Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Trusted Legal Aid Services in Toronto
Downtown Legal Services is a community legal clinic operated by the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto. Established over 50 years ago, we provide free legal assistance to low-income residents of Toronto and University of Toronto students. Our services are delivered by law students under the supervision of experienced staff lawyers, combining client-centered advocacy with clinical education.We collaborate with Legal Aid Ontario, the Law Foundation of Ontario, and community partners to address systemic inequities. Our satellite clinic at Evangel Mission and interdisciplinary social work program enhance access to justice for marginalized communities. We are committed to Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action and operate on traditional Indigenous lands.
Services
Criminal Law
Refugee and Immigration Law
Employment Law
Housing Law
Family Law
Disability Law
University Affairs
Social Work Support
Details
- Year established: 1975
Highlights and features
- We have provided free legal services to Toronto communities for over 50 years.
- Our expert staff lawyers supervise law students in real-world case management.
- We offer interdisciplinary support through partnerships with social work programs.
- Our satellite clinic provides accessible legal aid in underserved neighborhoods.
- We prioritize systemic advocacy to address root causes of legal inequities.
What people say
Patient, respect, kindness
Fighting chance
Human first, lawyer second
Satisfactory results
Warm thank you
Services
Criminal Law
We represent clients charged with summary conviction offenses at 10 Armoury Street courthouse. Our services include court appearances from initial hearings to trial resolution, including guilty pleas. We partner with volunteer lawyers for appeals to the Superior Court of Justice in Toronto.
Refugee and Immigration Law
We provide representation at Immigration and Refugee Board hearings and Federal Court proceedings. Our services include Pre-Removal Risk Assessments, Ministerial Relief Applications, and advocacy for systemic reforms. We collaborate with community partners for public legal education workshops on immigration rights.
Employment Law
We assist workers denied employment standards protections, including unpaid wages, wrongful dismissal claims under $25,000, and human rights violations. Our services cover Employment Standards Act enforcement, Small Claims Court representation, and Social Security Tribunal appeals for denied EI benefits.
Housing Law
We help tenants resolve rent disputes, repair issues, and eviction proceedings. Our services include Landlord and Tenant Board representation, harassment protection, and enforcement of housing orders. We serve University of Toronto students and low-income tenants through intake line consultations.
Family Law
We provide custody, access, and support advice through North Toronto Family Court representation. Our services include summary advice, negotiation, and court proceedings for graduate parents and low-income clients. We assist with restraining orders but exclude divorce and property division cases.
People
Prasanna Balasundaram
Director
Prasanna Balasundaram leads Downtown Legal Services as Director, overseeing clinical operations and strategic direction. With extensive experience in poverty law, he supervises legal education programs and community partnerships to expand access to justice for marginalized populations.
Jennifer Fehr
Supervising Lawyer
Jennifer Fehr supervises employment and academic appeals at Downtown Legal Services. She mentors law students in workplace rights advocacy and represents clients in employment standards violations. Her work focuses on protecting vulnerable workers and academic integrity.
Richard Teicher
Supervising Lawyer
Richard Teicher leads family law services at Downtown Legal Services. He specializes in custody matters and domestic legal proceedings, guiding graduate parents through North Toronto Family Court processes while training future legal professionals.
Seema Kawar
Supervising Lawyer
Seema Kawar supervises housing law services, representing tenants in Landlord and Tenant Board proceedings. She advocates for fair housing practices and provides legal support to low-income residents facing eviction or landlord disputes.
Sukhpreet Sangha
Supervising Lawyer
Sukhpreet Sangha oversees criminal and academic law services. She represents clients in summary conviction cases and advises University of Toronto students facing academic misconduct charges, ensuring fair legal processes and educational outcomes.
Questions
What legal services do you offer?
We provide criminal law, immigration, employment, housing, family law, disability, and university affairs representation. Services include court representation, legal advice, and public education workshops.
Who qualifies for your services?
Low-income Toronto residents and University of Toronto students paying our student levy qualify. We prioritize cases involving summary conviction offenses, workplace rights, and housing disputes.
How do I request legal help?
Call our intake line at 416-978-6447 during business hours or complete our online form. Allow several days for case review and eligibility confirmation.
Do you offer emergency legal services?
We are not a crisis service. For urgent matters, contact local authorities or community partners. Our intake hours prioritize scheduled consultations.
Are your services free?
Most services are free. We charge small fees for notary/affidavit services. Financial assistance options are available for eligible clients.
Do you help with social work referrals?
Yes, our Social Work program connects clients with non-legal supports, including housing assistance and healthcare access through interdisciplinary partnerships.
Reviews (2)
Vee Geoheli
Oct 06, 2020
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Line ups in or out of the store are ridiculous. People in them don't practice social distancing. Especially inside waiting to be served. Other then that the cashiers are very pleasant
Enosh Yin-Cheng
Jul 12, 2018
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We called to make an appointment. Somehow, the receptionist failed to book it and wouldn't even apologize for it or fix the mistake. The lawyer was rude on the phone and even more so in person, staring at us without a word, expecting us to explain our reason of being there. I really appreciate that there's free service for those who cannot afford to pay for legal service, but any client, regardless of socio-economic background, deserves respect; and these professionals are paid with taxpayers' money to do their job and to do it professionally.
