Finding Legal Help

Law Society of Alberta – Find a Lawyer 
The Lawyer Directory allows you to search for a lawyer by their name, firm, location, practice areas & status, language(s) spoken, and/or gender.

Legal Aid Alberta (LAA) 1-866-845-3425 (Toll Free) 
They provide free or low-cost legal services to eligible low-income Albertans in many areas of law: 

• Adult criminal law 
• Civil law – not including law suits, landlord and tenant, wills and estates 
• Family law – child welfare, child representation 
• Family violence 
• Immigration and refugee law 
• Mental health law 
• Youth criminal law (all youth are eligible for full representation) 

To determine service and financial eligibility answer the questionnaire on their website. Legal aid has offices in Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge & Red Deer.  

Office of the Child and Youth Advocate of Alberta1-800-661-3446 (Toll Free) or email ca.information@ocya.alberta.ca Provides legal representation for children and youth. 

Alberta Legal Coaches and Limited Legal Services – Lawyers who provide limited services allowing you to reduce costs and still have assistance when needed. 

National Database of Professionals Assisting SRLs – includes lawyers, paralegals and other professionals offering a variety of services including unbundled legal services and is searchable by location.

Centre Albertain D’Information Juridique / Alberta Legal Information Centre 1-844-266-5822 
Provides referrals to bilingual lawyers and legal information. 

_{Last Revised August 9, 2024}

Duty Counsel are lawyers who assist with court matters and court appearances and can offer limited legal advice. Duty Counsel services are provided free of charge. 

Duty Counsel for Criminal first appearances 
Call 1-866-845-3425 up to 14 days prior to attending court (early appearance assistance) if you require duty counsel assistance for criminal (adult and youth) matters.  

Duty Counsel for Civil matters 

• Civil Claims Duty Counsel (CCDC) – Alberta Court of Justice – for self represented litigants with civil matters in Alberta Court of Justice. Assistance is not guaranteed. They may provide one free 30 minute session to assist with procedural information, preparing for trials and other appearances, and help with completing forms.
  • This program does NOT assist with:
    • Family, criminal or corporate law matters 
    • Matters in Court of King’s Bench or Appeal Courts 
    • Pre-trial conferences and mediation
  • For times in Calgary and Edmonton check their website

• King’s Bench Court Amicus Program – assists self represented litigants in civil matters at the Court of King’s Bench, including Applications Judge and Justice chambers. They can provide legal advice and assistance with court procedures, forms, and trial preparation
  • For times in Calgary and Edmonton check their website. 
• Emergency protection orders – Calgary 12th floor

Legal Aid also provides duty counsel in the following dockets courts: 

• Drug treatment court 
• Bail Hearings
• Child Welfare dockets – Alberta Court of Justice
• Family Matters – Alberta Court of Justice and Court of King’s Bench — Calgary Courthouse - 10th Floor N (KB) room 1004 & 12th Floor S. (PC). Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Medicine Hat, Red Deer, St. Paul & Wetaskiwin courthouses. 

Calgary Legal Guidance – Domestic Violence

• Calgary King’s Bench N45 -10th Floor – help with family domestic violence family matters. 

Elizabeth Fry Society 

• Elizabeth Fry Society of Calgary 403-294-0737 Toll free 1-877-398-3656 or reception@elizabethfrycalgary.ca.
  They provide assistance to youth and adults in a variety of matters including criminal, traffic, bylaw, and domestic violence court matters.
  • Calgary courthouse lobby near entrance 
  • Youth Criminal Court (courtroom 303) – support on the youth criminal court floor 
  • Domestic Violence Court (courtroom 508) – triage services and connecting clients to appropriate resources.
  • Calgary Indigenous Court (courtroom 1800) – support clients attending CIC with legal information, guidance, and resources.
  • Case Management Office (4th floor)
• Elizabeth Fry Northern Alberta 780-421-1175
  Located in the Edmonton Courthouse on the 4th Floor North Tower – Provide assistance in criminal court, will help explain court procedures, terminology and provide emotional support.

Native Counselling Services of Alberta – Courtwork program 1-780-451-4002 or email info@ncsa.ca 
They provide province wide assistance for criminal and family court matters for Indigenous people. 

Court Support Program 1-888-327-7828 
Free service for victims of crime and witnesses for the crown providing court information, preparation and accompaniment to court. 

Homefront Assist (Calgary) 403-206-2100 
The Domestic Violence Intervention & Resource Team (DVIRT) provide victims support through the court process. Their services are provided free of charge. You must be referred by the Calgary Police Services. 

_{Last revised August 9, 2024} 

• Court procedures and hearings – Alberta Justice
• Court process – Centre for Public legal education Alberta (CPLEA) various publications & videos
• Family court assistance
• Preparing for Court – Law Central Alberta
• Representing yourself in Court – Canadian Judicial Council
  • Civil law handbook
  • Family law handbook
  • Criminal law handbook
• National Self-Represented Litigants Project (NSRLP) – Self represented Litigants resources, includes booklets to assist you in representing yourself
• Finding & Filling Court Forms > For members of the public will help answer:
  • What court forms do I need?
  • Where can I find the forms?
  • How do I fill them out?
  • What do I do next?
  • How to serve your filed documents

For additional information see our guide on Dispute Resolution and Mediation.

• Child Support Resolution Program
• Children’s Services Mediation Program
• Family Mediation
• Lawyers’ fees review and assessment
• Support in resolving parenting disputes (Caseflow Conference)
• Civil Claims Mediation

Alberta courts provide translators for criminal and child welfare matters only. If you require a translator or translation services for another matter the services below may be able to assist you.

• Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association (CIWA) 403-263-4414
  Appointments are needed. Services are provided depending on immigration status.
• Calgary Legal guidance – can translate using the telephone based cantalk translation service
• Centre Albertain D’Information Juridique/Alberta Legal Information Centre 1-844-266-5822
  Provides legal information in 10 languages and referrals to bilingual lawyers.
• Edmonton Immigrant Services Association – Language bank
  Provide translation & interpretation services.
• Association of Translators and Interpreters of Alberta (ATIA) – provides an online directory of translators searchable by the language you require.
• Immigrant Services Calgary (ISC) 403-705-8893
  Provides interpretation and translation of official documents in over 50 languages through their language bank.
• TERMIUM Plus® – One of the largest terminology and linguistic data banks in the world, gives you access to millions of terms in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese. You can find terms, abbreviations, definitions and usage examples in a wide range of specialized fields.

• Alberta’s Province Wide Service Directory – Provides information on services across the province.
• Alberta Health Advocate – Provides support and advocates for a health care system that is responsive and accountable. Will refer to appropriate programs and services to address complaints.
• Alberta Supports – Provides access to various programs and community services.
• Homeless Outreach Program – Calgary Legal Guidance provides assistance, advice and referrals through lawyer and non-lawyer team.
• Safer Communities Initiative – Judgment free service to all individuals, 24hr. real-time response centre, 365 days a year.
• Service Alberta – Provides information on many topics including consumer protection, housing and vehicles.
• Social Benefits Assistance Program – Calgary Legal Guidance. They can help you with accessing social benefit programs including AISH, Alberta Works and the Alberta/Child Health benefit.
• Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Program – 780-427-8255. Toll Free within Alberta dial 310-0000 and then enter the phone number. This program protect victims injured by uninsured or unknown drivers.
• Sorce – 403-428-3300 (Calgary) – Provides a collaborative service between many Calgary based organizations.
• Help for Victims of Crime Alberta – Find help, financial assistance, community victim services units and other supports if you have been a victim of a violent crime.
• John Howard Society They assist with the transition from prison, may help with records suspensions and offer various other services to help reduce crime. Services vary depending on the location. See the locations below for the one nearest you.
  • Calgary John Howard Society – 403-266-4566
  • Edmonton John Howard Society – 780-428-7590
  • Grande Prairie John Howard Society – 780-532-0370
  • Lethbridge John Howard Society – 403-327-8202
  • Medicine Hat John Howard Society – 403-526-5916
  • Red Deer John Howard Society – 403-343-1770