ABOUT US
Waterloo Region Community Legal Services (WRCLS) is a non-profit organization that provides free legal services to low-income residents of the Waterloo region.
WRCLS’s hope and vision is for the Waterloo Region to become a place where everyone has equal access to justice and to the supports necessary to improve their quality of life.
Since 1980, they have been serving the entire Waterloo region, including the cities of Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge, and the townships of Wilmot, Wellesley, Woolwich, and North Dumfries. They are one of 76 community legal clinics across the province funded by Legal Aid Ontario.
The WRCLS team is made up of seven lawyers, two paralegals, an Indigenous Justice Coordinator, a social worker, two community development workers, two community legal workers, and two legal support staff – providing a full range of legal and non-legal services.
WRCLS is also active in advocating for social justice, law reform and community development initiatives. In 2022, WRCLS represented encampment residents at 100 Victoria St. N., Kitchener in court to fight Waterloo Region’s encampment eviction. They have also been involved in other social justice causes such as Stop the Cuts to Uninsured Healthcare, the Roos Island Encampment eviction, and Basic Income Waterloo Region. Outreach to rural communities, migrant workers, and unhoused communities has also been a key aspect of the community development work.
WRCLS‘s main office is located at 450 Frederick Street, Unit 101, Kitchener. They are open to the public by telephone or by appointment from Monday to Friday between 8:30 am – 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm. They are open for walk-in services from Tuesday to Thursday between 8:30 am – 12pm and 1:00 – 3:00 pm.
WRCLS also provides in-person appointments and walk-in services in Cambridge at Lang’s (1145 Concession Road, Cambridge, Room N206) from Monday to Friday between 8:30 am – 4:00 pm.
For more information, contact WRCLS at 519-743-0254 or wrcls.ca/web-contact-form
You can also check out their online resources at wrcls.ca/resources or youtube.com/@WRlegalservices/videos
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
WRCLS is governed by a Board of Directors made up of dedicated community members.
If you are interested in joining the Board of Directors please click here.
What Kinds Of Legal Problems Can WRCLS Help With?
We spend most of our time helping people in the following areas:
We do not deal with matters concerning the following areas:
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Injuries Compensation / Personal Injury
- Estates Law
- Family Law
For other areas of law, consider some of these options:
Legal Aid Ontario (LAO)
Contact LAO toll-free at 1-800-668-8258 for a certificate for criminal, family, or immigration law matters.
Law Society Referral Service (LSRS)
The LSRS will connect you with a lawyer or licensed paralegal that will provide a free consultation of up to 30 minutes. You can access this service by visiting their website at www.lawsocietyreferralservice.ca.
Steps to Justice
Free, practical, and plain language legal information for people in Ontario:
www.stepstojustice.ca
Waterloo Region Law Association
Find a lawyer or paralegal
https://www.waterloolaw.org
