Who We Are
People in Ontario continue to face discrimination — it could be based on a disability or based on their race, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, or on any of the other identified characteristics set out in Ontario’s Human Rights Code. We are here to help.
Land Acknowledgement
The HRLSC provides services throughout Ontario and has lawyers located in Toronto, Guelph, Hamilton, London, Thunder Bay, and Windsor. Accordingly, we acknowledge our presence on the traditional territories of the Wendat, the Haudenosaunee, and Anishinaabeg, Attawandaron and Leni-Lunaape, the Métis homeland and particularly the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. The place now called Ontario is home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work and operate in this land.
The HRLSC also recognizes and acknowledges we are in the territory subject to the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement between the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the Anishinaabeg and allied nations to peaceably share and care for the land and waters of the Great Lakes region.
What We Do
Our services are offered individually at each stage of a human rights dispute. We offer legal advice and support services to clients looking for early resolutions. We advise clients looking to file a human rights application on the HRTO process and the merits of individual cases. We also provide legal representation at various proceedings at the HRTO and through judicial reviews.
At HRLSC, we:
- Help people claim and protect their rights
- Provide advice on our telephone inquiries line
- Assist people to file human rights applications
- Represent applicants at mediations, hearings and follow-up enforcements of decisions and settlements at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO)
As winners of the 2018 Amethyst Award, we’ve been recognized for our service excellence within Ontario’s Public Service. We continue this commitment to excellence in the legal advice and support services we provide to people across the province every day. To learn more, read:
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HRLSC’s Brochure
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HRLSC’s Indigenous Services Brochure
About Our Staff
The HRLSC is headquartered in Toronto, and has lawyers in Guelph, Windsor, London and Thunder Bay. Our team of staff includes lawyers, paralegals, human rights advisors and representatives, legal case coordinators as well as administrative and management staff. This structure allows our team to share information, skills and resources and to problem-solve together in small groups.
Together, we have expertise in:
- Human rights
- Labour
- Civil litigation
- Administrative law
Our lawyers and paralegal staff have employment and volunteer work at a range of Provincial government services and agencies, local legal clinics, advocacy and social justice organizations.
Outreach and Continuing Legal Education
Our staff, including members of our legal counsel, our Indigenous Services Outreach Committee, and the Sexual Harassment and Resource Exchange (SHARE) team are all available to participate in continuing legal education conferences and public legal education events. Please contact us at aursel@hrlsc.on.ca if you would like one of our staff to participate in a professional development or community education forum. Staff biographies are available on request.