Pro Bono Ontario (PBO)

https://www.probonoontario.org

Pro Bono Ontario is a nonprofit organization that seeks to increase access to justice for low-income Ontarians with civil, non-family, legal problems. PBO develops special projects through law firms, legal clinics, or community-based organizations to provide free legal services to eligible members of the public. These services are also available for nonprofit or charitable groups.

Pro Bono Ontario offers a hotline that provides up to 30 minutes of free legal help and advice over the telephone on civil law matters, which include:

  • employment
  • housing
  • consumer issues
  • Powers of Attorney
  • corporate law for charities, non-profits, and small businesses

It doesn’t help with family law, immigration law, or criminal law problems.

The hotline generally accepts calls Monday to Friday between 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Pro Bono Ontario uses volunteer lawyers, so clients must be low-income to qualify and may have to meet other criteria to be eligible for help.