Resource List for Legal Help for British Columbians

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Here is an alphabetical list of 60 of the best sources of legal information, assistance, advice and representation for low-income clients in British Columbia.


Access Justice
Access Pro Bono operates free legal clinics in a number of communities throughout BC. Clients who meet the financial means test (see website for details) can receive 30 minutes of free legal advice and sometimes additional appointments. Access Pro Bono lawyers generally do not appear in court or tribunals but they can give advice, make calls, and assist with documents.
Website accessprobono.ca
Phone 1-604-878-7400
Toll-free: 1-877-762-6664
Find on Clicklaw Access Pro Bono on Clicklaw HelpMap


AdminLawBC.ca
AdminLawBC.ca describes administrative tribunals — the specialized government agencies, boards and commissions that provide resolution of disputes involving government laws and how they are applied. They can hear complaints about decisions made by government agencies related to such topics as minimum wage, Employment Insurance, safety standards, telephone service rates, or rules of conduct of doctors and other professionals. The site also features a BC Administrative Law Directory which lists information and many of the decisions of over 100 federal and provincial tribunals.
Website adminlawbc.ca
Phone No phone service available


Advocacy Access
The Advocacy Access Program is a service of Disability Alliance BC (formerly BC Coalition of People with Disabilities) that provides information, assistance, advice, and occasional representation for people with disability-related issues such as welfare benefits for people with disabilities, Canada Pension Plan disability benefits, and the Registered Disability Savings Plan.

Website: Advocacy Access Publications has a number of fact sheets about disability-related money and income support issues.

Website www.disabilityalliancebc.org
Phone 1-604-872-1278
Toll-free: 1-800-663-1278
Find on Clicklaw Advocacy Access Program on Clicklaw HelpMap


Bankruptcy BC
Seniors First BC (formerly BC Centre for Elder Advocacy and Support - BCCEAS) is a non-profit organization helping older adults. They operate Seniors' Legal Clinics in the Lower Mainland and a toll-free Seniors Advocacy and Information Line (SAIL) that provides information and referrals.

Website: The Resources section has fact sheets and e-books on residential care and elder abuse.

Website seniorsfirstbc.ca
Phone 1-604-437-1940
Toll-free: 1-866-437-1940
Find on Clicklaw Seniors First BC on Clicklaw HelpMap
Lawyer Referral Service
Access Pro Bono Society of BC's Lawyer Referral Service provides referrals to lawyers in private practice who specialize in various areas of the law. Any member of the public may call this service to obtain the contact information of a lawyer who will provide a free half-hour legal consultation.
Website www.accessprobono.ca
Phone 604-687-3221
Find on Clicklaw Lawyer Referral Service on HelpMap


Legal Aid Representation
The Legal Services Society (LSS) provides free legal aid representation (a lawyer to take your case) for financially eligible clients facing some types of criminal, serious family problems, child protection matters, mental health and prison issues, or immigration problems.
Website legalaid.bc.ca
Phone Toll-free: 1-866-577-2525
Find on Clicklaw Legal Aid Intake Offices on Clicklaw HelpMap

Legal issues covered[edit]

The following legal issues are covered:

Criminal charges if, after you were convicted, you would:

  • go to jail,
  • face a conditional sentence that would severely limit your liberty,
  • lose your way of earning a living, or
  • face an immigration proceeding that could lead to deportation from Canada.

You can also get a lawyer to represent you if you:

  • have a physical condition or disability or a mental or emotional illness that makes it impossible for you to represent yourself,
  • are Aboriginal and the case affects your ability to follow a traditional livelihood of hunting and fishing, or
  • are a youth charged with a federal offence (however if you are in the care of the Ministry of Children and Family Development, you must speak to your social worker to arrange for a lawyer).
If you self-identify as Aboriginal, you have Gladue rights under the Criminal Code. You may also be able to have your bail or sentencing hearing in the First Nations Court in North Vancouver, New Westminster, Duncan or Kamloops.

Serious family problems in the circumstances such as:

  • you need an immediate court order to ensure your or your children's safety,
  • to resolve a serious denial of parenting time or contact with/access to your children,
  • when the other parent threatens to remove your children permanently from the province, or
  • when you have guardianship or custody of your children and the other parent has contact or access, but he or she has unlawfully held your children and not allowed you to carry out your guardianship or custody responsibilities.

You may also be able to get a lawyer to represent you in other situations, depending on the available funding, your circumstances, and based on a merit test, including:

  • to resolve serious legal issues in high conflict cases,
  • when you have experienced court-related harassment (your ex-partner is using the legal system to harass you),
  • when you have barriers to self-representation due to emotional abuse, psychological trauma, or mental illness, or
  • when all other efforts to resolve the case have been exhausted and resolving the case will make a significant difference to you or your children.
The items above are not a complete list of all the situations covered. Coverage decisions are made on a discretionary basis.

Child protection cases where:

  • the Ministry of Children and Family Development has taken or has threatened to take child(ren) away, or
  • there are guardianship or custody and contact or access issues related to a child in the care of the Ministry for Children and Family Development (foster care).

Mental health hearings before a Mental Health Review Panel or the BC Review Board.

Prison issues for which the Charter of Rights and Freedoms provides the right to a lawyer.

Immigration proceedings for refugee claimants or clients facing removal from Canada.

Note: Whether any particular case is to be covered by legal aid is ultimately a decision made by LSS.

Eligibility[edit]

To get a legal aid lawyer to represent you, your legal problem must be covered by legal aid rules, and your net household income and assets must be at or below the financial guidelines.

Only a trained legal intake assistant can determine your financial eligibility for legal aid. The following information is not complete. To find out if you qualify for a legal aid lawyer, it's best to go into a legal aid office and apply.
Income guidelines for legal aid eligibility
Household size Net monthly income
1 $1,550
2 $2,160
3 $2,780
4 $3,400
5 $4,020
6 $4,640
7 or more $5,250

For more information, see Do I qualify for legal representation? on the LSS website.

Applying for legal aid representation[edit]

To apply for a legal aid lawyer or to get information or advice, go into a legal aid office or courthouse location, or call the LSS Call Centre.

Applying in person[edit]

To apply in person, it's a good idea to phone your local legal aid office or check the LSS website to find out the office hours. See Where to find legal aid services.

You will need to provide information about your case and proof of income, such as two recent pay stubs, a recent welfare stub, or a recent income tax return or bank records. You will also have to provide information about valuable assets such as a car or boat.

Applying by phone[edit]

If your area doesn't have a legal aid office or if you can't get to the legal aid office, you can apply over the phone:

Lower Mainland: 604-408-2172
Toll-free elsewhere in BC: 1-866-577-2525

Note that if you don't qualify for representation, you may still be financially eligible for advice services such as duty counsel. You don't have to be financially eligible to receive legal information from LSS.