Where ComplaintCA Fits
ComplaintCA doesn't replace any of these organizations — the Lawyer & Civil Society panel in the app surfaces the right one for your specific issue and province, tags it as a referral, legal aid, or pro bono option, and can help you draft what you'll say before you call.
Frequently Asked
What is the Law Society Referral Service?
A free matching service from your province's Law Society that connects you with a lawyer or paralegal for a short first consultation — usually free or a small flat fee, but not funded legal representation.
What is the difference between a lawyer referral service and legal aid?
A referral service only sets up a brief consultation; you pay for further work yourself. Legal aid can fund actual representation, but only if you meet income limits and have a covered legal issue.
How much does legal aid cost in Canada?
It varies by province and income — many low-income applicants pay nothing, while others pay a contribution (e.g. roughly $25–$100 in BC, or $100–$800 in Quebec) based on income and family size.
Am I eligible for legal aid in Canada?
It depends on your household income/assets and whether your issue is a covered type — mainly criminal, family, and immigration/refugee matters, with some provinces also covering tenant disputes.
What is pro bono legal help?
Volunteer lawyers helping for free through an organized program, usually for civil issues like housing or employment, independent of government legal aid.
Is legal aid the same as a free lawyer?
Not exactly — legal aid can require a contribution, a referral service is only a free short consultation, and pro bono programs are the option most likely to be fully free but have limited availability.
Is there a federal legal aid office in Canada?
No single federal office — legal aid is delivered provincially/territorially, though Justice Canada cost-shares funding, including immigration and refugee legal aid agreements with ON, BC, AB, MB, QC, NL, and NS.
What is ComplaintCA?
A Canadian civic platform that routes you to the correct authority, drafts complaints with AI in 7 languages, finds your elected representative, and connects you to the right free legal resource for your province or territory.
I'm Deaf or hard of hearing — how do I call a phone-only authority?
Use Canada VRS (free sign-language video relay, available 24/7) or dial 711 for a text-based relay operator — both let you place a real phone call to any number listed on this page.
Sources & Verification
This guide is maintained by ComplaintCA and checked against the official sources linked throughout, including:
Learn more about how ComplaintCA verifies information on our About page.
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