The Essentials:
discover your
Legal
Care
Program

designed With
students in mind.

Comprehensive protection
Legal consultation service

Everyone has the right to fair access to justice

 Seeking legal counsel can be intimidating and resolving a dispute can be difficult, especially since finding and engaging a lawyer is often a lengthy and costly process. 

 Through a partner law firm, eligible Wilfrid Laurier University Students' Union members have access to a legal consultation service to consult a duly certified lawyer regarding any legal question. Students can also seek legal representation within their province of study, when their case qualifies for further counsel.

Program services are provided by members in good standing of the Law Society of Ontario.

legal consultation:
request support here

Fill out the online Support Form and select Legal Program as the reason for your request.

The legal consultation service provides quick access to legal counselling on any area of law. This includes:

                               • Virtual, phone, or in-person meeting with a lawyer
                               • Legal research
                               • Document analysis: contracts, formal notices, procedures, etc.
                               • Interpretation of laws and jurisprudence in relation to the student’s situation      
                               • Legal advice on the student’s situation
                               • Explanation of legal concepts   
                               • Sharing legal information
                               • Case follow-up with the law firm, and more

request support

legal representation

A lawyer will take charge of proceedings related to the following areas of law:

Housing

HOUSING DISPUTES

Legal expenses arising from a dispute over a housing lease, such as a disputed rent increase, an illegal eviction, or a breach of a condition in the lease.

Employment

EMPLOYMENT DISPUTES

Legal fees related to a dispute relating to a current or future contract of employment, with respect to labour standards for grievances not covered by a union or a government agency. However, the Program does not include legal fees if the student is eligible for legal representation services provided by a government agency. Occupational health and safety disputes are not included in legal representation services.

Academic

disputes with an academic institution 

A student’s legal expenses in the event of a dispute with their academic institution. This excludes cases related to sexual misconduct or a criminal act.

Academic

public notaries 

Members who require commissioning services can arrange for virtual meetings to commission affidavits. Notarizing services are also offered. To benefit from the commissioning and notarizing services, fill out the Support Form (select Legal Program as the reason for your request) to place a service request, and a meeting will be scheduled with a partner law firm. The services are provided on Wednesdays only, but you can place a request anytime.

LEGAL REPRESENTATION INCLUDES:

Lawyers' fees 

Legal expenses (disbursements): attendance fees, court fees (except for fees the student may be ordered to pay by the court), witness expenses

Fees for an expert witness, up to a maximum of $1,000

DIGITAL RESOURCES

For questions about housing rights and how The Essentials can help, see the following resources:

Student Housing FAQ

Guide to Subtenancy and Assignment

PROGRAM LIMITATIONS

The Essentials only includes requests whose territorial jurisdiction is that of the province where the student is studying, both for consultation and for representation.

The student is responsible for paying the costs awarded to the opposing party in civil cases, if the student has received an order to pay them from the Court.

Requests for representation that have little or no chance of success, or that are deemed frivolous or disproportionate, in the judgment of the partner law firm, may be subject to denial of service.

  • Request with little or no chance of success: a request with a low probability of being granted by a court
  • Frivolous request: a request that has no legal basis
  • Disproportionate request: a request for which the legal action sought by the student is disproportionate to the magnitude of the problem raised

The partner law firm may also cease to represent a student if the person refuses an offer of settlement that the lawyers on the case deem acceptable and timely; or if the student refuses or neglects to cooperate in an acceptable manner with the lawyers in charge of their case.

If allegations of sexual misconduct (including domestic violence) are made against a student who wishes to benefit from the Legal program, the student can only use the consultation service. If the allegations of sexual misconduct are related to academia, the student cannot use any of the program’s services.

Please note: Program lawyers will not provide any legal advice whatsoever that could be contrary to the interests of:

  • Any student association in Ontario
  • Any grouping of student associations in Ontario
  • Studentcare

tools to protect your rights as a student

1

Access to a legal consultation service for any area of law

2

Legal representation for 4 areas of law

3

Confidence to pursue action with the support of a team of legal experts

READY TO STAND UP FOR YOUR rights?

Contact us for more information.