Independent Legal Advice for Survivors

Overview

You may be eligible for up to 8 hours of free legal advice by phone or video (such as on Zoom or Teams). You can also receive additional support, including individual and group counselling support, if you are a victim or survivor of any of the following crimes:

• intimate partner violence
• human trafficking
• sexual offences, such as sexual assault, non-consensual distribution of intimate images or recordings, and other offences of a sexual nature

If you would like to speak to a lawyer about your legal options, you can use this free, confidential service:

• anytime after the crime occurred
• to get support and referrals for additional services if you need them
• whether or not you reported the crime to the police or have a related criminal case

This service does not include legal representation in court.

Eligibility

This program is available to victims and survivors who:

• are at least 16 years of age
• live in Ontario and/or the offence happened in Ontario

How to access services

This service is delivered across Ontario by the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic

A member of the program will receive your inquiry and will connect with you about the next steps in the process. Please note, if you have previously received a voucher from the Ministry of the Attorney General’s ILA program before April 1, 2025, please contact the Clinic with any questions or for assistance with connecting with a lawyer.

Here is the current list of lawyers accepting ILA vouchers. 

If you are interested in joining the ILA Voucher Program Roster, please submit your application.