West End Legal Services (“WELS”) is a community legal clinic that has been serving low income residents who live in
the west end of Ottawa, since 1981. To learn more about our history
click here.

We work with individuals, groups and service providers to make justice more accessible.

What We Do
Legal Advice
We provide free advice on a number of legal topics to low income persons who meet
our eligibility criteria. We work in the following legal areas:

CPP Disability
Immigration
Landlord and Tenant Law (Tenants only)
Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
Ontario Works/Welfare
Workers’ Compensation (WSIB)

For quick access to legal information, click on one of the topics listed at the
top of this page.

We do not work in the areas of criminal law or family law. For assistance with these
matters you must apply for a
legal aid certificate and hire a private bar lawyer.

If your question is a straightforward one we may be able to
help you over the phone. If it is a more complicated legal
matter we will schedule an appointment for you to meet with
one of our staff.

In addition to providing legal advice, our staff may be able to represent you at a hearing.
We represent people at hearings before a number of tribunals including:

Landlord and Tenant Board.
Social Benefits Tribunal (Ontario Works and ODSP).
Workplace Safety & Insurance Board and Appeals Tribunal.
Board of Referees and Umpire (employment insurance appeals).
Review Tribunal and Pension Appeals Board (CPP-Disability).
Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

Public Legal Education
To help make our clients aware of their legal rights and obligations, we offer workshops on a variety of legal topics. Workshops can be tailored to meet the specific needs of your group. We also have a wide range of free pamphlets and
other legal information available at our office.

Twice a year we publish
The Advocate, our clinic newsletter. This four-page newsletter contains information about our
areas of practice as well as what is new in the law.

For more information go to
Resources & Links.

Law Reform
Our law reform activities arise out of issues identified through an analysis of the clinic's caseload as well as those
identified by those served by the clinic. We work with the community and for the community to make changes to laws
and government policies that will benefit our clients and society as a whole.

We lobby the various levels of government through written and
oral submissions for changes to laws affecting low income individuals. We will also meet with government departments to
improve their service delivery to poor and disadvantaged groups.

Outreach and Community Development
We help to empower individuals and groups by helping them
organize to enforce their legal rights. For instance, we might
help a group of tenants form a tenants association to address
repair or rent issues.

For More Information        
For more information about our services.
To get legal advice.
To book an appointment.
To request printed material.
To arrange for a member of our staff to speak to your group.

Contact our office at 613-596-1641. We are available Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. We are closed every day from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. for lunch. We are closed to the public on Thursday afternoons.
Clinic Services
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WEST END LEGAL
SERVICES of OTTAWA
Serving Ottawa's west end since 1981
These Web Pages provide general information only and cannot be relied upon as legal advice. Laws change over time.
Applicability of the legal principles discussed may differ substantially in individual situations. You should seek legal assistance your particular situation.
1301 Richmond Road  Ottawa, ON   K2B 7Y4 - 613.596.1641
WELS is funded by
Legal Aid Ontario
CPP       Immigration       ODSP       Ontario Works/Welfare       Tenant Law       Workers' Compensation
OUR OFFICE HOURS
8:30-12:00/1:00-4:30
8:30-12:00/1:00-4:30
8:30-12:00/1:00-4:30
8:30-12:00/closed
8:30-12:00/1:00-4:30
Mon
Tues
Wed
Thurs
Fri
For assistance with Family
Law matters go to the
Famiy
Law Information Centre
located at the Ottawa
Courthouse (161 Elgin).

You can get free information
and help about issues related
to family matters, including
separation and divorce.
FAMILY LAW
INTERPRETER
If you do not speak English or
French be sure to bring
someone to translate for you
when you come for your first
appointment.