Providing legal assistance to low-income people.

Our Clients

NALSC Legal Aid helps low-income people with certain legal matters. NALSC Legal Aid has the authority to issue legal aid certificates to qualifying Band members from the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) First Nation communities in northern Ontario.

LAO Area Office #48

Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services (NALSC) is Area Office #48 for Legal Aid Ontario (LAO).

Our Staff

NALSC Legal Aid employs a part-time Area Director, a Legal Aid Coordinator, two Legal Aid Assessment Officers and a Legal Aid Office Assistant to serve the members of NAN.

NALSC Legal Aid also employs Community Legal Workers and provides an Advice Lawyer and Duty Counsel lawyers to help you.

What Kinds of Legal Matters are Covered?

NALSC Legal Aid assists only with certain legal matters. These include criminal law (if custody is probable), family law, child welfare, and some administrative law issues.

NALSC Legal Aid cannot assist with legal matters related to: civil law, employment law, human rights, housing or social assistance. Please contact a Community Legal Worker (CLW) for a referral.

How to Apply for Legal Aid

If you are a band member from a NAN First Nation residing on- or off-reserve in northern Ontario, you can apply for legal aid in any of the following ways:

  1. Visit our office at 1805 Arthur Street East, Unit 100 in Thunder Bay.
  2. Call us at (807) 622-1413 or toll-free 1-800-465-5581.
  3. Contact the Community Legal Worker (CLW) serving your community.

Panel of Lawyers

Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services Legal Aid maintains a panel of lawyers who participate in the legal aid certificate program, and who accept legal aid certificates.

The panel of lawyers is listed by area or region.

For inquiries regarding the panel of lawyers, please contact our Legal Aid Staff at (807) 622-1413 or toll-free 1-800-465-5581.

Do you qualify for a Legal Aid Certificate

Find out if you qualify

Advice Lawyer

NALSC Legal Aid offers Advice Lawyer services.

The Advice Lawyer provides brief service or short summary legal advice to qualifying Band members of NAN First Nations. This legal service applies only to questions for qualifying legal issues.

The Advice Lawyer is available on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1:00 p.m-5:00 p.m EST.

Advice Lawyer Hours

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday

1:00 p.m to 5:00 p.m. EST

Contact the Advice Lawyer

Visit our office at 1805 Arthur Street East, Unit 100
Call (807) 622-1413 or toll-free 1-800-465-5581
Email:  advicelawyer@nanlegal.on.ca

Duty Counsel

Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services Legal Aid provides Duty Counsel – on the day before court day (Advance Day) and on the Court Day – to assist people who appear in Court without a lawyer.

Duty Counsel also assists people, in the community, by providing summary legal advice on a variety of legal issues.

Duty Counsel services include:

  • summary legal advice without a fee, and
  • assistance with legal and government forms.