General Legal Help Resources (23:I): Difference between revisions

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{{REVIEWED LSLAP | date= 1 September 2025}}
{{LSLAP Manual TOC|expanded = referrals}}
{{LSLAP Manual TOC|expanded = referrals}}


== The Lawyer Referral Service ==
== Access Pro Bono's Lawyer Referral Service ==
Consultation with a lawyer for up to 30 minutes for a fee of $25.
Telephone: 604-687-3221
{{ReferralsLSLAP
 
| website = http://www.cbabc.org/for-the-public/lawyer-referral-service
Website: https://www.accessprobono.ca/our-programs/lawyer-referral-service
| phone = 604-687-3221 <br /> Toll-Free: 1-800-663-1919
* Consultation with a lawyer for up to 30 minutes for free, during which time fees are negotiated for further consultation, but a few well-organized questions can be answered
}}
* Any ongoing legal assistance will require paying the lawyer’s regular fees


== Access Pro Bono ==
== Access Pro Bono ==
Three programs are available:
Telephone: 604-482-3195
*'''Summary Legal Advice Program:''' Volunteer lawyers provide up to a half-hour of free legal advice to clients at summary legal advice clinics  
 
*'''Roster Program:''' Pro bono representation for Court of Appeal, family law, Federal Court of Appeal, judicial review and wills and estates issues  
Toll-Free: 1-877-762-6664
*'''Civil Chambers Program:''' Civil (non-family) chambers litigation matters before the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal in Vancouver
 
{{ReferralsLSLAP
Website: https://www.accessprobono.ca
| website = http://www.accessprobono.ca
 
| phone = 604-878-7400 <br /> Toll-Free: 1-877-762-6664
* '''Summary Legal Advice Program:''' Volunteer lawyers provide up to a half-hour of free legal advice to clients at summary legal advice clinics
}}
* '''Roster Program:''' Pro bono representation for Court of Appeal, family law, Federal Court of Appeal, judicial review and wills and estates issues
== Legal Services Society ==
* '''Employment Standards Program:''' Volunteer lawyers and students provide free legal representation to employees at the Employment Standards Branch
Representation for criminal charges, mental health and prison issues, serious family problems, child protection matters and immigration problems
* '''Residential Tenancy Program:''' Legal representation for low-income tenants and landlords appearing before the Residential Tenancy Branch
{{ReferralsLSLAP
* '''Solicitors’ Program:''' Connects non-profit organisations with pro-bono legal services
| website = http://www.lss.bc.ca
* '''Virtual Family Mediation Program:'''free online family mediation and advice services to low- and modest-income families across BC. The program aims to facilitate early resolution of family law matters, while saving users' money and freeing up BC's court resources.
| phone = '''Legal Aid Applications''' <br /> 604-408-2172 <br /> Toll-Free: 1-866-577-2525 <br /> '''General Inquiries''' <br /> 604-601-6000
* '''Everyone Legal Clinic:''' offers low-cost legal services to all British Columbians on a fixed-fee basis— in person or by virtual connection. Articling clinicians work under the supervision of practising lawyers, and provide affordable help for family, tenancy/strata, employment, wills/estates, civil, corporate, consumer or criminal law issues. Call: (778) 200-4478 weekdays between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or [https://app.qase.net/create_elc_referral book online].
}}
 
== Community Legal Assistance Society ==
== Legal Services Society (Legal Aid BC) ==
Housing, income security, debt issues, access to education, community living supports, access to public services, employment insurance, workers' compensation, information and privacy for people with disabilities, mental health, human rights
Legal Aid Applications: Telephone: 604-408-2172
{{ReferralsLSLAP
 
| website = http://www.clasbc.net
Toll-Free: 1-866-577-2525
| phone = 604-685-3425 <br /> Toll-Free: 1-888-685-6222
 
}}
General Inquiries: Telephone: 604-601-6000
 
Website: https://legalaid.bc.ca/
 
* A range of free legal services provided to all British Columbians, with priority given to people with low incomes
* '''Information:''' Variety of publications available online to get general information about the law
* '''Advice:''' Legal advice on criminal, family and immigration issues from duty counsel lawyers and family advice lawyers
* '''Representation:''' A lawyer may be able to take your case and provide representation for criminal charges, mental health and prison issues, serious family problems, child protection matters and immigration problems
 
== Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS) ==
Telephone: 604-685-3425
 
Toll-Free: 1-888-685-6222
 
Website: https://clasbc.net/
 
* Legal assistance for issues including housing, income security, employment insurance, workers' compensation, mental health, human rights
* CLAS generally provides assistance with judicial review of decisions from tribunals like the RTB, EAAT, SST, WCAT, EST, and the BC and Canadian Human Rights Tribunals. This makes CLAS a good referral for LSLAP clients after we receive tribunal decisions.
* Review decisions from a review panel under the Mental Health Act or Criminal Code, challenge certificates of incapability from the Public Guardian and Trustee, or assist with individuals detained under the Adult Guardianship Act.
* Can assist low-income homeowners facing foreclosure, members of housing co-ops whose membership has been terminated, and tenants with an order of possession requiring them to leave their home.
 
== Law Students’ Legal Advice Program (LSLAP) ==
Telephone: 604-822-5791
 
Website: https://www.lslap.bc.ca
 
* Free legal assistance through appointments for low-income individuals in the Greater Vancouver area, including representation, document drafting, summary advice, and referrals
* Help with criminal law (summary offences), tenancy, employment, small claims, welfare, human rights, immigration, and more
* No family law, personal injury, supreme court, business law, real property, or criminal law where there is a risk of jail time
* Operates a Criminal Code s. 684 project which helps convicted individuals fill out s. 684 applications for a court to assign counsel to act for an accused in an appeal
 
== Vancouver Justice Access Centre ==
== Vancouver Justice Access Centre ==
*Help with Supreme Court civil issues
Telephone: 604-660-2084
*Assistance with paperwork
 
*legal information, self-help and other resources
Toll-Free: 1-800-663-7867 (ask to be connected to 604-660-2084)
*NO LEGAL ADVICE
 
{{ReferralsLSLAP
Virtual Initial Needs Determination: 1-844-747-3963
| website = http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/about-bcs-justice-system/legal-help/jac/how-to-find-us/vancouver
 
| phone = 604-660-2084
Website: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/life-events/divorce/family-justice/who-can-help/family-justice-services-division/justice-access-centres
}}
 
== BC Centre for Elder Advocacy Support  (Victims Services Program and Legal Programs) ==
* Legal information, self-help and other resources; limited legal advice on family and civil law issues (low-income eligibility requirements apply). No legal advice for criminal matters, small claims court forms and filings, or personal injury matters.
*Helps victims of abuse or a crime to access the justice system  
* Can give advice on family and civil justice issues such as separation or divorce, guardianship, child or spousal support, parenting after separation, protection orders, income security, employment, housing, debt, human rights, consumer issues, wills and estates, EI, worker’s compensation, and immigration/refugee issues.
*Provide practical and emotional support  
 
*Assistance can be provided over the phone
== Seniors First BC ==
*Preparation and support for older adults who will be testifying in court about abuse or other crime  
Telephone: 604-437-1940
*Provide services to people age 55 and over
 
*Does not prepare wills or power of attorneys, or give advice on estate administration, real estate, criminal law or family law matters  
Toll-Free: 1-866-437-1940
{{ReferralsLSLAP
 
| website = http://www.bcceas.ca
Website: https://seniorsfirstbc.ca/
| phone = 604-437-1940 <br /> Toll-Free: 1-866-437-1940
 
}}
* Provides services to people age 55 and over
== Pivot Legal Society ==
* Helps victims of abuse or a crime to access the justice system
*Referrals to other legal support
* Provides practical and emotional support
*Free legal advice clinics
* Preparation and support for older adults who will be testifying in court about abuse or other crime
{{ReferralsLSLAP
* Can assist with tenancy/housing, debt, pensions, assisted living, discrimination, abuse/neglect, financial exploitation, consumer complaints, and guardianship/capacity.
| website = http://www.pivotlegal.org
* Does not prepare wills or power of attorneys, or give advice on estate administration, real estate, criminal law or family law matters
| phone = 604-255-9700
 
}}
== Access Pro Bono (Paralegal Program) ==
Assistance in preparing court documents
{{ReferralsLSLAP
| website = http://accessprobono.ca/paralegal-program
| phone = 604-660-2084
}}
== Dial-A-Law ==
== Dial-A-Law ==
Telephone: 604-687-4680
Toll-Free: 1-800-565-5297
Website: https://dialalaw.peopleslawschool.ca/
*General information on a variety of topics on law in British Columbia  
*General information on a variety of topics on law in British Columbia  
*Library of legal information prepared by lawyers  
*Library of legal information prepared by lawyers
*Available in English, Chinese and Punjabi by telephone and online
 
{{ReferralsLSLAP
| website = http://www.dialalaw.org
| phone = 604-687-4680 <br /> Toll-Free: 1-800-565-5297
}}
== Clicklaw ==
== Clicklaw ==
Legal information, education and help for British Columbians
Website: https://www.clicklaw.bc.ca
{{ReferralsLSLAP
 
| website = http://www.clicklaw.bc.ca
* Legal information and education for British Columbians
}}
* Available in multiple languages
 
== The Kettle Society ==
Telephone: 604-251-2801
 
Website: https://www.thekettle.ca/advocacy
 
* Advocacy and support, with a focus on mental health
* Family, tenancy, tax, welfare, ID replacement, and human rights
 
== Amici Curiae ==
Telephone: 778-522-2839
 
Website: https://www.legalformsbc.ca
 
[https://www.legalformsbc.ca/help-me-complete-my-legal-form.html Book online]
 
* Free assistance in completing legal forms (no criminal law, elder law, or wills and estates)
 
== The Law Centre (University of Victoria) ==          
Telephone: 250-385-1221
 
Website: https://thelawcentre.ca/
* Law students at the University of Victoria provide legal assistance to low-income individuals with criminal, family, and civil law issues, including help with human rights, employment insurance, tenancy, welfare, and other administrative tribunals
 
== PovNet ==  
 
Website: https://www.povnet.org
 
* Comprehensive source of legal referrals
 
== First United Church Advocacy ==
Telephone: 604-681-8365
 
Website: https://firstunited.ca/how-we-help/legal-advocacy
 
Drop-in Intakes:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Tuesday, Thursday 1 PM to 3 PM
 
* Broad range of legal advocacy for low-income and vulnerable people in the Downtown Eastside Vancouver
* Focus on tenancy and social assistance
 
== Together Against Poverty Society (TAPS) ==
Telephone: 250-361-3521
 
Website: https://www.tapsbc.ca
 
* Legal advocacy in Victoria
* Income assistance, disability benefits, employment standards, tenancy, and income tax
 
== Civil Resolution Tribunal ==
Telephone: 1-844-322-2292
 
Website: https://www.civilresolutionbc.ca
 
* Tribunal which handles small claims matter under $5,000
* Solution explorer for alternative dispute options
* Start your claim online
* Also handles motor vehicle injury under $50,000, strata disputes, societies and cooperative associations disputes, and shared accommodations and some housing disputes


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Latest revision as of 17:04, 10 November 2025

This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by the Law Students' Legal Advice Program on 1 September 2025.



Access Pro Bono's Lawyer Referral Service

Telephone: 604-687-3221

Website: https://www.accessprobono.ca/our-programs/lawyer-referral-service

  • Consultation with a lawyer for up to 30 minutes for free, during which time fees are negotiated for further consultation, but a few well-organized questions can be answered
  • Any ongoing legal assistance will require paying the lawyer’s regular fees

Access Pro Bono

Telephone: 604-482-3195

Toll-Free: 1-877-762-6664

Website: https://www.accessprobono.ca

  • Summary Legal Advice Program: Volunteer lawyers provide up to a half-hour of free legal advice to clients at summary legal advice clinics
  • Roster Program: Pro bono representation for Court of Appeal, family law, Federal Court of Appeal, judicial review and wills and estates issues
  • Employment Standards Program: Volunteer lawyers and students provide free legal representation to employees at the Employment Standards Branch
  • Residential Tenancy Program: Legal representation for low-income tenants and landlords appearing before the Residential Tenancy Branch
  • Solicitors’ Program: Connects non-profit organisations with pro-bono legal services
  • Virtual Family Mediation Program:free online family mediation and advice services to low- and modest-income families across BC. The program aims to facilitate early resolution of family law matters, while saving users' money and freeing up BC's court resources.
  • Everyone Legal Clinic: offers low-cost legal services to all British Columbians on a fixed-fee basis— in person or by virtual connection. Articling clinicians work under the supervision of practising lawyers, and provide affordable help for family, tenancy/strata, employment, wills/estates, civil, corporate, consumer or criminal law issues. Call: (778) 200-4478 weekdays between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or book online.

Legal Services Society (Legal Aid BC)

Legal Aid Applications: Telephone: 604-408-2172

Toll-Free: 1-866-577-2525

General Inquiries: Telephone: 604-601-6000

Website: https://legalaid.bc.ca/

  • A range of free legal services provided to all British Columbians, with priority given to people with low incomes
  • Information: Variety of publications available online to get general information about the law
  • Advice: Legal advice on criminal, family and immigration issues from duty counsel lawyers and family advice lawyers
  • Representation: A lawyer may be able to take your case and provide representation for criminal charges, mental health and prison issues, serious family problems, child protection matters and immigration problems

Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS)

Telephone: 604-685-3425

Toll-Free: 1-888-685-6222

Website: https://clasbc.net/

  • Legal assistance for issues including housing, income security, employment insurance, workers' compensation, mental health, human rights
  • CLAS generally provides assistance with judicial review of decisions from tribunals like the RTB, EAAT, SST, WCAT, EST, and the BC and Canadian Human Rights Tribunals. This makes CLAS a good referral for LSLAP clients after we receive tribunal decisions.
  • Review decisions from a review panel under the Mental Health Act or Criminal Code, challenge certificates of incapability from the Public Guardian and Trustee, or assist with individuals detained under the Adult Guardianship Act.
  • Can assist low-income homeowners facing foreclosure, members of housing co-ops whose membership has been terminated, and tenants with an order of possession requiring them to leave their home.

Law Students’ Legal Advice Program (LSLAP)

Telephone: 604-822-5791

Website: https://www.lslap.bc.ca

  • Free legal assistance through appointments for low-income individuals in the Greater Vancouver area, including representation, document drafting, summary advice, and referrals
  • Help with criminal law (summary offences), tenancy, employment, small claims, welfare, human rights, immigration, and more
  • No family law, personal injury, supreme court, business law, real property, or criminal law where there is a risk of jail time
  • Operates a Criminal Code s. 684 project which helps convicted individuals fill out s. 684 applications for a court to assign counsel to act for an accused in an appeal

Vancouver Justice Access Centre

Telephone: 604-660-2084

Toll-Free: 1-800-663-7867 (ask to be connected to 604-660-2084)

Virtual Initial Needs Determination: 1-844-747-3963

Website: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/life-events/divorce/family-justice/who-can-help/family-justice-services-division/justice-access-centres

  • Legal information, self-help and other resources; limited legal advice on family and civil law issues (low-income eligibility requirements apply). No legal advice for criminal matters, small claims court forms and filings, or personal injury matters.
  • Can give advice on family and civil justice issues such as separation or divorce, guardianship, child or spousal support, parenting after separation, protection orders, income security, employment, housing, debt, human rights, consumer issues, wills and estates, EI, worker’s compensation, and immigration/refugee issues.

Seniors First BC

Telephone: 604-437-1940

Toll-Free: 1-866-437-1940

Website: https://seniorsfirstbc.ca/

  • Provides services to people age 55 and over
  • Helps victims of abuse or a crime to access the justice system
  • Provides practical and emotional support
  • Preparation and support for older adults who will be testifying in court about abuse or other crime
  • Can assist with tenancy/housing, debt, pensions, assisted living, discrimination, abuse/neglect, financial exploitation, consumer complaints, and guardianship/capacity.
  • Does not prepare wills or power of attorneys, or give advice on estate administration, real estate, criminal law or family law matters

Dial-A-Law

Telephone: 604-687-4680

Toll-Free: 1-800-565-5297

Website: https://dialalaw.peopleslawschool.ca/

  • General information on a variety of topics on law in British Columbia
  • Library of legal information prepared by lawyers

Clicklaw

Website: https://www.clicklaw.bc.ca

  • Legal information and education for British Columbians
  • Available in multiple languages

The Kettle Society

Telephone: 604-251-2801

Website: https://www.thekettle.ca/advocacy

  • Advocacy and support, with a focus on mental health
  • Family, tenancy, tax, welfare, ID replacement, and human rights

Amici Curiae

Telephone: 778-522-2839

Website: https://www.legalformsbc.ca

Book online

  • Free assistance in completing legal forms (no criminal law, elder law, or wills and estates)

The Law Centre (University of Victoria)

Telephone: 250-385-1221

Website: https://thelawcentre.ca/

  • Law students at the University of Victoria provide legal assistance to low-income individuals with criminal, family, and civil law issues, including help with human rights, employment insurance, tenancy, welfare, and other administrative tribunals

PovNet

Website: https://www.povnet.org

  • Comprehensive source of legal referrals

First United Church Advocacy

Telephone: 604-681-8365

Website: https://firstunited.ca/how-we-help/legal-advocacy

Drop-in Intakes: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM Tuesday, Thursday 1 PM to 3 PM

  • Broad range of legal advocacy for low-income and vulnerable people in the Downtown Eastside Vancouver
  • Focus on tenancy and social assistance

Together Against Poverty Society (TAPS)

Telephone: 250-361-3521

Website: https://www.tapsbc.ca

  • Legal advocacy in Victoria
  • Income assistance, disability benefits, employment standards, tenancy, and income tax

Civil Resolution Tribunal

Telephone: 1-844-322-2292

Website: https://www.civilresolutionbc.ca

  • Tribunal which handles small claims matter under $5,000
  • Solution explorer for alternative dispute options
  • Start your claim online
  • Also handles motor vehicle injury under $50,000, strata disputes, societies and cooperative associations disputes, and shared accommodations and some housing disputes
© Copyright 2025, The Greater Vancouver Law Students' Legal Advice Society.