General Legal Help Resources (23:I)
| This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by the Law Students' Legal Advice Program on August 3, 2021. |
APB's Lawyer Referral Service
Consultation with a lawyer for up to 30 minutes for free. Any legal assistance will require paying the lawyer’s regular fees The Lawyer Referral Service (22:I)
Access Pro Bono
Several programs are available:
• 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
• Civil Chambers Program: Civil (non-family) chambers litigation matters before the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal in Vancouver
• Employment Standards Program: Volunteer lawyers and students provide free legal representation to employees at the Employment Standards Branch
• Mental Health Program Telephone Clinic: Free legal advice appointments over the phone to people detained under the Mental Health Act or their relatives
• Residential Tenancy Program: Legal representation for low-income tenants and landlords appearing before the Residential Tenancy Branch
• Wills Clinic: Appointments for low-income seniors and people with terminal illnesses. Trained lawyers and articling students draft and execute simple wills and representation agreements. (604-424-9600)
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Legal Services Society (Legal Aid)
- Legal advice on criminal, family and immigration issues
- Representation for criminal charges, mental health and prison issues, serious family problems, child protection matters and immigration problems
Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS)
• 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.
Community Legal Assistance Society (22:I)
Law Students’ Legal Advice Program
Telephone: 604-822-5791 Website: 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
• Publishes this legal advice manual
• 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
• 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 and 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.
Vancouver Justice Access Centre (22:I)
Seniors First BC (Victims Services Program and Legal Programs)
- Helps victims of abuse or a crime to access the justice system
- Provide practical and emotional support
- Assistance can be provided over the phone
- Preparation and support for older adults who will be testifying in court about abuse or other crime
- 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
BC Centre for Elder Advocacy Support (22:I)
Dial-A-Law
- General information on a variety of topics on law in British Columbia
- Library of legal information prepared by lawyers
- Available in English, Chinese and Punjabi by telephone and online
Clicklaw
Legal information, education and help for British Columbians Clicklaw (22:I)
The Kettle Society
Telephone: 604-251-2801 Website: www.thekettle.ca
• Advocacy and support, with a focus on mental health
• Family, tenancy, tax, welfare, ID replacement, and human rights
Amici Curaie
Telephone: 778-522-2839 Website: www.legalformsbc.ca
• Free assistance in completing legal forms (no Criminal, elder law, or wills and estates)
• Operate a clinic helping temporary workers apply for uncontested divorce orders
The Law Centre (University of Victoria)
Telephone: 250-385-1221 Website: www.uvic.ca/law/about/centre
• Law students in Victoria provide legal assistance to low income individuals in criminal, family, and civil law, including help with human rights, employment insurance, tenancy, welfare, and other administrative tribunals
Pov Net
Website: www.povnet.org
• Comprehensive source of legal referrals
• Can be used to search for legal help by region in British Columbia
First United Church Advocacy
Telephone: 604-251-3323 Website: firstunited.ca/advocacy
• Broad range of legal advocacy for low-income and vulnerable people in the Downtown Eastside Vancouver
• Focus on tenancy and social assistance
St Paul’s Advocacy Office
Telephone: 604-683-4287 Website: stpaulsanglican.bc.ca/site1/outreach-2/advocacy-outreach
• Supports people facing difficulties in day-to-day living
• This includes accommodation needs, landlord-tenant disputes, health and disability issues, and access to government services
Together Against Poverty Society (TAPS)
Telephone: 250-361-3521 Website: 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: 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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