Lower Income Albertans

Are you looking for links to organizations that offer legal services and information to individuals for little or no cost?

Gathered on this page are resources that were developed with you in mind. But there may be general resources that are also appropriate.

See the section Learn More About...or search the list of all legal topics to find other relevant information.


CPLEA Suggested Resources

Not sure where to begin finding answers to your questions. Get started with our suggested resources. See additional resources below for more information.

Calgary Legal Guidance provides free legal advice for individuals with low income. If you need legal information and advice on: Family issues; Criminal issues; Civil issues; Restraining Orders; Emergency Protection Orders etc; Social Benefit issues; and; an evening course on Do Your Own Divorce.

Related legal topic(s): Legal services, Public legal education organizations

Calgary Legal Guidance provides free legal advice for individuals with low income. If you need legal information and advice on: Family issues; Criminal issues; Civil issues; Restraining Orders; Emergency Protection Orders etc; Social Benefit issues; and; an evening course on Do Your Own Divorce.

Calgary Legal Guidance runs many workshops and presentations in the community on a variety of legal topics such as:

  • Family Law
  • Wills & Estates
  • Landlord & Tenant

If you are an organization or agency that would like a presentation on a legal topic please contact Kim Feodoroff at  403.716.6476.

Related legal topic(s): Legal services, Public legal education organizations

Calgary Legal Guidance offers legal advice and assistance to newcomers who are looking for help in various immigration law matters. The Immigration Law Project can assist clients with: Making a claim for refugee protection, Preparing and filing applications for permanent residence, Applying for work permits,temporary resident visas and study permits, Family sponsorship issues, and Representation in specially considered cases. CLG offers three free legal advice outreach clinics at the following locations: Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association (CIWA) (403.263.4414) - Offering advice in Family and Immigration Law; Centre for Newcomers (403.569.3325) Offering advice in Family and Immigration Law; and Immigrant Service Calgary (403.265.1120) Offering advice in Immigration Law for permanent residents and Canadian citizens. Call each location directly to book an appointment

Related legal topic(s): Immigration, Legal services, Refugees

Legal Aid Alberta provides quality, effective legal advice and representation that enables eligible Albertans to resolve their legal issues; Eligibility guidelines are on its web site. It is an independent, publicly funded, not-for-profit organization that provides a broad range of services in the following areas:

Related legal topic(s): Legal aid, Legal services

Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC) is a national network of law schools and community organizations that matches law students who want to do pro bono work with public interest and non-governmental organizations, government agencies, tribunals and legal clinics during the academic year and during the summer. Over the past decade the program has expanded to include the Family Law Project, where students provide legal information to unrepresented individuals at the Provincial Family Court.

Related legal topic(s): Legal services, Non-profit and charity law

Student Legal Assistance (SLA) is an association of law students at the University of Calgary which provides year-round free legal assistance and representation to University of Calgary students and members of the public who are unable to afford legal services. Our services include: Representing qualifying individuals in Provincial Court for criminal, traffic, family and civil matters in Calgary, Banff and surrounding areas; Providing legal advice and services at the Calgary Drop In Centre; Assisting students with academic appeals; and Providing summary legal advice. A nominal disbursement charge applies to non-University of Calgary students.

Related legal topic(s): Legal services

Student Legal Services of Edmonton (SLS) is a student-managed, non-profit society dedicated to helping low-income individuals in Edmonton and area understand their legal issues and solve their legal problems. SLS focuses on four projects: Civil & Family Law (landlord/tenant matters, contracts, WCB/AISH/CPP/EI hearings, family law matters, uncontested divorces, and more); Criminal Law (SLS provides basic criminal law information and represents individuals charged with relatively minor criminal and quasi-criminal offences); Legal Education and Reform (community lectures and outreach programs, and research on poverty-related law reform issues); and Pro Bono Students of Canada (legal research for non-profit organizations).

Related legal topic(s): Civil law, Family law general resources, Legal services, Public legal education organizations

The Women's Centre of Calgary is an ongoing source of information, support and advocacy. The Centre offers women quick access to emergency food, personal care supplies and bus tickets. It provides referrals to other agencies for food, clothing, furniture, housing, health, employment, education and recreation. The Centre operates a Legal Advice Clinic where volunteer lawyers provide free, half-hour legal advice sessions to women. The clinic is aimed at providing women with the preliminary information and support they may need to access the legal system. Family and other types of law are addressed, but not criminal law.

Related legal topic(s): Family law general resources, Legal services

Alberta Resources

 The Alberta Supports Contact Centre is a new contact centre for general inquiries on income support, adult health benefits, child health benefits, child support services, and Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped. Advisors are available to provide general information on these programs and services, make referrals to community agencies and other government programs.

Related legal topic(s): Child support, Health issues

Alberta Works helps unemployed people find and keep jobs, employers meet their need for skilled workers,  Albertans with low incomes cover their basic costs of living. They offer services in different ways through: Employment Services, Employment and Career Resources,Training Supports, Alberta Job & Career Fairs.,  Workforce Partnerships, Income Support, and Health Benefits. See also: Information on the Alberta Supports Contact Centres.

Related legal topic(s): Disabilities, Health issues

The mission of the Centre is to work with others to empower people to move from poverty to prosperity. They enable people to meet their own basic daily needs, participate in community, have sustainable livelihoods, feel hope for the future and make plans for a prosperous life. The Centre offers a variety of programs which include victims services and advocacy.

Related legal topic(s): Advocacy, Homelessness, Poverty, Victim support and victim rights

Dial-A-Law provides the general public with basic information about the law and the legal system. In Calgary, call 403-234-9022, or call toll free from anywhere in Alberta: 1-800-332-1091. Topics that Dial-A-Law covers include: Consumer Law; Criminal Law; Employment Law; Family Law; Real Estate Law; Wills and Estate Law; Youth and the Law.

Related legal topic(s):

The mission of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Edmonton is to foster the dignity and worth of women who come into conflict with the law, and help them live as valued members of their communities. They are a not-for-profit organization that has existed in Edmonton since 1977. The society offers a variety of programs for women and girls including a legal clinic. The Legal Clinic Program assists federally sentenced women at Edmonton Institute for Women by addressing their legal needs. The society has court workers who provide information to both men and women on court procedure and plea options.  They also provide referrals to duty counsel and other community resources. The Elizabeth Fry Society helps women with the process of applying for a record suspension.

Related legal topic(s): Criminal records and record suspensions, Legal services, Reintegration, Restorative justice

The Government of Alberta has many programs to help lower income Albertans. This guide can help find out what's available. Programs are listed in seven groups:Work and Work Skills, Financial, Housing, Legal Assistance, Health Expenses, Families with Children, and People with Disabilities. For each program, you will find an outline of what it does and where to go for information.This guide is up-to-date as of March 2005.

Related legal topic(s): Health issues, Loss of employment, Supportive living and seniors’ housing