Difference between revisions of "Free and Low-Cost Legal Help"

:Duty counsel are lawyers paid by LSS to provide legal services in Provincial Court to in- and out-of-custody accused people who have been charged with a crime, do not have a lawyer, do not qualify for legal aid, or have not yet contacted legal aid. Duty counsel can provide you with advice about the charges against you, court procedures, and your legal rights (including the right to counsel and the right to apply for legal aid). Duty counsel can also represent you at a bail hearing, and, if there is time, help with a guilty plea. While you do not have to be financially eligible for legal aid to receive duty counsel services, you must meet LSS coverage and eligibility requirements to get a referral for ongoing representation. For duty counsel hours of operation in your area, check your local court registry. Court registry contact information can be found on the Provincial Court of British Columbia website at [http://www.provincialcourt.bc.ca www.provincialcourt.bc.ca] (click “Locations and Contacts” then “[http://www.provincialcourt.bc.ca/locations-contacts BC Provincial Court Locations and Hours]”) or in the blue pages of your phone book (under “Government of British Columbia – Court Services”).  

:Duty counsel are available by appointment or on a walk-in basis in Vancouver, Surrey, Port Coquitlam, Nanaimo and New Westminster (although appointments are encouraged). At other locations, duty counsel services are on a drop-in basis. The lawyers must first help people who have matters in court that day, but can assist others once they are not needed in court. For duty counsel hours in your community, go to the LSS website at [http://www.legalaid.bc.ca/legal_aid/whereProvincialCourtDutyCounsel.php www.legalaid.bc.ca] (under “Legal Aid” click “Advice”, then “Duty Counsel” under the Family Law Section) or contact your local legal aid office. You can also contact your local court registry (look in the blue pages of your phone book under "Government of British Columbia—Court Services").  

:For the addresses and phone numbers of BC Supreme Court registries, look in the blue pages of your phone book under "Government of British Columbia – Court Services". For Supreme Court duty counsel hours, go to the LSS website at [http://www.legalaid.bc.ca/legal_aid/whereSupremeCourtDutyCounsel.php www.legalaid.bc.ca] (click “Advice” then “Duty Counsel”, under the Family Law Section) or call your local legal aid office.

:If you are a parent with a low income and experiencing separation or divorce, you may be eligible for free legal advice from a family advice lawyer. These lawyers are available at the [http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/about-bcs-justice-system/jac/how-to-find-us/vancouver Vancouver Justice Access Centre], the [http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/about-bcs-justice-system/jac/how-to-find-us/nanaimo Nanaimo Justice Access Centre], the [http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/about-bcs-justice-system/jac/how-to-find-us/victoria Victoria Justice Access Centre], and at Family Justice Centres across the province. Services are available by referral from a [http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/life-events/divorce/family-justice/who-can-help/family-justice-counsellors family justice counselor] or a child support officer.

*'''Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre (TRAC)''': [http://tenants.bc.ca http://tenants.bc.ca]

*'''Canadian Legal Research and Writing Guide''': [http://www.legalresearch.org www.legalresearch.org]

*Dispute Resolution Office: [http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/about-bcs-justice-system/justice-services/dispute-resolution-office www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/about-bcs-justice-system/justice-services/dispute-resolution-office ]

*Human Rights Protection: [http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/human-rights/human-rights-protection www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/human-rights/human-rights-protection]

[updated July 2017]