Pro bono as a vector for greater access to justice in Quebec

Through its social impact mission, Novalex supports low-income individuals, NPOs and eligible social enterprises on a pro bono basis.

Determine your eligibility

A social economy initiative for the legal sector

The Novalex Legal Clinic is a non-profit organization that provides pro bono legal services to eligible individuals, NPOs and social enterprises through the Novalex Law Firm*. The Clinic also provides legal information through workshops and conferences. For every hour of professional fees received from Novalex Law Firm’s business clients, one free hour is offered by the same experienced team of lawyers to an individual, NPO, cooperative or social impact enterprise that would not otherwise have access to a lawyer.

*Some exceptions apply, please contact us.

A quick process

Determine your eligibility

Individuals
You must be in a financial situation that prevents you from paying the cost of your legal services. Depending on your family situation, you may be eligible if you earn less than the maximum annual income as indicated below:

Single person – $48,000
Family composed of one adult and one child – $59,000
Family composed of one adult and two childs or more children – $63,000
Family composed of two spouses without children – $67,000
Family composed of two spouse and one child – $75,000
Family composed of two spouses and two or more children – $79,000

NPOs and Cooperatives
You must be a non-profit organization or cooperative with a strong impact in the community and have an operating budget that did not exceed $500,000 in the year prior to application.

Social Enterprises
You must be a high-impact social business in operation for less than 5 years, whose operating budget has not exceeded $500,000 in the year prior to application, and whose shareholders or partners have earned gross income before taxes of less than $40,000 in the year prior to application.

Disclaimer of Liability
You must have an individual, social or administrative right to assert in civil or commercial matters.
If so, you will be responsible for all court costs (e.g., court stamps, service of process, expert fees if required, etc.) and all incidental costs related to your case (e.g., long distance telephone charges, postage and courier, computer searches, printing and copying, travel expenses and filing fees). If your case is eligible, you will be required to deposit a deposit in trust as a condition of taking over your case.

Make your request

Be sure to send us all relevant information at least four (4) weeks prior to any court date, if applicable, or any other action to be taken in your case.

We will review your request as soon as possible.

Novalex may refuse to take on your file, if we are not able to provide services in the area of law relevant to your file, in the event of a conflict of interests, or if our quantity of requests is too high for us to be able to assist you.