Your visit to the Center:
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM A MEETING AT THE CENTER?
Dealing with a legal problem can be the root of unwanted stress and worries. The Center aims to provide you with the support needed to better understand your situation and the options that apply to your case. Our legal information services are free and confidential.
Our team is composed of law professionals (lawyers and notaries) who can:
- provide free legal information regarding your situation, in order to help you make informed decisions;
- help you to better understand the judicial system, to identify laws and rules applicable to your case, and to pinpoint your different options and procedures;
- point you towards specialized resources such as government agencies, community and non-profit organizations, legal advisors and mediation centers.
TWO WAYS TO ACCESS OUR SERVICES
1. Meet with a law professional in person, during the day (Monday through Thursday)
At our office
Meet with a law professional within a few hours by coming to our offices in the Old Montreal.
We do not offer appointments. Our “first come, first served” consultations are offered Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
To maximize your chances of meeting a lawyer, we recommend that you arrive in the morning, as early as possible. We cannot guarantee a meeting on the same day. We remind you that we are a walk-in service, on a first-come, first-served basis.
Before coming to our offices:
- Check the list of law domains that we cover [insérer lien hypertexte]
- Read the section of this webpage entitled “How should one prepare for a visit at the Center?” [insérer lien hypertexte]
To maximize your chances of meeting with a law professional, we recommend that you arrive at least two hours before closing time.
At the Montreal Courthouse
We are also present at the Montreal Courthouse, in room 2.27, which is shared with the SAGE service of the Montreal Bar and the Youth Bar of Montreal.
Walk-in consultations Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Our service at the courthouse is also a walk-in service, on a first-come, first-served basis. To maximize your chances of meeting a lawyer, we recommend that you arrive in the morning, as early as possible. We cannot guarantee a meeting on the same day.
2. Register on our call-back waitlist
Please leave us a voicemail at our number: 514-227-3782 (Option 4) including the following details:
- First and last name
- Phone number
- City of residence
- Availabilities to receive a call back
- Reason of the consultation
Our team will contact you as soon as possible. Note that return calls are generally made from a hidden number.
If you wish to obtain a meeting within the day, you may present yourself to our office, according to our opening hours.
Please note that there may be a delay of 7 to 14 days before obtaining an answer.
Only Montreal citizens meeting the criterias will be called back. If you do not meet the criteria, you will be so informed by e-mail.
If you wish to obtain a meeting within the day, you may present yourself to our office, according to our opening hours.
WHO CAN COME TO THE CENTER?
Our services are offered to Montreal citizens exclusively, and can be held both in person or by phone.
*Please note that the opposing party of your case may also benefit from our services.
WHAT TYPES OF QUESTIONS MAY ONE ASK?
We are generalists. We deal with legal questions regarding everyday situations:
- How can I cancel the child support I am paying?;
- How does the repossession of a dwelling work?
- How do I execute a judgment?
- I bought a used car that no longer works. What are the vendor’s obligations?
We do not answer questions requiring specialized knowledge, such as:
- Patents;
- Laws and regulations of another province or country.
We have limited knowledge in certain areas of law, such as:
- All appeals (Supreme Court of Canada, Cour of Appeal, Superior Court, Court of Québec etc.);
- Injunction, contempt of court and judicial review;
- Bankruptcy;
- Tax law;
- Immigration law;
- Corporate law / Business start-up;
- Criminal and penal law;
- Youth protection;
- Intellectual property;
- Class actions;
- International law.
WHAT THE CENTER’S SERVICES DO NOT INCLUDE:
We do not provide advice or legal opinions.
- We do not develop strategies with you;
- We do not develop strategies with you;
- We do not assess your chances of success and we do not comment on the value of your evidence;
- We do not write formal demand letters, motions, etc.;
- We do not review any of your documents;
- We do not provide representation in court;
- We do not make decisions for you.
HOW SHOULD ONE PREPARE FOR A VISIT AT THE CENTER ?
- Bring a valid identification document (I.D.).
- Prepare your questions in advance.
- List and bring all the relevant documents to facilitate understanding of your file.
Examples of documents to bring:
A judgment | A contract | A letter of dismissal | Etc.
Guides and tools
Templates
- Template of a family mediation invitation
- Template of a family mediation invitation (for couples without children)
Timelines
Tools
WORKSHOPS TO DEMISTIFY LEGAL TOPICS
Publications
- Declaration of Services to Victims of Criminal Offences
- Consult our Policy relating to the protection of personal information and data confidentiality (In French only)
- Rapport annuel 2023-2024 (In French only)
- Rapport annuel 2022-2023 (In French only)
- Rapport annuel 2021-2022 (In French only)
- Rapport annuel 2020-2021 (In French only)
- Rapport annuel 2019-2020 (In French only)
- Rapport annuel 2018-2019 (In French only)
- Rapport annuel 2017-2018 (In French only)
- Rapport annuel 2016-2017 (In French only)
- Rapport annuel 2015-2016 (In French only)
- Rapport annuel 2014-2015 (In French only)
- Statistiques annuelles 2014-2015 (In French only)
- Rapport annuel 2013-2014 (In French only)
- Statistiques annuelles 2013-2014 (In French only)
- Rapport annuel 2012-2013 (In French only)
- Rapport annuel 2011-2012 (In French only)
- États financiers 2011-2012 (In french only)
If you are physically impaired or disabled, please communicate with us so that we can accommodate you.
