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{{REVIEWEDPLS | reviewer = [[People's Law School]]|date= February 2023}}{{Learning about the Law Wikibook TOC}}
==Free and low-cost legal help==


{| class="wikitable"  
{| class="wikitable"  
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| width="20%" | '''Canadian Bar Association'''
| width="20%" | '''Access Pro Bono'''
| width="40%" | Our Court System and Solving Disputes offers information describing our court system and ways to resolve legal disputes without going to court.
| width="40%" | Access Pro Bono has free legal advice clinics across BC. Lawyers volunteer to provide free legal advice to those who can’t afford a lawyer and can’t get legal aid.
| width="40%" | [http://www.cbabc.org/For-the-Public/Dial-A-Law/Scripts/Lawyers-Legal-Services-and-Courts/432 www.cbabc.org/For-the-Public/Dial-A-Law/Scripts/Lawyers-Legal-Services-and-Courts/432]  
| width="40%" | Lower Mainland: 604-878-7400<br/> Toll-free: 1-877-762-6664<br/> [https://www.accessprobono.ca/ accessprobono.ca]
|- valign="top"
| width="20%" | '''BC Human Rights Clinic'''
| width="40%" | Operated by the Community Legal Assistance Society, this clinic provides assistance and <span class="noglossary">representation</span> to those who need help dealing with a provincial human rights complaint.
| width="40%" | Lower Mainland: 604-622-1100<br/> Toll-free: 1-855-685-6222<br/> [https://bchrc.net/ bchrc.net]
|- valign="top"
| width="20%" | '''Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS)'''
| width="40%" | CLAS provides legal advice and some <span class="noglossary">representation</span> to low-income British Columbians facing a range of problems, including eviction, human rights complaints, and work-related issues.
| width="40%" | Lower Mainland: 604-685-3425<br/> Toll-free: 1-888-685-6222<br/> [https://www.clasbc.net clasbc.net]
|- valign="top"
| width="20%" | '''Family Justice Centres'''
| width="40%" | These centres are located throughout BC and provide free services (including mediation) to couples going through a separation or divorce.   
| width="40%" | [https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/life-events/divorce/family-justice gov.bc.ca]
|- valign="top"
| width="20%" | '''Lawyer Referral Service'''
| width="40%" | This service, operated by Access Pro Bono, can help you connect with a lawyer for a free 15-minute consultation to see if you want to hire them.
| width="40%" | Lower Mainland: 604-687-3221<br/> Toll-free: 1-800-663-1919<br/> [https://www.accessprobono.ca/lawyer-referral-service accessprobono.ca]
|- valign="top"
| width="20%" | '''Legal Aid BC'''
| width="40%" | This non-profit provides free legal advice and representation for certain types of legal problems if you meet financial eligibility guidelines.<br/>
| width="40%" | Lower Mainland: 604-408-2172 <br/> Toll-free: 1-866-577-2525<br/> [https://legalaid.bc.ca/ legalaid.bc.ca]
|- valign="top"
| width="20%" | '''MOSAIC'''
| width="40%" | A non-profit that provides free programs and services to help new immigrants and refugees with their <span class="noglossary">settlement</span> in Canada. They provide legal advocacy in areas such as family law and immigration law. <br/>
| width="40%" | Lower Mainland: 604-254-9626<br/> [https://www.mosaicbc.org/ mosaicbc.org]<br/>
|- valign="top"
| width="20%" | '''PovNet'''
| width="40%" | Their Find an Advocate tool can help you find a legal <span class="noglossary">advocate</span> in your area. Legal advocates provide free support, advocacy and information to low-income people experiencing legal problems. Advocates usually work out of community agencies.
| width="40%" | [https://www.povnet.org/ povnet.org]
|- valign="top"
|-
|}
 
==More information==
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
| width="20%" | '''BC Association of Community Response Networks (BCCRN)'''
| width="40%" | Provides information and help to anyone who is being abused or neglected, or is supporting someone who is.
| width="40%" | [https://bccrns.ca/ bccrns.ca]
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| width="20%" | '''Clicklaw'''
| width="20%" | '''Clicklaw'''
| width="40%" | A website with legal information and education from across BC. The resources available through Clicklaw are designed to be used by the public.
| width="40%" | A website operated by Courthouse Libraries BC that provides legal information, education, and resources from across BC.  
| width="40%" | [http://www.clicklaw.bc.ca www.clicklaw.bc.ca]  
| width="40%" | [https://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/ clicklaw.bc.ca]
|- valign="top"
| width="20%" | '''Court Information Program for Immigrants'''
| width="40%" | This Justice Education Society program provides free legal information to new immigrants and refugees. Services are provided in English and several other languages.
| width="40%" | [https://www.courtinformation.ca/ courtinformation.ca]
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| width="20%" | '''Dial-A-Law'''
| width="20%" | '''Dial-A-Law'''
| width="40%" | Has <span class="noglossary">brief</span> legal information on over 130 topics, available in English, Chinese and Punjabi. Dial-A-Law is a free service of the Canadian Bar Association, British Columbia branch. You can listen on the telephone or online. You can also read the information online.
| width="40%" | From People's Law School, Dial-A-Law has <span class="noglossary">brief</span> legal information on over 190 topics. You can listen on the telephone or online. You can also read the information online.
| width="40%" | Phone: 604-687-4680<br/>
| width="40%" | Toll-free: 1-800-565-5297<br/> [https://dialalaw.peopleslawschool.ca/ dialalaw.ca]
Phone toll-free: 1-800-565-5297<br/>
|- valign="top"
[http://www.dialalaw.org www.dialalaw.org]  
| width="20%" | '''Employment Standards Branch'''
| width="40%" | This BC government office provides free legal information to employees and employers about their rights and responsibilities under BC law. They <span class="noglossary">answer</span> questions and deal with complaints against employers.
| width="40%" | Toll-free: 1-833-236-3700<br/> [https://gov.bc.ca/employmentstandards gov.bc.ca/employmentstandards]
|- valign="top"
| width="20%" | '''Families Change: Guide to Separation & Divorce '''
| width="40%" | This Justice Education Society website provides information on separation and divorce for children, teens, and parents.
| width="40%" | [https://familieschange.ca/ familieschange.ca]
|- valign="top"
| width="20%" | '''Family Law in BC '''
| width="40%" | This website from Legal Aid BC provides free information, publications, and self-help guides on a wide range of family law issues.
| width="40%" | [https://family.legalaid.bc.ca/ family.legalaid.bc.ca]
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| width="20%" | '''Family Law in BC'''
| width="20%" | '''Legal Rights for Youth'''
| width="40%" | Family Law in BC is a website that provides information and resources on a wide range of family law issues. It is produced by the Legal Services Society.
| width="40%" | This Justice Education Society website describes the legal rights for youth living in BC.
| width="40%" | [http://www.familylaw.lss.bc.ca/ www.familylaw.lss.bc.ca]  
| width="40%" | Toll-free: 1-855-875-8867<br/> [http://legalrightsforyouth.ca/ legalrightsforyouth.ca]  
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| width="20%" | '''ImmigrantLegal.ca'''
| width="20%" | '''Mediate BC Society'''
| width="40%" | ImmigrantLegal.ca provides free legal information and education on legal topics for newcomers to Canada and the people working with them. The website is a project of the Immigrant Public Legal Education and Information Consortium. It is managed by the Justice Education Society
| width="40%" | Mediate BC can put you in touch with a mediator who can help people (including separating couples) work together to find a solution to legal problems.
| width="40%" | [http://www.immigrantlegal.ca www.immigrantlegal.ca]  
| width="40%" | Lower Mainland: 1-604-684-1300<br/> Toll-free: 1-877-656-1300<br/> [https://www.mediatebc.com/ mediatebc.com]  
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| width="20%" | '''JusticeBC'''
| width="20%" | '''Nidus Personal Planning Resource Centre and Registry'''
| width="40%" | This is the website of the BC Ministry of Justice, which is responsible for managing the justice system in BC. The website provides information on a wide range of legal topics and describes the government services available to help you.
| width="40%" | Nidus provides information to British Columbians about personal planning, including information on making a <span class="noglossary">representation</span> agreement or enduring power of attorney.
| width="40%" | [http://www.justicebc.ca www.justicebc.ca]  
| width="40%" | [https://www.nidus.ca/ nidus.ca]
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| width="20%" | '''Justice Education Society'''
| width="20%" | '''People's Law School'''
| width="40%" | The '''Court Information Program''' for Immigrants provides free legal information to new immigrants and refugees. All content on the website is available in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Hindi. <br/>
| width="40%" | People's Law School provides free education and information to help British Columbians effectively deal with the legal problems of daily life.
'''Your Human Rights in BC''' has a series of five videos – available in English, Mandarin and Punjabi – which teaches immigrants about human rights in BC and Canada. Discrimination occurs when someone treats you differently based on your personal characteristics.<br/>
| width="40%" | Lower Mainland: 604-331-5400<br/> [https://www.peopleslawschool.ca/ peopleslawschool.ca]
'''Courts of BC''' is a website that uses information and videos to describe the structure and function of BC’s courts: Provincial Court, Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. <br/>
'''Administrative Law BC - Resolving Disputes''' is a website that explains what tribunals are and how they work.
| width="40%" | [http://www.justiceeducation.ca/programs/court-information-program-immigrants www.justiceeducation.ca/programs/court-information-program-immigrants]<br/>
[http://www.justiceeducation.ca/resources/human-rights-in-bc www.justiceeducation.ca/resources/human-rights-in-bc]<br/>
[http://www.courtsofbc.ca/ www.courtsofbc.ca] <br/>
[http://www.adminlawbc.ca/ www.adminlawbc.ca/]]
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| width="20%" | '''Lawyer Referral Service'''
| width="20%" | '''Public Guardian and Trustee'''
| width="40%" | This service can help you find a lawyer who will meet with you for 30 minutes for $25.  
| width="40%" | The office of the Public Guardian and Trustee provides a range of services to those who do not have the  legal capacity to protect their own interests.
| width="40%" | Phone: 604-687-3221<br/>
| width="40%" | Lower Mainland: 604-660-4444<br/> Toll-free: 1-800-663-7867<br/> [https://www.trustee.bc.ca/ trustee.bc.ca]  
Phone toll-free: 1-800-663-1919<br/>
[http://cbabc.org/For-the-Public/Lawyer-Referral-Service cbabc.org/For-the-Public/Lawyer-Referral-Service]  
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| width="20%" | '''Legal Services Society of BC'''
| width="20%" | '''Residential Tenancy Branch'''
| width="40%" | You may be able to get free legal help (legal aid) if:
| width="40%" | The BC government department responsible for landlord-tenant matters. Their website has free dispute resolution guides, policy guidelines, and information sheets.
*your legal problem is covered by legal aid rules,
| width="40%" | Lower Mainland: 604-660-1020<br/> Victoria: 250-387-1602<br/> Toll-free: 1-800-665-8779<br/> [https://gov.bc.ca/landlordtenant gov.bc.ca/landlordtenant]
*your income and the value of your property are below a certain limit, and
*you have no other way of getting legal help.<br/>
The Legal Services Society also has free booklets on legal topics in English and many other languages.
| width="40%" | Phone: 604-408-2172<br/>
Phone toll-free: 1-866-577-2525<br/>
[http://www.lss.bc.ca www.lss.bc.ca]  
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| width="20%" | '''MOSAIC'''
| width="20%" | '''Seniors First BC'''
| width="40%" | Offers programs and services to help immigrants and refugees in their settlement and integration into Canadian society. <br/>
| width="40%" | A non-profit that provides information, advocacy, support, and referrals to older adults and those who care for them.
'''MultiLingoLegal.ca''' website features many legal publications in nine languages. MultiLingoLegal is operated by MOSAIC - a settlement and integration organization for immigrants and refugees in BC.<br/>
| width="40%" | Lower Mainland: 604-336-5653<br/> Seniors Abuse and Information Line (toll-free): 1-866-437-1940<br/> [https://seniorsfirstbc.ca/ seniorsfirstbc.ca]  
'''Multilingual Legal Glossary''' is an online dictionary that allows you to search for the meaning of legal words. It provides the meaning of the word in English, and translates it into Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Farsi, Korean, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, or Vietnamese.
| width="40%" | Phone: 604-254-9626<br/>
[http://www.mosaicbc.com www.mosaicbc.com]
[http://www.multilingolegal.ca www.multilingolegal.ca]
[http://www.legalglossary.ca/dictionary/ www.legalglossary.ca/dictionary]
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| width="20%" | '''People's Law School'''
| width="20%" | '''Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre (TRAC)'''
| width="40%" | The People's Law School provides people in BC with free public legal education and information. Visit our website or call us to find out how to access the education and information needed to exercise your legal rights and responsibilities.
| width="40%" | A non-profit that provides tenants with legal education and assistance. You can phone them if you have a problem with renting.
| width="40%" | Phone: 604-331-5400 <br/>
| width="40%" | Lower Mainland: 604-255-0546<br/> Toll-free: 1-800-665-1185<br/> [https://tenants.bc.ca/ tenants.bc.ca]  
[http://www.publiclegaled.bc.ca/ www.publiclegaled.bc.ca]  
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| width="20%" | '''Pro Bono Legal Services'''
| width="20%" | '''VictimLink'''
| width="40%" | In these programs, lawyers volunteer to provide free legal advice to those who can’t afford a lawyer or can’t get Legal Aid. A good place to start is with the Access Pro Bono Society of BC, which has legal advice clinics across BC.A website with legal information and education from across BC. The resources available through Clicklaw are designed to be used by the public.
| width="40%" | This is a toll-free, confidential, multilingual service for victims of crime. Available across BC, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and in 150 languages, it provides information and support to victims.
| width="40%" | Phone: 604-878-7400 <br/>
| width="40%" | Toll-free: 1-800-563-0808<br/> [http://victimlinkbc.ca victimlinkbc.ca]  
Phone toll-free: 1-877-762-6664 <br>
[http://www.accessprobono.ca www.accessprobono.ca]  
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| width="20%" | '''Victimsinfo.ca'''
| width="40%" | A website for victims and witnesses of crime in BC. The website gives people the information they need to deal with the consequences of crime.
| width="40%" | [http://www.victimsinfo.ca/ www.victimsinfo.ca]
|-
|}
|}
{{REVIEWED | reviewer = [[People's Law School]], 2013}}


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__NOGLOSSARY__

Latest revision as of 17:51, 17 January 2024

This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by People's Law School in February 2023.

Free and low-cost legal help

Access Pro Bono Access Pro Bono has free legal advice clinics across BC. Lawyers volunteer to provide free legal advice to those who can’t afford a lawyer and can’t get legal aid. Lower Mainland: 604-878-7400
Toll-free: 1-877-762-6664
accessprobono.ca
BC Human Rights Clinic Operated by the Community Legal Assistance Society, this clinic provides assistance and representation to those who need help dealing with a provincial human rights complaint. Lower Mainland: 604-622-1100
Toll-free: 1-855-685-6222
bchrc.net
Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS) CLAS provides legal advice and some representation to low-income British Columbians facing a range of problems, including eviction, human rights complaints, and work-related issues. Lower Mainland: 604-685-3425
Toll-free: 1-888-685-6222
clasbc.net
Family Justice Centres These centres are located throughout BC and provide free services (including mediation) to couples going through a separation or divorce. gov.bc.ca
Lawyer Referral Service This service, operated by Access Pro Bono, can help you connect with a lawyer for a free 15-minute consultation to see if you want to hire them. Lower Mainland: 604-687-3221
Toll-free: 1-800-663-1919
accessprobono.ca
Legal Aid BC This non-profit provides free legal advice and representation for certain types of legal problems if you meet financial eligibility guidelines.
Lower Mainland: 604-408-2172
Toll-free: 1-866-577-2525
legalaid.bc.ca
MOSAIC A non-profit that provides free programs and services to help new immigrants and refugees with their settlement in Canada. They provide legal advocacy in areas such as family law and immigration law.
Lower Mainland: 604-254-9626
mosaicbc.org
PovNet Their Find an Advocate tool can help you find a legal advocate in your area. Legal advocates provide free support, advocacy and information to low-income people experiencing legal problems. Advocates usually work out of community agencies. povnet.org

More information

BC Association of Community Response Networks (BCCRN) Provides information and help to anyone who is being abused or neglected, or is supporting someone who is. bccrns.ca
Clicklaw A website operated by Courthouse Libraries BC that provides legal information, education, and resources from across BC. clicklaw.bc.ca
Court Information Program for Immigrants This Justice Education Society program provides free legal information to new immigrants and refugees. Services are provided in English and several other languages. courtinformation.ca
Dial-A-Law From People's Law School, Dial-A-Law has brief legal information on over 190 topics. You can listen on the telephone or online. You can also read the information online. Toll-free: 1-800-565-5297
dialalaw.ca
Employment Standards Branch This BC government office provides free legal information to employees and employers about their rights and responsibilities under BC law. They answer questions and deal with complaints against employers. Toll-free: 1-833-236-3700
gov.bc.ca/employmentstandards
Families Change: Guide to Separation & Divorce This Justice Education Society website provides information on separation and divorce for children, teens, and parents. familieschange.ca
Family Law in BC This website from Legal Aid BC provides free information, publications, and self-help guides on a wide range of family law issues. family.legalaid.bc.ca
Legal Rights for Youth This Justice Education Society website describes the legal rights for youth living in BC. Toll-free: 1-855-875-8867
legalrightsforyouth.ca
Mediate BC Society Mediate BC can put you in touch with a mediator who can help people (including separating couples) work together to find a solution to legal problems. Lower Mainland: 1-604-684-1300
Toll-free: 1-877-656-1300
mediatebc.com
Nidus Personal Planning Resource Centre and Registry Nidus provides information to British Columbians about personal planning, including information on making a representation agreement or enduring power of attorney. nidus.ca
People's Law School People's Law School provides free education and information to help British Columbians effectively deal with the legal problems of daily life. Lower Mainland: 604-331-5400
peopleslawschool.ca
Public Guardian and Trustee The office of the Public Guardian and Trustee provides a range of services to those who do not have the legal capacity to protect their own interests. Lower Mainland: 604-660-4444
Toll-free: 1-800-663-7867
trustee.bc.ca
Residential Tenancy Branch The BC government department responsible for landlord-tenant matters. Their website has free dispute resolution guides, policy guidelines, and information sheets. Lower Mainland: 604-660-1020
Victoria: 250-387-1602
Toll-free: 1-800-665-8779
gov.bc.ca/landlordtenant
Seniors First BC A non-profit that provides information, advocacy, support, and referrals to older adults and those who care for them. Lower Mainland: 604-336-5653
Seniors Abuse and Information Line (toll-free): 1-866-437-1940
seniorsfirstbc.ca
Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre (TRAC) A non-profit that provides tenants with legal education and assistance. You can phone them if you have a problem with renting. Lower Mainland: 604-255-0546
Toll-free: 1-800-665-1185
tenants.bc.ca
VictimLink This is a toll-free, confidential, multilingual service for victims of crime. Available across BC, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and in 150 languages, it provides information and support to victims. Toll-free: 1-800-563-0808
victimlinkbc.ca


Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International Licence Learning about the Law © People's Law School is, except for the images, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International Licence.