Community Legal Aid is a joint project of the University of Windsor, Faculty of Law and Legal Aid Ontario. We are located at the Faculty of Law Building at the University of Windsor. CLA is a Student Legal Service Organization (SLSO) offering services to members of the Windsor-Essex community living on low income and University of Windsor undergraduate students. We provide legal services for low-income residents of Windsor-Essex County and full-time University of Windsor undergraduate students. For over 50 years our clinic has served as a learning environment for law students to build their advocacy and litigation skills, while providing necessary legal services to our community.
We represent our clients in following practice areas:
- Criminal law
- Provincial Offences
- Employment law Housing law
- Elder law – Wills, Estates, and Powers of Attorney
- Consumer Protection
- Small Claims Court matters
- Family law (limited)
Each case must meet our financial eligibility criteria. Every case is different. We will assess the merits of your case and set out a strategic plan for your matter. CLA may offer summary legal information, negotiate on your behalf with the other side or represent you at court or before a tribunal. CLA also participates in community outreach programs. Our supervising lawyers and law students conduct legal information sessions within the community.
Our Mission: Community Legal Aid endeavors to promote access to justice by offering legal services to low income, vulnerable people and to full time undergraduate students at the University of Windsor. We structure the delivery of our legal services in a manner that empowers our clients to avoid, prepare for and overcome poverty law problems. This is achieved through a combination of community development and action. We strive to provide meaningful opportunities to Windsor law students to facilitate their learning through the development of their legal skills used to practice legal representation, summary legal advice and community legal education.
Our Vision for Community Legal Aid is that it is recognized for its dependable, consistent, quality legal services that are responsive to the individual and systemic needs of the community and University.
Our Values include ethics and professionalism, excellence in education and client service, integrity, resilience and social conscience.
Resources
Below you will find some helpful resources for more information on an array of legal matters. If you would like a direct referral to some local clinics, please give us a call.
Legal Aid Ontario provides legal aid certificates, which select lawyers will accept as payment. You must meet qualifications to obtain a legal aid certificate for matters involving criminal law, family law, immigration issues, intimate partner violence, and mental health legal issues.
CLEO provides resources and information on the legal system and topics such as abuse and intimate partner violence, family law, income assistance, criminal law, health and disability, debt and consumer rights, housing law, employment and work related matters, and immigration matters.
Steps to Justice provides step-by-step legal information on topics such as housing law, intimate partner violence, debt and consumer rights, provincial offences, family law, criminal law, human rights, immigration law, employment and work related matters, income assistance, wills and powers of attorney, education law, refugee law, health and disability, French language rights and information on tribunals and courts.
Tribunals Ontario is a group of 13 adjudicative tribunals. The tribunals include Animal Care Review Board, Assessment Review Board, Child and Family Services Board, Custody Review Board, Fire Safety Commission, Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, Landlord and Tenant Board, Licence Appeal Tribunal, Ontario Civilian Police Commission, Ontario Parole Board, Ontario Special Education Tribunal, and Social Benefits Tribunal.
The Law Commission of Ontario provides independent, balanced and authoritative advice on complex legal policy issues.
The Law Society of Ontario governs Ontario's Lawyers and Paralegals in the public interest. They provide resources to find a lawyer or paralegal in your area that specializes in the area of law you need as well as information on steps to justice and legal resources.
The Ontario Legal Information Centre provides a free 30 minute legal advice over the phone with a lawyer. This service is confidential and does not have any eligibility criteria.
If you are living in an official University Residence, we cannot assist you as the Residential Tenancies Act does not apply. You may visit the Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board Website for their FAQs Home - Tribunals Ontario.
Housing Law Resources:
Information on Renting
Information on Subletting
Family Law Resources:
Contact Us
Please be advised that Community Legal Aid undergoes a transition period between University of Windsor academic terms. The transition periods fall in the months of April, August and December of each year. Expect delays in communications and no intakes will be conducted during these periods. If your issue is urgent, please call.
In-person attendances must be scheduled in advance. We do not accept walk-ins.
Community Legal Aid
University of Windsor, Faculty of Law
401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor
ON N9B 3P4
Hours of Operation
Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Phone
519-253-7150
Email
cla@uwindsor.ca