Black Legal Action Fund

Though there has been a recent resurgence in the mainstream media’s attention to the tribulations of the black community, very little has been done to aid the most vulnerable of this already marginalized community: the incarcerated. Much of the everyday discourse for this lack of attention revolves around the assumption that people that are serving time in prison are serving a fair sentence, yet many are falsely convicted on a monthly basis.  With the black population being 8.7% of exonerations, but only making up 3.5% of the Canadian populations, many lifetimes have been ruined under this unjust legal system1. The effects of these systemic issues are not anything to scoff as many of those that have been wrongfully put away, were successful entrepreneurs, soon-to-be businessmen and community leaders.  This in turn, further takes away support from the communities that need it most and pits individuals against a system that already disenfranchises them. We are aware of the consequences that these wrongful convictions have on a household, a neighborhood, a people. Nobody should have to face the human rights violations, trauma or dejection that incarcerated people in federal institutions face, especially those that just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time as well as being the wrong color in the eyes of the law.

This fund will be used to pay for the legal expenses of those with demonstrably legitimate cases of appeal. The legitimacy of a case will be determined from a holistic approach. The fund will also go towards supporting those coming out of incarceration, to help them re-integrate into society.

General

Legal Aid

Legal aid is a government legal service offered to people who meet certain financial eligibility criteria and apply for the service. Legal aid is provided free of charge or with a contribution from the recipient. Every year, legal aid provides thousands of Québecers with access to justice and the means to defend their rights.

Legal aid services are provided by lawyers and, on occasion, by notaries. Lawyers are responsible for counselling their clients and representing them before the courts. Depending on the client’s preference, these services are provided either by lawyers who are permanent employees of the legal aid network or by lawyers in private practice.

Excluded services:to the party initiating legal proceedings in a defamation or libel case;
in a case regarding an election, public consultation or referendum; to the party initiating legal proceedings for a breach of promise of marriage or civil union; to the party initiating legal proceedings for damages for alienation of affection; defending a parking ticket.

General Case Management

• Find a Legal Aid Office nearest to you

Urgent Case Management: Arrest or Detention

Have you been arrested or detained? You can contact one of our lawyers at any time free of charge, whether you are eligible for legal aid or not. 

• Free consultation upon arrest 

1 800 842-2213

Head and hands

Our Legal Services Coordinator is available to answer your questions by referring you to the right place. Whether it’s about your job, a problem with your landlord, family, criminal, immigration or more.

Commissioner of Oaths
he Commissioner of Oaths is someone who can witness signatures for affidavits or documents that require by law to be under oath.
For example:Letter of authorization for travel,
personal statement, and document for name change.
Our services are free, if you are between 12 and 25 years old. 26+We ask for a suggested donation of $20.

The Legal Clinic is operating by appointment only.
Email:  legal@headandhands.ca
Call: 514-481-0277

McGill Legal Information Clinic

The LICM can answer questions in almost all areas of Québec law: landlord problems, immigration, employment, municipal law & by-laws, business & non-profits, family, etc.

Excluded services: Cases involving criminal law, tax law, and construction.

CLOSED UNTIL JANUARY 7

The intake form will reopen on January 4, 2021.
Call: (514) 398-6792

QCGN Acces to Justice

QCGN has created a website called Access to Justice in English which offers free information about accessing rights to public services in English in Quebec, links to legal and community resources, and many more features.

https://www.qcgnjustice.ca/

RACIAL PROFILING & DISCRIMINATION

Clinique Juridique Saint Michel
La CJSM offre actuellement un service d’accompagnement juridique pour les victimes de discrimination, plus particulièrement lors de l’action policière (profilage racial et brutalité policière).

Call: 1 (438) 300- 7771
Email: info@cjsm.ca
Book a free  online consultation

Center for Research-Action on Race Relations
Advocacy and defense for victims of discrimination based on race, religion, ethnic or national origin, citizenship status and related characteristics:

Call: (514) 939-3342
Online Form

Park Extension Legal Clinic

The Clinic’s staff lawyers are generalists. In other words, we do a little bit of everything and are not specialists. We deal mainly with legal questions related to everyday life (e.g.: housing law or family law).

However, thanks to its volunteer lawyers and volunteer notary, the Clinic is able to respond to questions in a variety of areas of law, including consumer protection, civil liability, youth protection, wills and estates, civil procedure, immigration law, social assistance, employment law and penal or criminal infractions.

Excluded services: tax law

If you are unsure as to whether the Clinic will be able to assist you in your particular file, do not hesitate to contact us.

To ensure accessibility of its services, all of the Clinic’s services are free of charge

BOOKED UNTIL JANUARY 11, 2021

The MELC adapts its services to the COVID-19 situation and offers legal consultationsemotely or in person by appointement only.

Phone : 514-507-3054
Email: info@melc.ca

Mondays, 3pm-6pm
Hosted by the Comité d’action de Parc-Extension (CAPE)
419 St-Roch Street H3N 1K2
(basement, office SS.04)

Tyndale St-Georges Legal Clinic

The Clinic’s staff lawyers are generalists. In other words, we do a little bit of everything and are not specialists. We deal mainly with legal questions related to everyday life (e.g.: housing law or family law).

However, thanks to its volunteer lawyers and volunteer notary, the Clinic is able to respond to questions in a variety of areas of law, including consumer protection, civil liability, youth protection, wills and estates, civil procedure, immigration law, social assistance, employment law and penal or criminal infractions.

Excluded services: tax law

If you are unsure as to whether the Clinic will be able to assist you in your particular file, do not hesitate to contact us.
To ensure accessibility of its services, all of the Clinic’s services are free of charge

BOOKED UNTIL JANUARY 11, 2021

The MELC adapts its services to the COVID-19 situation and offers legal consultationsemotely or in person by appointement only.

Phone : 514-507-3054
Email: info@melc.ca
Mondays, 6pm to 7pm

Hosted by the Tyndale St-Georges Community Centre
870 Richmond Square, H3J 1V7
(Corner of Saint-Antoine West)

Mile End Legal Clinic

The Clinic’s staff lawyers are generalists. In other words, we do a little bit of everything and are not specialists. We deal mainly with legal questions related to everyday life (e.g.: housing law or family law).

However, thanks to its volunteer lawyers and volunteer notary, the Clinic is able to respond to questions in a variety of areas of law, including consumer protection, civil liability, youth protection, wills and estates, civil procedure, immigration law, social assistance, employment law and penal or criminal infractions.

Excluded services: tax law

If you are unsure as to whether the Clinic will be able to assist you in your particular file, do not hesitate to contact us.

To ensure accessibility of its services, all of the Clinic’s services are free of charge

BOOKED UNTIL JANUARY 11, 2021

The MELC adapts its services to the COVID-19 situation and offers legal consultationsemotely or in person by appointement only.

Phone : 514-507-3054
Email: info@melc.ca
Wednesdays, 4pm to 7pm

Hosted by the Mile End Community Mission
99 Bernard Street West, Montréal, H2T 2J9
 (Corner of Saint-Urbain)

HOUSING & SOCIAL WELFARE

Project Genesis
Project Genesis offers free-of-charge, confidential help in areas such as housing, welfare, pensions, family allowances, shelter allowance, medicare, and medication insurance . Our services are available to everyone; for example, we do not refuse service based on immigration status, age, religion, country of origin, neighbourhood in which you live, income or housing situation.

Phone: (514) 738-2036

Call to set an appointment, drop-in service suspended.

4735 Côte-Ste-Catherine Road
Montreal QC H3W 1M1

Monday & Tuesday: 9 am to 4:30 pm
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday & Friday: : 9 am to 4:30 pm

Arnold Bennett’s Housing Hotline
Housing Information

Call for free legal information: 514-488-0412 or 514 990-0190

WOMEN

YWCA Montreal Legal Information Clinic

The individual consultations are reserved for women and their families only and the cost varies between $0 to $20.

The Legal Information Clinic offers confidential, individual, 30 minutes information sessions* by appointment, with a volunteer lawyer or notary with experience in a variety of legal areas, such as: Family law, Immigration LawCriminal Law, Civil Law, Consumer protection, Administrative law, Housing Law, Labour Law, etc.

Excluded services: Commercial law, wills, successions and estates, co-ownership and real estate, patents, bankruptcy, tax law, youth protection, laws and regulations of other Canadian provinces or other countries, etc.

Individual consultations are offered up to a maximum 3 times per year per person. The Legal Information Clinic is not a legal aid clinic. It is a non-profit legal information service only. The YWCA Montreal is not responsible for the legal information given by the various volunteer lawyers and notaries or for the follow-up services arranged between the parties.

Call us at (514) 866-9941 or Complete the online intake form

SOS Violence Conjugale

SOS violence conjugale is a non-profit organization whose mission is to help ensure the safety of victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) and that of their children throughout Quebec, by offering free, bilingual, anonymous and confidential referral services. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and can provide direct access to information, support or shelter.

Call 1 800 363-9010 — 24/7

ELDER LAW

The Elder Law Clinic
Elder Law refers to a broad range of legal issues and to a unique multidisciplinary approach that recognizes the connections among the legal, social and health needs of older persons and their families. Elder Law practitioners will play an important role in helping clients and professionals serving the aging population plan for issues of later life and the potential of incapacity, protect against abuse and exploitation and maintain personal autonomy.

National Institute of Law, Policy and Aging
The Elder Law Clinic
1200 avenue Atwater, bureau 6
Westmount, QC H3Z 1X4

Clinique: (514) 934-AÎNÉ (2463) Tel: (514) 289-9198
E-mail: annsoden@sympatico.ca

IMMIGRATION

Community Services for Refugees and Immigrant

In collaboration with our partners in legal services, the CSRI set up the project: Legal aid office for refugees. The project aims to offer free consultations for refugees or people seeking to regularize their migration status. In addition, the legal aid service was able to help with other formalities such as a work permit and an application for permanent residence.  

Legal clinic services: sponsorship, application for asylum, application for residence for humanitarian reasons, application for citizenship, work permit, CSQ, PEQ.

For an appointment: Call: (514) 387-4477
Email: adjointeadministrative@migrantmontreal.org

REFERRAL SERVICE

Bar of Montreal

The purpose of the Referral service is to provide those who are able to afford legal services or are admissible to legal aid but do not know a lawyer to be referred to a member of the Bar who is registered in the Service and who is willing to give a preliminary hour consultation for a fixed fee of $60.

Should any additional legal services be required because you decide to pursue the matter, and if it does not involve a legal aid mandate, you will then have to make your own arrangements with the lawyer regarding the mandate and the payment of the honorarium.

By Telephone (Monday to Friday, from 9 A.M. to noon and from 2 to 4 P.M.*) :
514 866-2490

By e-mail* :
reference@barreaudemontreal.qc.ca

* All requests are processed promptly. If no answer is received within
3 business days, please contact the service by telephone, at 514 866-2490.