Quebecers can get free legal advice this weekend

Quebecers with legal questions will be able to benefit from free advice this weekend from lawyers and notaries who will be available by phone to answer their concerns.

Andrée-Anne Dion, president of the Young Bar Association of Montreal, says it can be hard to meet with a lawyer due to costs, wait time, or the possibility of having to go to court.

The organization’s 45th Legal Clinic, held on Saturday and Sunday, attempts to demystify this relationship with legal professionals.

“The goal is to show people that it can be easy to get information, talk to a lawyer and build trust with people,” she explained in an interview with The Canadian Press.

Whether it’s questions about a rent increase, a divorce situation, or neighbourhood disputes, legal professionals will be available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1 (844) 779-6232.

More than 50 lawyers and notaries will be providing this advice on a volunteer basis.

Dion expects to receive between 1,000 and 2,000 calls over the weekend.

“Since 2010, we estimate that we have answered approximately 24,000 calls,” she said.

According to her, the need is constant at each session of the clinic, which is held twice a year.

“People ask a lot of questions related to situations they experience in their daily lives, which don’t affect them on a one-off basis, but which come up a lot,” said Dion.

She adds access to justice is not always simple, especially when there are several legislative changes taking place.

“Sometimes people don’t necessarily know where to go to find information,” explained Dion. “Sometimes, too, we only hear about it once the change has come into effect, so people don’t have a chance to prepare.”

Calls generally last 15 to 20 minutes, but if more complex issues are discussed, lawyers and notaries may follow up in the weeks that follow or refer people to regional resources.

And it’s not just Quebecers who benefit from these calls. Lawyers and notaries also benefit, Dion points out.

“We learn from it too. Sometimes it allows us to work on our knowledge and explore topics that are in our field but that we haven’t had to explore in the past,” she said.

“It’s really nice to see how we can help people more directly. It’s rewarding to see that we can help someone and maybe make a difference,” she added.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews