Community Legal Clinic Of York Region

What Community Legal Clinic Of York Region does

The Community Legal Clinic of York Region (CLCYR) is a not-for-profit community legal clinic founded in 1992 and headquartered in Richmond Hill, Ontario, with a second office opened in Newmarket in 2025. It delivers free legal advice, summary legal services, document preparation, and direct representation before administrative tribunals and courts to low-income residents of the nine-municipality York Region catchment. Practice areas cover Housing Law (including Tenant Duty Counsel at the Landlord and Tenant Board and the Eviction Prevention Program), Social Assistance (Ontario Works, ODSP, CPP Disability), Employment Law (ESA, EI, wrongful dismissal, WSIB, human rights), Immigration Law (humanitarian applications, status regularization, sponsorship, excluding refugee claims), and Services for Victims of Crime. Services are delivered through two physical offices, phone and email, a 24/7 online intake form, and recurring pop-up clinics at community locations across the catchment, supplemented by public legal education sessions.

Underlying technology is limited to a case management system for poverty law matters; the clinic embeds CLEO's Steps to Justice legal information platform within its website but does not develop proprietary technology, AI, or digital products. The clinic is staffed by approximately 20 named professionals including lawyers, licensed paralegals, a registered social worker, and administrative staff, led by Executive Director Jeff Schlemmer and Director of Legal Services Michelle Sutherland, and is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors elected annually from the membership.

The business model is government grant-funded rather than commercial: Legal Aid Ontario is the primary operational funder under its statutory community legal clinic mandate, with York Region providing supplementary funding specifically for the Eviction Prevention Program. All services are free to eligible low-income residents, with eligibility based on family size, income thresholds, or automatic qualification through receipt of ODSP, OAS/GIS, War Veterans' Allowance, CPP, or WSIB benefits. The go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on outreach via pop-up clinics at community events, partner-agency referrals (211 Ontario, Access York, Blue Door Shelters, Welcome Centre), social media presence (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter), and word-of-mouth. The clinic also engages in law reform and public interest litigation as part of its systemic advocacy mandate.

Name

Community Legal Clinic Of York Region

Legal name

Community Legal Clinic of York Region

Website

https://clcyr.on.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Community Legal Clinic of York Region is a not-for-profit legal aid clinic that provides free legal advice, representation, and advocacy in housing, social assistance, employment, and immigration matters to low-income residents of York Region, Ontario, primarily funded by Legal Aid Ontario.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Aid / Community Legal Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAEAM

Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYBPAGALAC

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Enterprises & Impact Organizations

Keywords

• Poverty law services
• Legal aid clinic
• Housing law representation
• Social assistance appeals
• Community legal services

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond Hill

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Legal Aid Ontario Funding: As a community legal clinic, CLCYR is primarily funded by Legal Aid Ontario, a Crown corporation that provides government-funded legal services. Services are provided free of charge to eligible low-income residents.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CLCYR provides free legal advice, summary advice, document preparation, and legal representation to income-eligible low-income residents of York Region in five core practice areas: housing law (including Tenant Duty Counsel and the Eviction Prevention Program), social assistance (Ontario Works, ODSP, CPP, OAS/GIS appeals), employment law (wrongful dismissal, ESA violations, EI, human rights, WSIB), immigration law (humanitarian applications, sponsorship, permanent residence, status regularization), and services for victims of crime (VQRP+). Services are delivered by staff lawyers, licensed paralegals, and a social worker through two physical offices, an online intake system, partner referrals, and community pop-up clinics.

Product overview

The Community Legal Clinic of York Region (CLCYR) is a not-for-profit legal aid organization providing free legal services to low-income residents of York Region, Ontario. The clinic operates as a unified service organization with multiple practice areas delivered by a team of lawyers, paralegals, social workers, and administrative staff. Core services span Housing Law (including Tenant Duty Counsel and Eviction Prevention Program), Social Assistance (Ontario Works, ODSP, CPP), Employment Law, Immigration Law, and Services for Victims of Crime. Services are delivered through in-person offices in Richmond Hill and Newmarket, online intake, pop-up community clinics, and public legal education outreach. The clinic does not handle criminal law, family law, or refugee claims applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Housing Law Services Legal advice and representation for tenants in York Region, including Tenant Duty Counsel at the Landlord and Tenant Board, the Eviction Prevention Program with intensive case management and social work support, and summary advice on tenant and co-op related questions. For low-income tenants facing eviction, illegal lockouts, and rental disputes.
• Social Assistance Legal Services Legal services for Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Canada Pension Plan, and Guaranteed Income Supplement matters, including appeals to the Social Benefits Tribunal. For low-income residents facing denials, suspensions, overpayment disputes, or eligibility issues with social assistance programs.
• Employment Law Services Legal assistance with Employment Standards Act issues, Employment Insurance, wrongful dismissal, Workers' Compensation (WSIB), and human rights matters under the Ontario Human Rights Code. For low-income workers facing job loss, unpaid wages, workplace discrimination, or denied EI benefits.
• Immigration Law Services Immigration legal services including humanitarian and compassionate applications, permanent residence applications, sponsorship matters, loss of status, work/visitor/study permits, and citizenship issues. Does not assist with refugee claims. For immigrants and newcomers in York Region facing status-related crises.
• Services for Victims of Crime Assistance with Victim Quick Response Program (VQRP+) applications, advice on the compensation process, and coordination with York Region Centre for Community Safety for domestic violence victims. For victims of crime in York Region.
• Eviction Prevention Program Intensive services and social work support program for vulnerable tenants facing imminent eviction, funded by York Region. Critically celebrated within the clinic's practice and combines legal representation with embedded social work support.
• Tenant Duty Counsel Legal representation and advice for unrepresented tenants at Landlord and Tenant Board hearings, including document review and case representation on the day of hearing.
• Law Reform and Systemic Advocacy Systemic advocacy work aimed at advancing the legal interests of low-income people, including public interest litigation and policy reform.
• Online Intake Form Digital application system allowing residents to apply for legal services online at any time, covering housing, social assistance, employment, and immigration matters.
• Income Eligibility Assessment Financial eligibility screening based on family size and income guidelines, with automatic qualification for recipients of ODSP, OAS/GIS, War Veterans' Allowance, primary-income CPP, or temporary/threatened WSIB benefits.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• CLEO (Community Legal Education Ontario)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLEO developed the Steps to Justice legal information platform embedded in CLCYR's website. CLEO provides website infrastructure and maintains the legal information content used by the clinic to serve clients.
• York RegionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYork Region provides funding for CLCYR's Eviction Prevention Program. CLCYR participates in presentations to York Regional Council on homelessness issues and collaborates on addressing regional housing challenges.
• Affordable Housing Coalition of York RegionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLCYR collaborates with the coalition on housing advocacy, including presentations on Bill 184 (2020) and joint efforts on homelessness prevention initiatives.
• Blue Door SheltersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in homelessness initiatives. Blue Door Shelters CEO Michael Braithwaite was guest speaker at CLCYR's AGM. CLCYR participates in collaborative events including Encampment 101 for First Responders.
• 211 OntariominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferral partner connecting callers to CLCYR services. Call 2-1-1 to find social, health and government services including legal aid clinics.
• Welcome Centre (Immigrant Services)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCLCYR conducted community outreach sessions for Farsi Persian speaking workers at the Welcome Centre, providing legal information to immigrant communities.
• Streamlined Access Partnership (YSSN, CMHA York and South Simcoe, LOFT Crosslinks, Addiction Services for York Region, Southlake Regional Health Centre)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-partner initiative connecting clients 16+ with mental health and addictions services and housing supports through streamlined referral process. CLCYR refers clients to this partnership.
• York Support Services Network (YSSN)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner providing 310-COPE crisis line (1-855-310-COPE) for mental health crisis support. CLCYR refers clients experiencing mental health crises to this service.
• CHATS (Community and Home Assistance to Seniors)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTransportation services provider for York Region seniors. CLCYR refers clients to CHATS for transportation assistance.
• Mobility Plus (York Region)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYork Region's accessible transit service for people with disabilities. CLCYR refers clients who cannot use regular public transit due to disabilities.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Aboriginal Legal Services: Toronto-based legal clinic serving Indigenous peoples with similar poverty law scope. Directly comparable as a LAO-funded specialty clinic; former employer of CLCYR lawyer Benjamin Hognestad.
• Community Legal Clinic of Brant, Haldimand, Norfolk: LAO-funded community legal clinic serving low-income residents across multiple rural/small-city municipalities. Directly comparable organizational model; former employer of CLCYR lawyer Elsa Ascencio.
• Guelph Community Legal Clinic: LAO-funded community legal clinic serving low-income residents of Guelph and Wellington County. Directly comparable in structure and practice areas; former employer of CLCYR lawyer Nonye Okenwa.
• Grey Bruce Community Legal Clinic: LAO-funded community legal clinic serving low-income residents of Grey and Bruce counties. Directly comparable; former employer of CLCYR Director of Legal Services Michelle Sutherland (7 years).
• Niagara Community Legal Clinic: LAO-funded legal clinic serving low-income residents of Niagara Region with similar poverty law mandate. Directly comparable organizational model and service offerings; also former employer of CLCYR lawyer Elsa Ascencio.
• Mississauga Community Legal Clinic: LAO-funded community legal clinic serving low-income residents of Mississauga. Multiple CLCYR staff previously worked there. Offers directly comparable poverty law services (housing, social assistance, employment, immigration).
• Keewaytinok Native Legal Services: LAO-funded Indigenous community legal clinic in Northern Ontario. Comparable organizational model and LAO funding relationship; former employer of CLCYR lawyer Benjamin Hognestad.
• Hamilton Community Legal Clinic: Community legal clinic in Hamilton providing free poverty law services to low-income residents under LAO funding. Directly comparable in scope and structure; former employer of CLCYR lawyer Elsa Ascencio.
• South Etobicoke Legal Community Services: A community legal clinic in Toronto funded by Legal Aid Ontario serving low-income residents. Directly comparable as a LAO-funded clinic offering poverty law services in housing, social assistance, employment, and immigration.
• Huron Perth Community Legal Clinic: Community legal clinic serving low-income residents of Huron and Perth under LAO funding. Directly comparable in mandate and service mix; former employer of CLCYR lawyer Elsa Ascencio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/clcyorkregion
• Facebookfacebook.com/clcyorkregion
• Instagraminstagram.com/clcyorkregion
• TikToktiktok.com/@legal.clinic.york.region
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/community-legal-clinic-of-york-region

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Community Legal Clinic Of York Region