Willowdale Community Legal Services
3 lawyers · City of Toronto
One of 2,345 law firms listed in Toronto, and one of 369 handling Administrative & Regulatory Law.
Accepts Legal Aid
Free consultation
Accepts Legal AidFree consultationAbout Willowdale Community Legal Services
Clients rate this firm highly on Google.
Willowdale Community Legal Services is a community legal clinic in Toronto, funded by Legal Aid Ontario to give free legal help to income eligible residents. Its office sits at 245 Fairview Mall Drive, inside the Fairview Mall complex in the city's North York district. The clinic's catchment area runs east of Yonge Street, west of Victoria Park Avenue, south of Steeles Avenue and north of York Mills Road, taking in the Willowdale area and the blocks around it.
The clinic's lawyers and community legal workers handle housing and tenant disputes, Ontario Works and ODSP appeals, immigration matters, employment and employment insurance issues, debt and consumer problems, and federal and provincial benefit claims such as the Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security and Child Benefits. It doesn't take on family or criminal law files directly; family law clients are referred to Metro Toronto Family Law Services, criminal law clients are directed to Legal Aid Ontario, and survivors of domestic violence can be connected to emergency Legal Aid Ontario certificates. Services range from summary legal advice and document preparation through to representation at tribunals and court, plus public legal education workshops, and the clinic can arrange interpretation in Arabic, Chinese and Farsi alongside English.
Practice areas
In the community
- WCLS is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, elected each year by community members who join as clinic members.
- The clinic has committed to anti-racism work, including collecting voluntary demographic data from clients to help it understand who it's serving and connect them with appropriate services.
Good to know
Wheelchair accessible
Parking availableFees & payment
Free consultation
Legal aidLawyers 3
This firm’s lawyers at a glance
- Called to the bar
- 1992 · median 34 years in practice 1 of 3 lawyers
The neighbourhood
The clinic operates out of Suite 106 at 245 Fairview Mall Drive, inside the Fairview Mall complex in Toronto's North York district. Its defined catchment area, bounded by Yonge Street on the west, Victoria Park Avenue on the east, Steeles Avenue on the north and York Mills Road on the south, takes in the Willowdale neighbourhood and the surrounding blocks. Because the clinic's mandate covers housing, social assistance and immigration matters rather than criminal or civil trial work, its day to day business runs through the Landlord and Tenant Board and the Social Benefits Tribunal more often than a courthouse.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Willowdale Community Legal Services free?
- Yes. WCLS is a Legal Aid Ontario funded clinic, so its legal advice and representation are free to eligible clients, though a client may still have to cover case related costs like filing or report fees.
- What areas of law does WCLS handle?
- The clinic handles housing and tenant disputes, Ontario Works and ODSP appeals, immigration matters, employment and employment insurance issues, Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security claims, Child Benefits, and debt and consumer problems. It doesn't take on family or criminal law files.
- Am I in WCLS's service area?
- WCLS serves residents in a catchment area bounded by Yonge Street on the west, Victoria Park Avenue on the east, Steeles Avenue on the north and York Mills Road on the south, covering the Willowdale area of North York. Eligibility also depends on income and the type of legal problem.
- I lost my job and think I was treated unfairly, can WCLS help?
- Employment and employment insurance issues are one of the clinic's practice areas, so income eligible residents in its catchment area can get help with those claims.
- What if my legal problem is a family law matter?
- WCLS doesn't handle family law directly. It refers clients to Metro Toronto Family Law Services, and survivors of domestic violence can be connected to emergency Legal Aid Ontario certificates.
- Does WCLS offer help in languages other than English?
- Yes. WCLS provides services primarily in English, and interpreters can be arranged in Arabic, Chinese, Farsi and other languages on request.
Where to find them
245 Fairview Mall Dr. Suite 106, Toronto, ON M2J 4T1 · 416-492-2437
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Administrative & Regulatory LawLegal AidListing compiled from the firm’s public website in September 2026. Verify licence status in the Law Society of Ontario directory ↗