Legal Help
Lawyer Referral Service
The BC branch of the Canadian Bar Association offers a lawyer referral service. With a phone call (1-800-663-1919), you can get the contact information of a qualified lawyer who works in the area of law that you need. You will be able to meet with that lawyer for up to 30 minutes for only $25.
Duty Counsel (at a courthouse)
Duty counsel is a lawyer at the courthouse who can give you quick and free legal advice, and may be able to assist you briefly in Provincial Court for criminal and family law matters. For example, duty counsel could help you postpone your case or represent you in a bail hearing. Duty counsel cannot represent you at a trial.
Access Pro Bono Society of BC
If you cannot afford a lawyer, Access Pro Bono may be able to help you find lawyers that give free legal assistance in criminal, family, immigration and civil matters. Access Pro Bono lawyers do not represent clients in court, but they do give legal advice and help clients prepare for court appearances. For more information, and to find a clinic near you, phone 604-878-7400 or 1-877-762-6664.
Salvation Army Pro Bono Program
In this program, volunteer lawyers offer summary legal advice to people who cannot afford to pay for a lawyer but who are ineligible for legal aid. Legal problems can involve criminal, family, immigration, labour and welfare law as well as civil matters like residential tenancy disputes, small claims and bankruptcy proceedings.
To qualify for the program, clients must be ineligible for legal aid and must meet financial criteria - having a monthly household income not exceeding $1,500 for a single person (or $2,500 for a person with one or more dependants) and holding no more than $30,000 in equity. For more information, phone (604) 694-6647.
Legal Aid
The Legal Services Society provides legal aid, which includes legal information, legal advice and legal representation. To apply for a legal aid lawyer to help you with a family, criminal, or immigration problem, or to get legal information or advice, you have to visit a legal aid office or courthouse location, or call the Society’s Call Centre at 604-408-2172 or 1-866-577-2525.
Justice Access Centres
There are two Justice Access Centres in BC - one in Vancouver (290 – 800 Hornby St.; 604-660-2084) and one in Nanaimo (302 – 65 Front St.; 250-741-5447). Justice Access Centres provide in-person help for family and civil law problems – but they do not provide help with criminal or Small Claims Court cases. The staff at these centres can help you find what you need, provide information about your legal issues, and in some instances, connect you with additional help both onsite and offsite. If you live near Vancouver or Nanaimo, these centres are the best place to go for help with your family or civil law problem.
Law Students’ Legal Advice Program
This program is run by law students at the University of British Columbia. It provides free advice and representation to clients who would otherwise be unable to afford legal assistance. Clinics are located throughout Greater Vancouver. To book an appointment, phone 604-822-5791. In addition, has a very easy-to-use manual that provides quick answers to many legal issues on its website: www.lslap.bc.ca.
Dial-a-Law
You can use the telephone to call Dial-a-Law and listen to pre-recorded information about specific areas of law. Call Dial-a-Law at 1-800-565-5297 – or visit www.DialALaw.org to read scripted text. The recordings and text are available in English, Chinese, and Punjabi. They can provide you with a good overview of the law in your case. This is a free service.
Courthouse Library
You can go to a courthouse library. Although librarians cannot give you legal advice, they can help you find information about the law that applies to your case, and help you find legislation, regulations, and case law. Legislation is the law that the federal, provincial, or municipal government makes. Regulations give you more information about a particular law. For example, one of the regulations to the Motor Vehicle Act tells you which type of helmets have been approved for safe driving of a motorcycle. Case law is the decisions that other judges have made in cases similar to yours.
You can learn a great deal about the law in your case by reading about past cases that were similar to yours. Librarians at the courthouse can also help you find information that is available on the Internet.
For more information, and to find a location near you, phone 604-660-2841 or 1-800-665-2570.