Durham Community Legal Clinic
2 lawyers · Durham Region
One of 91 law firms listed in Oshawa, and one of 6 handling Landlord & Tenant.
Accepts Legal Aid
Accepts Legal AidAbout Durham Community Legal Clinic
Durham Community Legal Clinic (DCLC) is a registered charity (charity number 124369497RR0001) funded by Legal Aid Ontario. It provides free legal services to low income residents across Durham Region from its office in downtown Oshawa, and that same office also houses the Durham Access to Justice Hub, a one stop initiative that brings several partner organizations together to serve residents on low income or in precarious employment. The clinic describes its mission as engaging the low income community by providing quality legal services and advocating for social justice, and it lists community collaboration, respect, dignity, and diversity among its guiding values.
DCLC's legal work centers on tenant rights (tenant representation only), ODSP, CPP, Ontario Works, employment law, immigration, provincial offences, and power of attorney and guardianship matters, along with notarizing and commissioning of documents and legal aid certificates for intimate partner violence and sexual assault cases. It doesn't take on criminal or family law directly, and residents looking for that kind of help are pointed to partner services, including Legal Aid Ontario's own family and criminal law programs. The clinic also hosts onsite training for Durham College's paralegal program and says it follows the standards and best practices set by Imagine Canada, Legal Aid Ontario, the Law Society of Ontario, and the Canada Revenue Agency.
Practice areas
Milestones & recognition
- The clinic states it follows the standards and best practices developed by Imagine Canada, Legal Aid Ontario, the Law Society of Ontario, and the Canada Revenue Agency, and lists an Accreditation initiative among its current projects, aimed at enhancing clinic services through the adoption of industry best practices.
- DCLC hosts onsite training for the Durham College Paralegal Program, with students working alongside clinic staff on clinic law files.
- DCLC is a member of the Durham Access to Justice Hub, which operates out of its Oshawa office and brings in a number of partner service providers for area residents.
In the community
- DCLC runs Your Way Forward, a project addressing sexual assault and intimate partner violence, alongside a Homelessness Prevention project and an Online Justice Accessibility Program that provides Durham residents accessible online access to tribunals and hearings.
- The clinic's Current Projects page also lists Building Bridges, a completed project that focused on financial literacy and tax.
- Beyond individual case work, DCLC offers free legal presentations, outreach services, and research and advocacy to the community.
- The clinic partners with Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO) on public legal rights education for people who face barriers to accessing help.
Good to know
Wheelchair accessibleFees & payment
Legal aidThis firm’s lawyers at a glance
- Law schools
- University of Windsor 1 of 2 lawyers
The neighbourhood
DCLC's office sits in Midtown Centre, an established shopping plaza at 200 John Street West in downtown Oshawa, near the corner of John Street West and King Street West. The plaza's other tenants include Region of Durham and Service Canada offices alongside retailers like Dollarama, so the clinic is already sharing a building with several other public service counters, a fitting setting for an operation that also runs an access to justice hub for outside partner organizations. Walk-in hours run on weekday mornings and early afternoons for tenant rights, ODSP, and Ontario Works matters, while notarizing and commissioning are handled on a slightly longer weekday window, reflecting a clinic built around drop-in and appointment traffic rather than a traditional law office model.
Frequently asked questions
- Is help from Durham Community Legal Clinic free?
- Yes. DCLC may give summary advice to anyone regardless of income, but ongoing help is funded by Legal Aid Ontario and limited to Durham Region residents who qualify financially. People receiving Ontario Works, ODSP, Old Age Security with the Guaranteed Income Supplement, the War Veterans' Allowance, CPP where it's the main source of family income, or temporary WSIB benefits automatically qualify. Otherwise eligibility is based on family size, income, and assets, and you'll need to bring proof of income, photo ID, and any recent letter about your issue.
- Can DCLC help me with a landlord or eviction problem in Durham Region?
- Tenant rights is one of DCLC's core services, including representation, but that representation is for tenants only, not landlords. Walk-in advice on tenant matters is available weekday mornings through early afternoon at the Oshawa office.
- Does DCLC handle divorce, custody, or criminal charges?
- No. DCLC does not provide legal representation for criminal or family law. Residents who need help in those areas are directed to partner services, including Legal Aid Ontario's own family law, criminal law, and refugee law programs.
- Can I get a document notarized or commissioned at DCLC?
- Yes, notarizing and commissioning of documents is one of the clinic's specific services, available on weekday mornings and afternoons at the Oshawa office.
- How do I get started with DCLC?
- Contact the clinic by referral, phone, walk-in, or appointment. Intake staff gather your information first, and from there you may receive summary advice, a self-help kit, be retained as a client, or be referred to a community partner.
- Is the DCLC office accessible for people with disabilities?
- Legal Aid Ontario's directory lists the clinic as offering accessibility services for motor and mobility, visual, and auditory needs, as well as accommodating a support person. Contact the clinic ahead of a visit if you have specific accessibility needs.
Where to find them
200 John Street West, Unit B1, Oshawa, ON L1J 2B4 · 905-728-7321
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