Programs & Services > New Directions > Legal Clinics FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions: Legal Clinics
New Directions (ND), a department of the Family Service Association of Toronto, provides specialized services for women who have experienced the loss of an intimate life partner through separation, divorce, bereavement, or the ending of a same-sex or common-law relationship. Our work focuses on helping women meet the challenges and tasks of the loss experience.
New Directions relies on donations from individuals and foundations and the large number of women who volunteer their time to help other women. The lawyers staffing the clinic donate their time.
- What is family law?
- How does NEW DIRECTIONS help women?
- What happens at a NEW DIRECTIONS legal clinic?
- Who can attend the legal clinic?
- How long is the consultation? Who attends the consultation?
- Will the lawyer represent me in legal proceedings? Do I have to hire the NEW DIRECTIONS lawyer?
- Is the service confidential?
- How can I best use the ½ hour consultation? What should I bring with me to the consultation?
- Can I have a second consultation?
- Why do I have to come 15 minutes early?
- Does NEW DIRECTIONS provide child care and transportation subsidies?
- Where is the NEW DIRECTIONS office? Consultation sessions are late day/early evening. Is the area safe for women?
- What training and credentials do the staff have?
- How do I make an appointment for a legal consultation?
- What have other women said about the legal clinic consultations?
What is family law?
Family law deals with the dissolution of legal and common-law marriages. It also deals with the division of marital assets and debts, spousal support and parenting plans (child custody and access issues).
How does NEW DIRECTIONS help women?
ND services are designed to help women understand and deal with the tasks that follow the loss of an intimate life partner. In our legal clinics, women receive one half hour of free confidential legal consultation on family law matters. The legal clinics focus on:
- Increasing women’s understanding of the legal process,
- Reviewing legal expectations of separating and divorcing people including issues such as cohabitation or parenting plans,
- Describing how issues are likely to be addressed by the legal system, and
- Discussing the options for managing family law concerns.
Our staff can make referrals to family law specialists in the community for individual representation.
What happens at a NEW DIRECTIONS legal clinic?
Women are provided with a confidential individual legal consultation with a family law specialist who volunteers her time. She can provide an overview of your legal situation and the legal options available to you. Our lawyers are all members of the Law Society of Upper Canada and volunteer their time in the clinic to help other women.
Who can attend the legal clinic?
Any woman with family law questions related to separation or divorce is eligible to attend the clinic. You do not need to be legally married and you may still be living with your partner. It is not possible, however, for you to attend the clinic with your partner.
How long is the consultation? Who attends the consultation?
Consultation appointments are usually one hour. Each woman spends ½ hour with the lawyer and 15 minutes before and afterwards with a New Directions support volunteer. There are four appointments available during each clinic. The first appointment is at 6 pm. Normally, the only people in the session are you and the lawyer. You may request that a translator be present and occasionally women have included a trusted friend or family member be included in the consultation.
Will the lawyer represent me in legal proceedings? Do I have to hire the NEW DIRECTIONS lawyer?
The clinic lawyer only provides the consultation session. She is not soliciting business and will not give you a business card. If you need a lawyer, we can refer you to family law specialists in the community. Agency policy requires us to provide you with the names of at least three private practitioners. You are under no obligation to hire the lawyer who provided the consultation.
Is the service confidential?
All services provided by our agency are confidential. Your written permission is required to communicate with anyone. On occasion, women may meet other women they know at the agency. Should this situation arise, tell the program coordinator so that she can ensure your privacy is protected.
How can I best use the ½ hour consultation? What should I bring with me to the consultation?
We recommend you bring a list of questions that can provide a focus for your meeting with the lawyer. Feel free to bring any court documents or other materials that will help the lawyer to understand your legal situation. It is usually helpful to take notes during the consultation. If you already have hired a lawyer you may still attend the legal clinic but the clinic lawyer will not review or comment on the work of your lawyer. She also will not review separation agreements or fill out legal forms.
Can I have a second consultation?
Women can request a second consultation but the legal clinic is not a substitute for hiring a lawyer.
Why do I have to come 15 minutes early?
You will be asked to complete some paperwork before seeing the lawyer. The legal clinic support volunteer will meet with you before your consultation to answer your questions. Some women are anxious about talking with a lawyer and our volunteers are trained to provide support and encouragement. She will also give you information about other agency services that may be helpful to you.
Does NEW DIRECTIONS provide child care and transportation subsidies?
There is no on-site child care. Child care and transportation subsidies are available. Please contact the New Directions program coordinator or the legal clinic support volunteer for details.
Where is the NEW DIRECTIONS office? Consultation sessions are late day/early evening. Is the area safe for women?
We are located in Lawrence Square, Lawrence Avenue West, beside the Allen Road. The Lawrence West Subway Station on the Yonge-University-Spadina line is across the road. Three hours of free surface parking is available at all times surrounding the stores in the mall. The parking area and the mall are monitored by security.
What training and credentials do the staff have?
Lawyers volunteering in the clinic are members in good standing of the Law Society of Upper Canada and licensed to practice in the Province of Ontario. The program manager and the program coordinator are trained at the post-graduate level and have many years of experience working with women. Our volunteers are trained and supervised by agency staff and they all demonstrate a unique sensitivity and understanding of the issues that impact women who are separating or divorcing.
How do I make an appointment for a legal consultation?
Legal clinics operate throughout the year. Contact our Service Access Unit at 416.595.9618 to request a clinic appointment. You will be offered the first available legal clinic appointment. With your permission, the appointment will be reconfirmed by telephone.
What have other women said about the legal clinic consultations?
"Because of the information [I received], I can move forward and know what direction I need to go."
The lawyer was able to help me see more of the reality of my situation and put me at ease regarding the threats of my spouse concerning property, support, custody, etc."
"I found [the lawyer’s] input clearly knowledgeable with regards to the law but more importantly clearly based in knowledge regarding women’s issues….I am so happy that this service is available to all women, regardless of financial resources."
"[The lawyer was] very precise and genuine, sympathetic, resourceful, very helpful; [she] gave me strength."
"This session shines some light on the ‘scary’ legal aspects of separation. [It’s a] good guide to what is next."
