Quebecers can get free legal advice by phone this weekend

A lawyer in the corridors of the Quebec City courthouse on June 23, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

Quebecers will have access this weekend, April 18 and 19, to free legal consultations offered by roughly 60 volunteer lawyers and notaries as part of the Telephone Legal Clinic organized by the Young Bar of Montreal (JBM).

The organization, which holds the clinic in partnership with the Quebec Bar, the Montreal Bar and the Legal Information Access Centre, responded to nearly 3,500 requests at the last edition of the event.

“There are many people who don’t qualify for legal aid but for whom legal fees would be very high. So we really see strong interest when initiatives like this are free or low-cost, allowing people to access legal services and advice,” said Andrée-Anne Dion, president of the JBM.

All areas of law

The advice offered covers a wide range of legal fields and areas of expertise. A few examples from a non-exhaustive list: family law, covering questions about spousal support, child custody and the rights of common-law partners; labour law, for issues such as wrongful dismissal and workplace harassment; housing law, particularly timely as lease renewals approach; as well as immigration law, tax law, and civil litigation covering neighbour disputes, estates, wills, inheritance and more.

Dion, who practises criminal law, notes that volunteer lawyers are also consulted on penal and criminal matters — even something as straightforward as how to prepare a challenge and build a case to contest a traffic ticket — but also for far more serious matters.

“We get a lot of questions from people who, either themselves or someone in their family, was arrested in recent weeks and have questions about the process and what the next steps will look like. A lot of people are very stressed by what they’re going through, and just explaining things helps in some way because they have a better sense of what may be coming. We also hear from people who are victims of criminal acts and are wondering about the process for filing a complaint.”

This is the 46th edition of the clinic, which runs twice a year, in spring and fall. The Young Bar has been running this initiative for more than 30 years, though the count reaches 46 because it was originally held only once a year.

High demand

The volume has been increased because the demand is there, Dion noted.

“What this has shown us is that there’s a real need. People aren’t quite sure how to approach legal matters or how to approach a lawyer. They wonder whether it’s worth it, whether they have any recourse. Allowing that brief, accessible point of contact helps people demystify, to some degree, their relationship with the justice system and with lawyers,” he said.

Consultations typically last 10 to 20 minutes, though the lawyers sometimes go further, said Dion.

“When there are questions we can’t answer on the day itself, we tell people we’ll make sure to call them back within the following week or two.”

The Young Bar notes that recent news may have raised questions for many people across a range of areas. For example, volunteer lawyers will be able to guide callers on the Skilled Worker Selection Program in immigration matters — pending, of course, the details of what incoming Premier Christine Fréchette intends to do with the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ).

In family law, a new parental union law that came into force last June changes the rules for common-law couples with children. On the environmental front, new rules now govern activities near lakes, rivers and flood zones.

These are just a few examples of legal developments that may be prompting questions among the public.

Anyone wishing to receive free advice through the Telephone Legal Clinic can call 1 [phone] this Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

- This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on April 16, 2026.