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The Law Society’s Lawyer Referral Service has both an “800” and a “900” telephone line for Ontarian’s requiring assistance in finding a lawyer. Which phone number to use depends on the caller’s circumstances and needs.

Features of the “900” line, at 1-900-565-4577:

•  Designed for Ontario residents calling from a Bell residential line - dialing this
   number will add a flat $6.00 administrative fee to the caller’s phone bill

•  The service operates from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, and is
   telephone-based only. Visitors to Osgoode Hall (where the Law Society is
   located) wanting a referral cannot be accommodated

•  One of the (non-lawyer) representatives will provide the name and phone
   number of a lawyer who meets the caller’s required needs – i.e. area of law,
   preferred location, and whether the caller needs a lawyer who takes Legal Aid
   certificates

•  Lawyer’s names are provided on a rotational basis – they cannot provide
   referrals to specific lawyers at callers’ request, even if those lawyers are LRS
   subscribers

•  Callers will receive a consultation of up to ½ hour, either by phone or in person
   (3 business days are allowed after the referral for the lawyer to make initial
   contact with the caller)

•  The purpose of the consultation is to answer any general questions the
   prospective client may have – it does not serve as entitlement to ½ hour of
   free legal advice

•  Lawyers are not obliged to represent those to whom they have given
   consultations

•  If the lawyer is unavailable for a consultation, the caller may phone back on
   the crisis line (see below) to receive another referral at no extra charge

Features of the “800” crisis line, at 1-800-268-8326 (Toronto line: 416-947-3330):
 

•  Available to callers who are incarcerated, institutionalized, in domestic abuse
   crisis, under the age of majority, or are calling about a child protection issue

•  No charge to callers

•  This line may also be used by callers who need a lawyer immediately and
   cannot wait for a consultation to be arranged, or for those who wish to choose
   their own lawyer from a list provided to them and do not want a consultation

•  Callers to this line are given the names and phone numbers of three subscribing
   lawyers in their requested location and area of law – however, those referred
   to a lawyer using the 800 number will be required to pay a consultation fee.
   The free consultation is limited to callers to the 900 service.

If you have any questions, please call:

Lawyer Referral Service
The Law Society of Upper Canada

(416) 947-4058 or toll free: 1-800-668-7380 ext. 4058.

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Above article is taken from the Clinic Services Office of Legal Aid Ontario (Newsbrief, February-March 2006)
 

Paralegals

Read the Law Society of Upper Canada's pamphlet, Lawyers and Paralegals: Helping You With Your Legal Needs." 

This pamphlet explains the difference between lawyers and paralegals and will help you choose which one you need for your type of case.  It also outlines how and where to complain about services provided by lawyers or paralegals.

Visit the Law Society's website for more information on paralegal regulation.