Guest speaker Hugh Tye on Legal Aid 101

Hugh Tye is a lawyer and the director of Hamilton Mountain Legal & Community Services.   Hugh and his wife reside in Dundas with their two children.

            Hugh's presentation, "Legal Aid 101" covered the services provided by Legal Aid.  Hamilton has three community legal clinics, Dundurn Community Legal Services, Hamilton Mountain Legal & Community Services and McQuesten Legal & Community Services.  The clinics offer a variety of legal services to low income residents of Hamilton.   Services are largely free for those who qualify.

            Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) is an independent agency created by the province in late 1998. It is administrated by a board of directors and receives its funding from the Ministry of the Attorney General.   The Legal Aid Services Act sets out the mandate of LAO. Its purpose is to promote access to justice throughout Ontario for low income individuals. It provides legal aid services by a variety of methods to those who cannot afford private lawyers.  

Community Legal Clinics are independent not-for-profit corporations run by volunteer boards of directors.  Community legal clinics are staffed by lawyers, community legal workers, support staff, community development workers and sometimes law students. All help is private and confidential.  The clinics provide advice and representation on in issues such as:  tenant rights, social assistance, CPP, employment insurance, employment standards, criminal injuries compensation, and human rights.  For further information, go to www.hamiltonlegalclinics.ca.