Key Instructions & Resources

Clients often feel that talking to the lawyer is the most important step. However, more often than not, there are additional resources that can provide you with helpful ongoing information and assistance. Using these resources will also make your appointment more organized and efficient.

Referrals usually depend on the area of law that reflects your legal issue. Please click on the links for our instructions and referrals in each area of law. If you have questions about referrals or areas of law, please give our office a call.

The best starting point for information on any legal issue is the Public Legal Education Association. Their website has helpful information on issues in nearly all areas of law. If you want to look at case law yourself, consult CanLii, the Canadian Legal Information Institute free case law database.

If you, and/or your legal matter is not in Saskatchewan, please refer to Pro Bono organizations in other provinces.

  1. Legal Aid Saskatchewan:
    Call Legal Aid Saskatchewan toll-free at 1 (800) 667-3764 to see whether you are eligible for their services. Legal Aid Saskatchewan provides a higher level of service than PBLS, but their income cut-off is lower.
  2. FamLi Website:
    If your matter involves separation, divorce, child custody, or support, we strongly encourage you to visit the Public Legal Education Association’s FamLi website. This website will guide you through the family law process by asking you a series of questions that it will use to create court forms.  Create a confidential and secure account, work at your own pace, and use your PBLS Free Legal Clinic appointment to ask strategic questions as required.  Using this site will make your family law experience significantly more efficient.
  3. Family Law Information Centre:
    If you need information on the family law process or have a specific question about the family law process, call the Government of Saskatchewan’s Family Law Information Centre toll-free at 1 (888) 218-2822. Leave them a voicemail message and have your family law questions answered quickly. They have developed helpful resources and kits for navigating court for family law matters. This service is very helpful to use if you have a question while navigating the FamLi website. Although they will provide information on the family law process, they will not provide strategic advice. If you prefer an in-person discussion, the Family Law Information Centre also provides in-person advice on a walk-in basis at the Court of Queen’s Bench Regina on most Wednesday mornings.
  4. Family Matters:
    If you are facing separation, divorce, support, or custody issues, the Government of Saskatchewan’s Family Matters program offers limited mediation services to help you avoid making applications in court. To access these services, please call 1 (844) 863-3408.
  5. Maintenance Enforcement Office:
    If your matter involves the enforcement of Child Support or Spousal Support, please contact the Ministry of Justice’s Maintenance Enforcement Office at (306) 787-8961.
  6. Child Support Service:
    For information on the amount of a parent’s child support obligations, please consult the Government of Canada Department of Justice’s Child Support Table Look-Up. If you have an order for child support but would like to recalculate it based on a change in circumstances, please contact the Government of Saskatchewan’s Child Support Service at (306) 787-5042.
  7. Family Law Screening Officers: Located at the Court of King’s Bench in Regina and Saskatoon, the Family Law Screening Officer’s can provide guidance on family law court processes. They are also trained to provide information and referral resources for those experiencing family violence. You can contact them in Saskatoon at 306-933-7303 and in Regina at 306-787-5418.
  8. Public Guardian and Trustee:
    If your matter involves guardianship or power of attorney, we encourage you to consult the Public Guardian and Trustee. On their website, you can find forms and guides relating to guardianship, powers of attorney, administration of estates, and more.

If you are under 18 and are having difficulty related to services from a provincial ministry or agency, please contact the Saskatchewan Advocate for Children and Youth toll-free at 1 (800) 322-7221.

  1. Legal Aid Saskatchewan:
    Call Legal Aid Saskatchewan toll-free at 1 (800) 667-3764 to see whether you are eligible for their services. Legal Aid Saskatchewan provides a significantly higher level of service than PBLS, but their income cut-off is lower.
  2. Confirmation of Appointment Letter:
    Sometimes, your first court date will happen before your PBLS Free Legal Clinic appointment. Make sure that you tell our intake worker about any court dates. If your court date falls before your appointment, we can provide you with a Confirmation of Appointment letter that you should present to the prosecutor and judge when requesting an adjournment, or delay, of your first appearance.  If you plan to ask for an adjournment, it is a good idea to contact the prosecutor’s office and let them know that you will be asking for an adjournment to get legal advice from PBLS.
  3. Request your Disclosure:
    Disclosure is a process where the prosecutor (lawyer for the government) provides you with a copy of the evidence against you. Getting and sharing the disclosure with the volunteer lawyer will help them give you the best advice possible.  Get your disclosure by calling the prosecutor’s office and request your disclosure, stating that you are representing yourself. Once you get it, please provide it to PBLS and they will make sure the lawyer you are meeting with gets it.
  4. PLEA Website:
    For information on a large variety of criminal charges and topics, please consult the Public Legal Education Association website.
  5. Saskatchewan Law Courts:
    For limited information on the court process, please consult the Saskatchewan Law Courts website.
  6. RCMP Complaints:
    For complaints regarding the conduct of RCMP officers, please contact The Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP toll-free at 1 (800) 665-6878. 
  7. Police Complaints:
    For complaints regarding the conduct of municipal police force officers, including the Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, and Weyburn police services, please contact the Saskatchewan Public Complaints Commission toll-free at 1 (866) 256-6194.
  8. Sexual Violence:
    If you are a survivor of sexual violence in Saskatchewan, you can receive 2 hours of free legal advice from the Listen Project.
  1. PLEA Website:
    The Public Legal Education Association provides free information on a variety of topics in this field including Wills and Estates, Deaths in the Family, and Powers of Attorney
  2. Public Guardian and Trustee:
    If your matter involves guardianship or power of attorney, we encourage you to consult the Public Guardian and Trustee.  On their website, you can find forms and guides relating to guardianship, powers of attorney, administration of estates, and more.
  1. NewLi:
    The Public Legal Education Association’s NewLi website     provides legal information for newcomers to Saskatchewan.
  2. Open Door Societies:
    The Regina Open Door Society and the Saskatoon Open Door Society are organization who provide programs and services for refuges and immigrants.
  3. The Government of Saskatchewan
    The Government of Saskatchewan website also has resources for refugees and immigrants in Saskatchewan.

Unlike governments in some other Canadian provinces, the Government of Saskatchewan does not fund Legal Aid Saskatchewan to assist in immigration and refugee matters.

  1. Employment Standards:
    The Employment Standards Division of the Government of Saskatchewan regulates the conduct of employers under The Saskatchewan Employment Act. If you feel that you have been wrongfully dismissed without adequate severance, if your employer has not paid you earned wages, or if your employer has otherwise acted unlawfully against you, please contact Employment Standards toll-free at 1 (800) 667-1783.
  2. Human Rights Complaint:
    If you feel that you have been discriminated against in the workplace, the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission may be able to assist through mediation, investigation, or court action. The Commission can be reached toll-free at 1 (800) 667-9249.
  3. Worker’s Compensation Board:
    If you have been injured at work, your issue may involve an application to the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board. The Office of the Workers’ Advocate provides assistance to those navigating the Workers’ Compensation system in Saskatchewan. They generally provide more extensive services than PBLS and we encourage all clients with workplace injury issues to contact their office for assistance. They can be reached toll-free at 1 (877) 787-2456.
  4. Labour Relations Board:
    If you are experiencing union-related issues, including union-busting or inadequate union representation, the Labour Relations Board may be able to help. They can be reached at 1 (306) 787-2406.
  5. Employment Insurance Advocacy:
    If you have any issues getting Employment Insurance, have been assessed a penalty or overpayment or wish to appeal a decision made by the Canada Employment & Insurance Commission, the Unemployed Workers Help Centre may help. They can be reached at 306-525-5138 in Regina o 306-382-8662 in Saskatoon.
  1. Debt Counselling:
    If your legal issue involves personal debt, insolvency, bankruptcy, or the enforcement of debts, we strongly encourage you to contact The Credit Counselling Society toll-free at 1 (888) 527-8999. This non-profit organization provides helpful advice and hands-on assistance in budgeting, refinancing, and dealing with lenders.  PBLS clients have reported a high rate of satisfaction with the work of this organization.
  2. Ombudsman:
    If you feel that you have been unfairly treated by a ministry or agency of the Government of Saskatchewan, we encourage you to contact Ombudsman Saskatchewan toll-free at 1 (800) 667-9787.
  3. Lawyer Complaint:
    If your legal issue involves work previously done by a lawyer, including issues surrounding fees and legal ethics, please contact the Law Society of Saskatchewan toll-free at 1 (833) 733-0133.
  4. Small Claims Court:
    If you have a civil claim that does not exceed $50,000 in value, you may bring an action at the Small Claims Court. See the website for more information, including the Small Claims process, template documents and court forms.
  5. Sexual Violence
    If you are a survivor of sexual violence that took place in Saskatchewan, you can receive 2 hours of free legal advice from the Listen Project. They can be reached at 1-855-258-9415.
  1. Landlord/Tenant Issue:
    If you are having issues related to housing, including landlord/tenant issues, please see the Public Legal Education Association’s website on the subject. See this Resource for information on what to do if you are facing eviction. If you have a landlord/tenant issue, please see the website of the Office of Residential Tenancies (ORT). The ORT can be reached toll-free at 1 (888) 215-2222.
  2. Human Rights Complaint:
    If you feel that you have been discriminated against in your housing, workplace, commercial activity, or another public area, the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission may be able to assist through mediation, investigation, or court action. Please see whether the Commission can help here. The Commission can be reached toll-free at 1 (800) 667-9249.
  3. SGI/Automobile Injury Appeal Commission:
    If your legal issue involves SGI or the Automobile Injury Appeal Commission, please contact the Office of the Workers’ Advocate at 1 (833) 233-1003.  They may be able to provide services beyond those offered by PBLS.
  4. Social Security Tribunal of Canada
    You can make Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement appeals to the Social Security Tribunal. They have a Contact Centre and a Navigator Service to support people through the appeal process. Contact the Social Security Tribunal at 1-877-227-8577.

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