Legal education and information for Canadians

In the Northwest Territories, M.M. deWeerdt Public Legal Resource Centre helps educate and inform the public about the law, the legal system and your rights. The Law Society of the Northwest Territories also offers free legal information and resources.

The Department of Justice provides detailed information on Canada’s justice system and courts. The booklet, Canada’s System of Justice, offers a good overview of the Canadian legal system. The Northwest Territories Department of Justice is an excellent resource for information on the justice system and courts in the NWT.

Canadian judges are independent. This means they don’t play favourites in court. They are free to decide cases, and they do so based only on the law and the evidence. Watch our video on judicial independence. 

Use our Find-a-Lawyer search tool to locate a lawyer who specializes in the area of law you need. You can also search for lawyers by name, firm, language and other search criteria.  

If you can’t afford a lawyer or legal services, legal aid is available to help. You must qualify for legal aid to access it. Legal aid is government funded. Reach out to the Government of the Northwest Territories’ Legal Aid Program.

Pro bono services are legal services provided by lawyers for free or at a greatly reduced rate. These organizations offer pro bono services because they believe that everyone deserves access to justice. Use the Law Society of the Northwest Territories’ Find A Lawyer tool to locate a lawyer offering pro bono services.

The Law Society of Northwest Territories governs the legal profession in our province. Its role is to ensure lawyers meet professional standards. Find out how the Law Society deals with concerns about lawyer conduct and how to submit a complaint.

Interested in getting your law degree? See the list of law schools across Canada where you can pursue your legal education. If you’re a lawyer with international training looking to practice law in Canada, the National Committee on Accreditation will assess your legal education and experience.  

Search the Canadian Legal Information Institute database for legislation, courts, judicial decisions and other legal information across Canada. 

Search our Class Action Database to get information and court documents related to class action lawsuits currently underway across the country. 

The Court Challenges Program provides financial assistance to Canadians who want to challenge unconstitutional federal laws.