Free Legal Help for Alberta Small Claims: Clinics, Duty Counsel, and Student Services
You Do Not Need a Lawyer, but a Second Opinion Helps
The Alberta Court of Justice, Civil Division is designed for self-represented litigants — you can file, serve, and argue your own case without hiring anyone. But that does not mean you have to navigate every procedural question alone. Alberta has a network of free legal resources that can review your documents, explain your options, and flag mistakes before they become problems.
None of these services will run your case for you, and most have eligibility requirements. But knowing what exists — and what each one actually does — saves hours of searching when you need help most.
Civil Claims Duty Counsel
What it is: Free, brief legal assistance for self-represented litigants with Alberta Court of Justice civil matters in Calgary and Edmonton. Consultations are walk-in and first-come, first-served on scheduled program dates.
What they do: Free 30-minute consultations where a duty counsel lawyer can give legal advice, explain court procedures, help prepare or review documents, and help you prepare for trials, motions, and other appearances.
What they cannot do: The program does not assist with pre-trial conferences or mediations, and it does not provide ongoing representation of your file.
How to access it: Check the Pro Bono Law Alberta program calendar for the next scheduled date, then walk in at the courthouse. No appointment is needed, and assistance is first-come, first-served.
Calgary Legal Guidance (CLG)
What it is: A non-profit legal clinic in Calgary offering free legal advice to low-to-moderate-income residents.
What they do: Volunteer lawyers staff evening clinics (usually 30 to 45 minutes per appointment) covering civil disputes, including Court of Justice claims. They can review your draft Civil Claim, help you understand service requirements, and advise on evidence preparation.
Eligibility: Income-based. You must meet financial thresholds to qualify. Check CLG's website for current limits and intake procedures.
Limitations: Multi-week intake waitlists during busy periods. Limited appointment slots. They do not provide ongoing representation.
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Edmonton Community Legal Centre (ECLC)
What it is: Edmonton's equivalent to CLG — a non-profit offering free legal advice clinics.
What they do: Similar to CLG: volunteer lawyers provide advice on civil matters, including small claims procedure, demand letters, and evidence organization.
Eligibility: Income-based screening. Contact ECLC directly for current thresholds.
Student Legal Services (SLS) — Edmonton
What it is: A program run by University of Alberta law students, supervised by lawyers, that provides free legal assistance to low-income Edmontonians.
What they do: This is the most hands-on free service available. SLS caseworkers can act as agents in the Alberta Court of Justice for claims up to $100,000 — meaning they can appear with you or on your behalf at hearings. They also help with document preparation, filing, and service.
Eligibility: Strict financial screening. Capacity is tied to the academic year — fewer caseworkers available in summer.
Limitations: Limited total file capacity. Not every applicant gets accepted.
Student Legal Assistance (SLA) — Calgary
What it is: The University of Calgary equivalent of SLS, providing supervised law student legal assistance.
What they do: Similar to SLS — law student caseworkers assist with civil claims, including Court of Justice proceedings. They can act as agents at hearings.
Eligibility: Income-based screening. Academic-year capacity constraints apply.
Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta (CPLEA) / LawCentral
What it is: A province-wide public legal education organization. Their website, LawCentral Alberta, publishes plain-language guides on civil procedure, landlord-tenant law, debt collection, and more.
What they do: CPLEA produces guides, videos, and legal information fact sheets that explain Alberta court processes in accessible language. They also maintain a directory of legal resources across the province.
What they cannot do: Provide individualized legal advice, review your specific documents, or help you fill out forms. CPLEA is an information publisher, not a clinic.
Best for: Background reading when you are just starting to figure out the process. Read their materials, then book a duty counsel or clinic appointment for case-specific advice.
Legal Aid Alberta
What it is: The provincial legal aid program funded by the Government of Alberta.
What they do: Legal Aid Alberta primarily covers criminal, family, and immigration matters. Civil claims in the Court of Justice are generally not covered by legal aid — the program's mandate focuses on matters where liberty or safety is at risk.
Civil services: Legal Aid Alberta's stated civil-law service is adult guardianship and trusteeship. It does not assist with ordinary lawsuits or landlord-tenant issues. Its family violence program can help eligible clients obtain an Emergency Protection Order.
What These Services Cannot Replace
Free services fill specific gaps — a 30-minute review, a procedural question answered, a document checked for obvious errors. They do not provide the structured, step-by-step workflow that carries you from the demand letter through filing, service, evidence preparation, the hearing, and judgment enforcement.
Our Alberta Civil Claim Guide covers that full process with form-by-form instructions, deadline tracking, and evidence preparation checklists — the operational layer between free advice and going it alone.
Get Your Free Alberta Civil Claim Filing Checklist
Download the Alberta Civil Claim Filing Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.