Lake Country Community Legal Clinic

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About Us

Our Mission

To promote and encourage active participation by those in the lower income population in addressing issues to do with poverty and social justice.

Lake Country Community Legal Clinic opened as Muskoka Legal Clinic in June 1990. The need for legal services for low income residents of the District Municipality of Muskoka was recognized and the community approached Ontario Legal Aid Plan (now Legal Aid Ontario) to fund a community legal clinic. The clinic's main office is in Bracebridge and the first satellite office was opened in Huntsville in 1992.

In 2000 the catchment area of the legal clinic was expanded to include the District of Parry Sound and the name was changed to Lake Country Community Legal Clinic (LCCLC). With the expansion, 2 more satellite offices were opened in Parry Sound and South River.

Summary Legal Advice, Brief Services and Referrals

LCCLC provides free summary legal advice and brief services in our Areas of Legal Practice [see below]. There are no financial eligibility guidelines for LCCLC summary advice and brief services. If we cannot provide advice, we will do our best to provide information and referrals to other services.

LCCLC's Areas of Legal Practice Include:

Although we do not practice all areas of law, we may be able to provide information or referrals to other services.

Outreach

For more information on our Outreach work, and the Legal Clinic might help you or your organization, click here .

Public Legal Education Presentations

LCCLC staff do public legal education presentations all over Muskoka and Parry Sound. Our presentation topics include:

  • Criminal Injuries Compensation;
  • Powers of Attorney and Advance Care Planning;
  • Government Sources of Income for Individuals and Families;
  • Ontario Disability Support Program Overview;
  • Introduction to Ontario's Human Rights System;
  • Your Rights as a Tenant;
  • Canada Pension Plan;
  • Prevention of Elder Abuse;

We may do presentations on other topics or we may be able to suggest other speakers. Please contact us to ask us about a presentation, workshop or for our participation in an event or conference.

Community Development

We also do community development. This work includes organizing tenants and other low income residents of our community. This organizing work ensures that low income people with lived experience are speaking out about social justice issues that affect them. One example is we hold a Social Justice Speakers School. This is a 12 week course that teaches research and public speaking on social justice issues. We are also involved with the local poverty reduction committees.

Law Reform

Another part of our work is challenging laws that are unjust or have a negative impact on the low income community we serve. We do this work through test case litigation in the courts and through submissions to legislative standing committees.

See also:

Frequently Asked Questions

Please note: the following FAQs concern clinic operations and do not address substantive legal matters. For legal advice or information please contact the clinic .

Who Can use your services

Low income residents of the District of Parry Sound or the District Municipality of Muskoka may access our services. We have financial eligibility guidelines. If you are on government assistance you are eligible for our services. Otherwise we will ask questions about your income and debts and figure out if you are eligible. If you are not eligible we will do our best to refer you to other services for assistance.

How Much Does it Cost to Use Your Services

There is no cost to our services. If you are financially eligible, you live in our catchment area and it is an area of law we practice then you will not be billed for our legal work.

Do I Need an Appointment

Yes. We are busy so it is necessary to phone first to book an appointment.

How do I make an appointment for one of the satellite locations

Please phone us at 705 645 6607 or toll free 1 800 263 4819 to book an appointment as we travel to the satellite offices only when we have appointments.

Do you assist with Family Law matters?

No, we will provide you with a referral to the local family law resources like: Family Law Information Centre; Local family law lawyers; Duty Counsel; Legal Aid Ontario and the Lawyer Referral Service.

Do you assist with Criminal matters?

No, we will provide you with a referral to local criminal lawyers, Duty Counsel, Legal Aid Ontario and the Lawyer Referral Service.

Can I apply for a Legal Aid Certificate at your office?

No. You can contact Legal Aid Ontario directly at their Client Service Centre at toll free 1 800 668 8258.

Download Version:

FAQs are available for download .