income. If you need legal information and advice on: Family issues; Criminal issues; Civil issues; Restraining Orders; Emergency Protection Orders etc; Social Benefit issues; and; an evening course on Do Your Own Divorce.
