Template:Legal Guide TOC Resource Guide
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.
Contact information for government services is available through:
Provincial
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Enquiry BC (Service BC): 1-800-663-7867
Lower Mainland: 604-660-2421
Victoria: 250-387-6121
TDD: 1-800-661-8773
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Federal
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Service Canada: 1-800-622-6232
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This guide refers to many websites for further legal information. To find a free public access computer, try visiting your local public library (Resource #48), a local Service BC office (Resource #52), a local college, university or Courthouse Library (Resource #15), if you have one. You may be able to get some assistance with finding your information from these locations also.
Access Justice
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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.
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AdminLawBC.ca
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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.
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Advocacy Access
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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.
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Bankruptcy BC
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Bankruptcy BC
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Lawyer Referral Service
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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.
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Legal Aid Representation
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The Legal Services Society provides a variety of legal aid services including legal aid representation (getting a lawyer to take your case for free). See section XX for a detailed description of Legal Aid Representation.
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