Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO) is a non-profit legal rights education organisation that works across Ontario to develop clear, accessible and practical legal information, especially for people who face barriers to the justice system because of income, language, literacy or disability.
Among its core offerings are free legal publications (print and online), step-by-step “Guided Pathways” tools to fill out legal forms, a multilingual catalogue of resources, and training for community workers and organisations via its CLEO Connect program.
CLEO’s content covers topics such as housing law, employment and work rights, income assistance, debt and consumer rights, family law, immigration & refugee issues, human rights, health & disability, and more.
Strengths & Utility
For newcomers to Ontario or those with limited English/French proficiency, low literacy or limited income, CLEO serves as a highly practical entry point to understanding legal rights and next steps. Its tools like Guided Pathways demystify complex processes and empower self-help where full legal representation may not be viable. The fact that resources are offered in multiple languages and both official languages increases accessibility.
Limitations & Considerations
CLEO does not provide individualised legal advice or representation; it focuses on public legal education and information, and directs users to appropriate services when representation is needed. Users with complex legal issues should still consider consulting a lawyer or the relevant legal aid clinic. The materials are primarily Ontario-centric: laws, tribunals, processes refer to the Ontario jurisdiction and may differ in other provinces.