Difference between revisions of "Free and Low-Cost Legal Help"
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*Information for Aboriginal people is available on the '''[http://www.aboriginal.legalaid.bc.ca/ Aboriginal Legal Aid in BC website]'''. This section has information and [http://www.aboriginal.legalaid.bc.ca/pubs/ publications] about the issues that are important to Aboriginal people. It also has information about the help that legal aid and other groups can give. | *Information for Aboriginal people is available on the '''[http://www.aboriginal.legalaid.bc.ca/ Aboriginal Legal Aid in BC website]'''. This section has information and [http://www.aboriginal.legalaid.bc.ca/pubs/ publications] about the issues that are important to Aboriginal people. It also has information about the help that legal aid and other groups can give. | ||
*'''[http://www.legalaid.bc.ca/legal_aid/legalInformationOutreachWorkers.asp Legal info outreach workers (LIOWs)]''' | *'''[http://www.legalaid.bc.ca/legal_aid/legalInformationOutreachWorkers.asp Legal info outreach workers (LIOWs)]''': LIOWs are LSS staff located in Prince Rupert, Terrace and Vancouver who can help you find legal information and self-help resources on the Internet; give you printed legal information; refer you to other services such as family duty counsel and other community services; visit community groups to talk about LSS services, and collect feedback from community workers and the public about LSS programs; provide legal information and referral services by phone; and assist Community Court clients. | ||
LIOWs are LSS staff located in Prince Rupert, Terrace and Vancouver who can help you find legal information and self-help resources on the Internet; give you printed legal information; refer you to other services such as family duty counsel and other community services; visit community groups to talk about LSS services, and collect feedback from community workers and the public about LSS programs; provide legal information and referral services by phone; and assist Community Court clients. To contact a legal information outreach worker, call the regional centre closest to you: | :To contact a legal information outreach worker, call the regional centre closest to you: | ||
:'''''Terrace''''' | :'''''Terrace''''' | ||
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:1.800.787.2511 (call no charge, elsewhere in BC) | :1.800.787.2511 (call no charge, elsewhere in BC) | ||
*'''Aboriginal community legal workers (ACLW)''' are located in Duncan and Nanaimo. They provide legal information and limited advice about family and child protection law, and issues such as residential schools, housing, and wills and estates, explain the legal process and other options such as mediation, attend court with you, help you prepare forms and letters, participate in negotiations, talk on your behalf to Ministry of Children and Family Development staff, a legal aid lawyer, duty counsel, or your Band, and make referrals to other services | *'''[https://legalaid.bc.ca/legal_aid/aboriginalCommunityLegalWorker.php Aboriginal community legal workers (ACLW)]''' are located in Duncan and Nanaimo. They provide legal information and limited advice about family and child protection law, and issues such as residential schools, housing, and wills and estates, explain the legal process and other options such as mediation, attend court with you, help you prepare forms and letters, participate in negotiations, talk on your behalf to Ministry of Children and Family Development staff, a legal aid lawyer, duty counsel, or your Band, and make referrals to other services. | ||
*Community partners are service providers located throughout BC who can help you get free legal information, call Legal Aid, find the nearest Legal Aid office, get legal help online, and connect with people who can help. | *'''[https://legalaid.bc.ca/legal_aid/communityPartners.php Community partners]''' are service providers located throughout BC who can help you get free legal information, call Legal Aid, find the nearest Legal Aid office, get legal help online, and connect with people who can help. | ||
====Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of BC (NCCABC) | ====[http://www.nccabc.ca/ Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of BC (NCCABC)]==== | ||
It provides culturally appropriate services to aboriginal people and communities consistent with their needs. Their number is 604.985.5355 in Greater Vancouver, and toll free 1.877.811.1190 elsewhere in BC. Select “About Us” then “Our Team” from the website for a list of local numbers. | It provides culturally appropriate services to aboriginal people and communities consistent with their needs. Their number is 604.985.5355 in Greater Vancouver, and toll free 1.877.811.1190 elsewhere in BC. Select “About Us” then “Our Team” from the website for a list of local numbers. | ||
====The People’s Law School==== | ====[http://www.peopleslawschool.ca/ The People’s Law School]==== | ||
This non-profit organization sponsors free lectures on a great variety of legal topics, taught mainly by lawyers. To contact the People’s Law School, phone 604.331.5400, or | This non-profit organization sponsors free lectures on a great variety of legal topics, taught mainly by lawyers. To contact the People’s Law School, phone 604.331.5400, or visit their website. | ||
====The Public Library==== | ====[https://commons.bclibraries.ca/library_location_map/ The Public Library]==== | ||
Provincial and federal statutes can be found there, as well as many books about the law written especially for non-lawyers. Ask your reference librarian for help in finding what you need. | Provincial and federal statutes can be found there, as well as many books about the law written especially for non-lawyers. Ask your reference librarian for help in finding what you need. | ||
You have a legal problem, or at least you think you do, and you need some free or inexpensive help. Then the following services may be able to help you: | You have a legal problem, or at least you think you do, and you need some free or inexpensive help. Then the following services may be able to help you: | ||
==== | ====[http://www.lrsbc.org/ Lawyer Referral Service]==== | ||
It’s a public service offered by the BC Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, the same organization that operates Dial-A-Law. Call 604.687.3221 in the Lower Mainland or 1.800.663.1919 toll-free elsewhere in British Columbia, from 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday. Explain briefly the type of problem, and the service will give you the name of a lawyer. Phone the lawyer and make an appointment. Tell the lawyer that Lawyer Referral Service sent you. If available, the lawyer will give you up to a 30-minute appointment for $25 plus taxes. At the appointment, the lawyer will tell you if you have a legal problem. Then, if you and the lawyer agree, you can hire that lawyer at their normal rate. | It’s a public service offered by the BC Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, the same organization that operates Dial-A-Law. Call 604.687.3221 in the Lower Mainland or 1.800.663.1919 toll-free elsewhere in British Columbia, from 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday. Explain briefly the type of problem, and the service will give you the name of a lawyer. Phone the lawyer and make an appointment. Tell the lawyer that Lawyer Referral Service sent you. If available, the lawyer will give you up to a 30-minute appointment for $25 plus taxes. At the appointment, the lawyer will tell you if you have a legal problem. Then, if you and the lawyer agree, you can hire that lawyer at their normal rate. | ||
====Services provided by | ====Services provided by [http://www.legalaid.bc.ca/ Legal Services Society (LSS)]==== | ||
*''' | *'''[http://www.legalaid.bc.ca/legal_aid/ Legal Aid]''' | ||
:The Legal Services Society will pay for a lawyer to represent you if: your legal problem is covered by our legal aid rules, you meet the [http://www.lss.bc.ca/legal_aid/doIQualifyRepresentation.asp financial guidelines], and you have no other way of getting legal help. Legal problems that may be covered by legal aid include [http://www.lss.bc.ca/legal_aid/criminalLaw.asp criminal charges], [http://www.lss.bc.ca/legal_aid/mentalHealthAndPrison.asp mental health and prison issues], [http://www.lss.bc.ca/legal_aid/familyIssues.asp serious family problems], [http://www.lss.bc.ca/legal_aid/childProtection.asp child protection matters], and [http://www.lss.bc.ca/legal_aid/immigrationProblems.asp immigration problems]. | :The Legal Services Society will pay for a lawyer to represent you if: your legal problem is covered by our legal aid rules, you meet the [http://www.lss.bc.ca/legal_aid/doIQualifyRepresentation.asp financial guidelines], and you have no other way of getting legal help. Legal problems that may be covered by legal aid include [http://www.lss.bc.ca/legal_aid/criminalLaw.asp criminal charges], [http://www.lss.bc.ca/legal_aid/mentalHealthAndPrison.asp mental health and prison issues], [http://www.lss.bc.ca/legal_aid/familyIssues.asp serious family problems], [http://www.lss.bc.ca/legal_aid/childProtection.asp child protection matters], and [http://www.lss.bc.ca/legal_aid/immigrationProblems.asp immigration problems]. | ||
:To find a [http://www.legalaid.bc.ca/legal_aid/legalAidOffices.asp legal aid location] near you, see the | :To find a [http://www.legalaid.bc.ca/legal_aid/legalAidOffices.asp legal aid location] near you, see the [http://www.legalaid.bc.ca/ LSS website]. Or you can call the LSS province-wide Call Centre at 604.408.2172 (Greater Vancouver) or 1.866.577.2525 (call no charge, elsewhere in BC). | ||
*'''Brydges Line''' | *'''Brydges Line''' | ||