Access to legal advice

What is it?

It is financial assistance provided by the Protecteur du citoyen to reimburse the cost of consulting a lawer of your choice.

Who qualifies for it?

According to the Act to facilitate the disclosure of wrongdoings relating to public bodies, the service is for anyone who:

• discloses a wrongdoing or wants to do so;
• cooperates, as a witness or respondent, in an audit or investigation stemming from a disclosure;
• conveys information to the Autorité des marchés publics or the Commission municipale du Québec.

What you need to know

Financial assistance is granted if your specific situation warrants legal assistance. The Protecteur du citoyen determines the terms for granting access to the service, especially the number of hours of legal counsel, on a case-by-case basis.

You must make a request for financial assistance to the Protecteur du citoyen before consulting a lawer.

For more information about the financial assistance granted by the Protecteur du citoyen, see the Terms and conditions for access to legal advice (PDF, French version).

Financial assistance

The financial assistance provided by the Protecteur du citoyen varies according to the nature and complexity of your case. It must be used within six months. Note that this assistance cannot be used to cover the costs of legal representation or the drafting of formal notices or proceedings.

Processing of requests

After receiving a request for access to legal advice, we:

• acknowledge receipt and contact you within two business days;
• examine the request’s admissibility;
• contact you again as needed to complete your file or obtain any documents of use;
• do all we can to finish analyzing your request and deliver our decision within 30 days of receiving it.

Not sure whether you qualify for access to legal advice through the Protecteur du citoyen? Feel free to contact us.