Resources for Self-Represented Litigants

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General Legal Self-Help

• Canadian Judicial Council Handbooks – Guidance on how to conduct oneself in court, applicable rules, law, and processes for different types of court (Civil, Criminal, Family), where to find free/lower cost legal help, and more.
  
• CanLII – Free legal database containing court decisions, federal & provincial legislation, legal commentary, and case summaries. See this NSRLP CanLII Primer for legal research and CanLII navigation tips.
  
• CLEO (Community Legal Education Ontario) – Community legal clinic that has published a range of straightforward educational resources and publications concerning Ontario law.
  
• Cliquez-Justice – Legal information intended for French-speaking populations outside Quebec, on legal rights & obligations in such areas of law as human rights, family, and immigration.
  
• e-Laws – Online access to official versions of Ontario statutes and regulations.
  
• Guided Pathways (Steps to Justice) – This database aids in the drafting and filing of letters, legal forms, and court documents in the fields of wills & estates, landlord & tenant, and family law.
  
• Justice Laws – Online access to official versions of Canadian federal statutes and regulations.
  
• Legal Line – Federal not-for-profit organization that provides easy-to-understand legal answers written in plain language. Produced by lawyers, judges, and other legal professionals, it contains over 2,100 legal answers covering 45 areas of law.
  
• Ministry of the Attorney General – Designed to answer questions about Ontario’s legal system – contains information about divorce/separation, powers of attorney, provincial fines and more.
  
• My Refugee Claim – A guide for people making refugee claims in Canada, My Refugee Claim can help you learn about Canada’s refugee protection process, get and stay connected to people who can help, and be prepared for every step of the process.
  
• National Self-Represented Litigants Project – Designed to help members of the public understand what to expect when representing themselves in legal actions. Contains blog posts, articles, checklists, podcasts, and guides.
  
• Ontario Court Forms (Ontario Court Services) – Electronic court forms for Family, Civil, and Small Claims Court proceedings in Ontario.
  
• Public Resources (Law Society of Ontario) – In which Law Society experts speak to legal issues like choosing the right legal professional, locating a will, legal file or legal document, etc.
  
• Reports and Publications (Department of Justice) – Database of federal materials including corporate documents, handbooks, guides, research papers, and fact sheets. Topics of law covered include: the Canadian court system, family law, indigenous justice, sentencing, and more.
  
• Steps to Justice (partnership led by CLEO) – Contains step-by-step guidance on a range of legal problems. Tools include checklists and fillable forms, as well as referral information and live chat and email support.
  
• Superior Court of Justice (Ontario Courts) – Provides information about the different courts in Ontario and links to other resources such as guides, government links and court locations.
  
• Your Legal Rights (CLEO Connect) – Collection of legal information resources on topics like abuse & family violence, employment & work, and housing law, among others.
  

Stratford Public Library – Hub for Self-Litigants

For those who may need to represent themselves without a lawyer. The Stratford Public Library (SPL) has put together a Legal Information Hub for self-litigants on their website. It provides links to items in the SPL catalogue and to provincial and national law websites (some of which are also included above).

• Link to the Stratford Public Library Legal Information Hub for Self-Litigants
  

Support & Services

• 211 is a telephone helpline (call 2-1-1) and website that provides information on and referrals to Ontario’s community, social, health-related and government services. They can help you understand what services and government benefits exist and explain how to apply.  211 is answered 24 hours a day, every day of the year across Ontario.
  
• Family Law Services – Ontario – The Ministry of the Attorney General provides a variety of resources and services to help families understand the family justice system and resolve their disputes.
  
• Huron Perth Addiction & Mental Health Alliance – a local mental health and addictions agency which provides a variety of services, including addiction counselling for youth and adults, mental health case management, peer support, court support, counselling for problem gambling/behavioural change, supportive housing, community withdrawal management and more. 

Housing – Self-Help

• Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario – Advances the housing rights of low income Ontarians through legal advice & representation, training & education, and more.
  
• Canadian Centre for Housing Rights (CCHR) – Working to advance the right to adequate housing through education and community empowerment, and by providing legal information, courses, and training workshops to tenants and housing providers in Ontario.
  
• Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations (FMTA) – A non-profit advocacy organization for tenants’ rights, the FMTA produces a range of resources and workshops on such topics as eviction, rent, and human rights in housing.
  
• Guided Pathways: Housing Law (Steps to Justice) – Free series of online interviews that help you fill out the required forms in your housing law matter. Each question includes explanatory commentary.
  
• Human Rights and Housing FAQ (Human Rights Legal Support Centre) – The HRLSC offers legal services and information to individuals throughout Ontario who have experienced discrimination contrary to Ontario’s Human Rights Code, including human rights in the context of housing and accommodation. It also maintains a range of how-to guides for those wanting to learn more about legal options in and outside of Ontario’s human rights system, preparing to file a human rights application, or getting ready for a mediation or hearing.
  
• Landlord’s Self-Help Centre (LSHC) – General information, summary advice, and referrals for the small landlord community across Ontario. It develops educational materials and outreach initiatives intended to help small landlords learn and gain a better understanding of their rights and responsibilities.
  
• Landlord and Tenant Board – The LTB resolves disputes between residential landlords & tenants, and processes eviction applications filed by non-profit housing cooperatives. The website provides information about the LTB’s practices & procedures, as well as the rights & responsibilities of landlords and tenants under the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006.
  
• Legalline.ca – Landlord and Tenant – Federal not-for-profit organization that provides easy-to-understand legal answers written in plain language. Look to their Landlord and Tenant subsection for guidance on tenant evaluation, rights & obligations of roommates, rent increases, and more.
  
• Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing – Housing – Information for Ontarians on finding affordable housing, rental rights, and residential rental increases, among other related topics.
  
• Ontario Human Rights Commission – Housing – The OHRC was established to prevent discrimination and promote & advance human rights in Ontario. It produces educational resources on various topics, including housing and rental rights (see video guide here).
  
• Settlement.org – Housing – Provides newcomers with resources to assist with settling in Ontario, including information on finding accommodation & housing, tenant rights, eviction, rent, and more.
  
• Steps to Justice – Housing (CLEO) – Step-by-step information on housing & tenant rights. View additional resources and publications here.