The Law Society strongly recommends using the services of a lawyer for all legal processes. Lawyers have the training and experience to help you navigate through the legal system.
For further information on how to hire a lawyer, or for specific legal advice, please contact the Public Legal Information Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (PLIAN).
The following links serve as guides that provide basic information on the criminal and civil law processes in Newfoundland and Labrador and in Canada that may be beneficial to you should you choose to represent yourself as a self-represented litigant (SLR).
Disclaimer: This web-guide for self-represented litigants is intended to provide law-related information using language that is easy to understand. The information provided is intended to supply general information only; it is not legal advice.
It is the responsibility of the reviewer to ensure that the information is applicable to their specific situation and acceptable in the Newfoundland and Labrador courts. These websites are not intended to form the basis of legal advice of any kind.
The Law Society does not verify the accuracy of any of the information contained in external links.
Individuals seeking specific legal advice should consult a lawyer. Please refer to the PLIAN link above.
| Provider | Title | Description | URL |
| Supreme Court of Newfoundland | Information for Parties | Guidelines/key resources/courtroom etiquette/FAQs | https://www.court.nl.ca/supreme/info-parties/ |
| Getting Legal Assistance | Guidelines/what can & cannot be provided by provided by Court Registry | https://www.court.nl.ca/supreme/info-parties/getting-legal-assistance/ | |
| Provincial Court of Newfoundland | Definitions | Definitions for common legal terms used in court | https://court.nl.ca/provincial/goingtocourt/ definitions.html |
| Etiquette & Procedures | Guidelines for etiquette for provincial court | https://court.nl.ca/provincial/goingtocourt/ etiquette.html | |
| Frequently Asked Questions | FAQs for various levels of provincial court | https://court.nl.ca/provincial/goingtocourt/ faq.html | |
| Law Society of Alberta | Glossary of Terms | Definitions for common legal terms used in the court process | https://www.lawsociety.ab.ca/resource-centre/public-resources/working-with-a-lawyer/glossary-of-terms/ |
| Government of Canada | Canada’s System of Justice | All about the justice system in Canada | https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/csj-sjc/ index.html |
| Canadian Judicial Council | Resource Centre | Gateway to learning about Canada’s court system | https://cjc-ccm.ca/en/resources-center |
| Filing a Complaint | Online form to file a complaint against Supreme Court/Court of Appeal/Federal judges | https://cjc-ccm.ca/en/resources-center/filing-complaint | |
| Reading and Understanding Case Reports | Teaches SRLs how to read and understand reported court decisions | https://representingyourselfcanada.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Reading-A-Case-Primer.pdf | |
| Canadian Judicial Council | Civil Law Handbook | https://cjc-ccm.ca/sites/default/files/documents/2021/Civil%20handbook%20-%20English%20MASTER%20FINAL%202021-03-30.pdf | |
| Supreme Court of Canada | Information & Resources for Self-Representing Litigants | Information for those who wish to appeal to the SCC – includes forms | https://www.scc-csc.ca/unrep-nonrep/app-dem/index-eng.aspx |
| Archived Webcasts | Archived webcasts of SCC hearings from 2009+ | https://www.scc-csc.ca/case-dossier/info/webcasts-webdiffusions-eng.aspx | |
| National Self-Represented Litigants Project | Coping with the Courtroom: Essentials Tips & Information for Self-Represented Litigants | Online PDF | https://representingyourselfcanada.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/nsrlp-coping-with-the-courtroom-2014-07-2016-05.pdf |
| Navigating the Justice System: A Guide for Self-Represented Litigants with Disabilities | Guide for self-reps who have a disability | https://representingyourselfcanada.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PWD-Primer.pdf | |
| “My Learned Friend”: Constructive Working Relationships Between Self-Represented Litigants & Opposing Counsel | Working with the other parties’ lawyer/representative as a self-rep | https://representingyourselfcanada.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/MY-LEARNED-FRIENDFinal-1022016.pdf | |
| The McKenzie Friend: Choosing & Presenting a Courtroom Companion | SLR’s are allowed to apply to have a support person attend court with them – explains processes, issues, and requirements | https://representingyourselfcanada.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/McKenzie-Friend-FINAL.pdf | |
| CanLII | The CanLII Primer | Legal Research Principles and CanLII Navigation for Self-Represented Litigants | https://representingyourselfcanada.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/NSRLP-CanLII-Primer-V1.pdf |
| Canadian Civil Liberties Association | Resources on police record checks | Information & tools regarding record checks | https://ccla.org/recordchecks/resources/ |
| Legalline | Free legal answers on over 1600 topics | Organized by province & available in 107 languages | https://www.legalline.ca/ |
| Provider | Title | Description | URL |
| Public Legal Information Association of Newfoundland & Labrador | Family Law | Guides | https://publiclegalinfo.com/ |
| Separation & Divorce: A Guide for Kids | https://publiclegalinfo.com/separation-divorce-guide-for-kids/ | ||
| Separation & Divorce: Protect Yourself | https://publiclegalinfo.com/how-to-protect-yourself-from-the-fallout-of-separation-and-divorce/ | ||
| Separation & Divorce: Protecting Your Children | https://publiclegalinfo.com/how-to-protect-your-children-from-the-fallout-of-separation-and-divorce/ | ||
| Child Support | https://publiclegalinfo.com/child-support/ | ||
| Family Violence | https://publiclegalinfo.com/family-violence/ | ||
| Emergency Protection Orders | https://publiclegalinfo.com/emergency-protection-order/ | ||
| Grandparent’s Rights in Family Court | https://publiclegalinfo.com/grandparents-rights-in-family-court/ | ||
| Family Law Court Form Builder | Tool for completing family law forms for court in Newfoundland | https://publiclegalinfo.com/family-law-form-builder/ | |
| Canadian Judicial Council | Family Law Handbook | https://cjc-ccm.ca/sites/default/files/documents/2021/Family%20Handbook%20-%20ENGLISH%20MASTER%20FINAL%202021-03-30.pdf | |
| Canadian Legal Information Institute (CANLII) | Free database for cases, legislation, & legal commentary | www.canlii.org | |
| Government of Newfoundland & Labrador | Justice & Public Safety | Forms for Family Justice Services | https://www.justice.gov.nl.ca/just/forms/ #Support_Enforcement |
| Supportcalculator.ca | Spousal support calculator for Canada | Same data as DivorceMate | https://www.mysupportcalculator.ca/ |
| Childsupportcalculator.ca | Child support calculator for Canada | Online calculator & easy child support table searching | https://www.childsupportcalculator.ca/ |
| The Canadian Bar Association | Successfully Parenting Apart: A Toolkit | How to co-parent a child after divorce/separation | http://www.cba.org/CBAMediaLibrary/cba_na/ PDFs /Sections/ SuccessfullyParentingFinalEng-Accessible.pdf |
| Government of Canada | Stop Family Violence | Website providing one-stop source of information | https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/stop-family-violence.html |
| Elder Abuse is Wrong | Online booklet | https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/cj-jp/fv-vf/eaw-mai/index.html |
| Provider | Title | Description | URL |
| Public Legal Association of Newfoundland & Labrador | Wills & Estates | Information about wills | https://publiclegalinfo.com/wills-estates/ |
| Canadian Legal Information Institute (CANLII) | Free database for cases, legislation, & legal commentary | www.canlii.org |
| Provider | Title | Description | URL |
| Public Legal Association of Newfoundland & Labrador | Criminal Law | Guides | https://publiclegalinfo.com/ |
| Victim Support | https://publiclegalinfo.com/victim-support/ | ||
| Legal Aid | https://publiclegalinfo.com/legal-aid/ | ||
| Bail | https://publiclegalinfo.com/bail/ | ||
| Probation | https://publiclegalinfo.com/probation/ | ||
| Canadian Judicial Council | Criminal Law Handbook | https://cjc-ccm.ca/sites/default/files/documents/2021/Criminal%20%20handbook%20-%20English%20MASTER%20FINAL%202021-03-30.pdf | |
| Canadian Legal Information Institute (CANLII) | Free database for cases, legislation, & legal commentary | www.canlii.org | |
| Innocence Canada | Record Suspension (Pardon) | Infographics & videos – criminal law | |
| Steps to Justice (CLEO) | Criminal Law |
Answers to common questions regarding criminal law from rights of an arrested person to types of charges to Indigenous rights to going to court
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https://stepstojustice.ca/legal-topic/criminal-law/ |
| Government of Canada | Youth Records | General information on youth records under the YCJA | https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/cj-jp/yj-jj/tools-outils/sheets-feuillets/recor-dossi.html |
| Provider | Title | Description | URL |
| Public Legal Association of Newfoundland & Labrador | Residential Tenancies | Guides | https://publiclegalinfo.com/ |
| Tenants | https://publiclegalinfo.com/tenants/ | ||
| Landlords | https://publiclegalinfo.com/landlords/ | ||
| The Residential Tenancies Board | https://publiclegalinfo.com/the-residential-tenancies-board/ | ||
| Canadian Legal Information Institute (CANLII) | Free database for cases, legislation, & legal commentary | www.canlii.org |
| Provider | Title | Description | URL |
| Public Legal Association of Newfoundland & Labrador | Small Claims | https://publiclegalinfo.com/small-claims/ | |
| Canadian Legal Information Institute (CANLII) | Free database for cases, legislation, & legal commentary | www.canlii.org |
| Provider | Title | Description | URL |
| Steps to Justice (CLEO) | Employment and Work |
Answers to common questions regarding employment law from getting hired to rights and responsibilities at work to migrant workers rights *Note: only Federal information applies in Newfoundland and Labrador, anything that refers to Ontario legislation or boards does not apply |
https://stepstojustice.ca/legal-topic/employment-and-work/ |
| Employment Insurance |
Answers to common questions about illness, termination, and Employment Insurance Benefits *Note: only Federal information applies in Newfoundland and Labrador, anything that refers to Ontario legislation or boards does not apply |
https://stepstojustice.ca/legal-topic/employment-and-work/employment-insurance/
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| Income Assistance: Old Age Security |
Answers to common questions about benefits for seniors *Note: only Federal information applies in Newfoundland and Labrador, anything that refers to Ontario legislation or boards does not apply |
https://stepstojustice.ca/legal-topic/income-assistance/old-age-security/ | |
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Income Assistance: Canada Pension Plan (CPP) / Canada Pension Plan disability benefits
|
Answers to common questions about Canada Pension Plan Benefits *Note: only Federal information applies in Newfoundland and Labrador, anything that refers to Ontario legislation or boards does not apply |
https://stepstojustice.ca/legal-topic/income-assistance/canada-pension-plan/ |
| Provider | Title | Description | URL |
| Steps to Justice (CLEO) | Immigration Law |
Answers to common questions regarding immigration law from rights and responsibilities to sponsoring family to the path to permanent citizenship *Note: only Federal information applies in Newfoundland and Labrador, anything that refers to Ontario legislation or boards does not apply |
https://stepstojustice.ca/legal-topic/immigration/ |
| Refugee Law |
Answers to common questions regarding refugee law from rights and responsibilities to applying for the right to stay to the path to permanent citizenship *Note: only Federal information applies in Newfoundland and Labrador, anything that refers to Ontario legislation or boards does not apply |
https://stepstojustice.ca/legal-topic/refugee-law/ |
| Provider | Title | Description | URL |
| Public Legal Association of Newfoundland & Labrador | Various topics | https://publiclegalinfo.com/ | |
| Government of Newfoundland & Labrador – Justice & Public Safety | Various topics | https://www.justice.gov.nl.ca/just/ | |
| Canadian Bar Association | Class Action Database | Open access database of court documents for Canadian class action lawsuits | http://www.cba.org/Publications-Resources/Class-Action-Database |
| Canadian Intellectual Property Office | A Guide to Copyright | Guide for exploring & obtaining a copyright | http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr02281.html |
| Trademarks Guide | Guide for exploring & obtaining a trademark | http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr02360.html | |
| Steps to Justice (CLEO) | Debt and Consumer Rights: Bankruptcy |
Answers to common questions regarding bankruptcy including the process, options other than bankruptcy, and working with a Licensed Insolvency Trustee? *Note: only Federal information applies in Newfoundland and Labrador, anything that refers to Ontario legislation or boards does not apply |
https://stepstojustice.ca/legal-topic/debt-and-consumer-rights/bankruptcy/ |
Call us at (709) 753-7770 or 1-800-984-7770 or by email lawlibrary@lnsl.ca