This division provides representation to individuals charged with summary conviction offences, that is, offences where the person can be represented by a student, at one of the five courts in the amalgamated City of Toronto.

Priority is given to clients falling within the clinic’s identified priority groups not covered by other divisions:  persons living in the Jane-Finch community; persons living with mental health needs; and persons whose charge(s) raise issues of race.

It is necessary to check, or have the caller check, the “Charge Screening Form” to see whether the Crown intends to proceed with the charges on a summary conviction basis. 

• This Form is pink or yellow and is near the front of the disclosure package
• If the caller does not have this form, or the disclosure, they MUST obtain it before they can make an application. Instruct the caller to ask for it at their next court date, and then to call us back when they have it so that the screening can be completed.
• For drug offences only – strictly federal charges – there will generally not be a charge screening form

We provide representation when clients are:

• charged with summary conviction offences or hybrid offences where the crown intends to proceed summarily, being heard within the City of Toronto’s provincial courts (1000 Finch, 2201 Finch, College Park, Old City Hall, Metro East (Scarborough) 
• Provincial offence charges where race is a clear issue
• Civil claims against paralegals acting in the criminal law area
• Civil recovery claims being initiated against individuals (summary advice)
• Drug possession charges in limited circumstances 
• Police Complaints
• Referrals to shelters, therapists, and lawyers
• Defense of Counter-charges laid by domestic partners

We do not provide representation for:

• Indictable offences
• Summary conviction offences where the Crown indicates, upon a conviction, a jail sentence will be sought.
• All driving offences (including driving over .80, impaired driving and refusal to provide breath samples)
• Highway Traffic Act and Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act charges
• Parking tickets or any other by-law infractions, such as excessive noise
• Men charged with a violent crime (i.e. assault, threats, etc.) against a partner in a domestic relationship
  • This is the result of our domestic violence policy, a copy of which is attached for reference.

Cases where the Charge Screening Form indicates that the Crown is seeking diversion or a peace bond, unless there is a potential Charter issue

• Super Summary Conviction Offences where the caller is charged ONLY with a Super Summary Offence.
• If there is a combination of a Summary PLUS a Super Summary Offences, then the application will be taken.
• Persons charged with offences being heard in courthouses not in Toronto
  • We deal only with the following courthouses for criminal offences
    • Old City Hall (60 Queen Street West (100’s)), Metro West (2201 Finch Avenue West (200’s)), Metro North (1000 Finch Avenue West (300’s)), Metro East (1911 Eglinton Avenue East (400’s)), and College Park (444 Yonge Street (500’s))
  • The numbers in brackets are the courtroom numbers at each courthouse
    • E.g. all courtrooms at OCH are 1XX, whereas at College Park they are numbered 5XX.