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 1, 2023.

Access Pro Bono's Lawyer Referral Service

Telephone: 604-687-3221 Toll-Free: 1-800-663-1919 Website: https://www.accessprobono.ca/our-programs/lawyer-referral-service

• Consultation with a lawyer for up to 30 minutes for free, during which time fees are negotiated for further consultation, but a few well-organized questions can be answered
• Any ongoing legal assistance will require paying the lawyer’s regular fees

Access Pro Bono

Telephone: 604-482-3195 Toll-Free: 1-877-762-6664 Website: https://www.accessprobono.ca

• 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
• Solicitors’ Program: Connects non-profit organisations with pro-bono legal services
• 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)

Legal Services Society (Legal Aid)

Legal Aid Applications: Telephone: 604-408-2172 Toll-Free: 1-866-577-2525 General Inquiries: Telephone: 604-601-6000 Website: https://legalaid.bc.ca/

• A range of free legal services provided to all British Columbians, with priority given to people with low incomes
• Information: Variety of publications available online to get general information about the law
• Advice: Legal advice on criminal, family and immigration issues from duty counsel lawyers and family advice lawyers
• Representation: A lawyer may be able to take your case and provide representation for criminal charges, mental health and prison issues, serious family problems, child protection matters and immigration problems

Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS)

Telephone: 604-685-3425 Toll-Free: 1-888-685-6222 Website: https://clasbc.net/

• 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.

Law Students’ Legal Advice Program (LSLAP)

Telephone: 604-822-5791 Website: https://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
• 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

Telephone: 604-660-2084 Toll-Free: 1-800-663-7867 (ask for Justice Access Centre) Virtual Initial Needs Determination: 1-844-747-3963 Website: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/about-bcs-justice-system/justice-access-centres/how-to-find-us/vancouver

• 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, or 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.

Seniors First BC

Telephone: 604-437-1940 Toll-Free: 1-866-437-1940 Website: https://seniorsfirstbc.ca/

• Provides services to people age 55 and over
• Helps victims of abuse or a crime to access the justice system
• Provides practical and emotional support
• Preparation and support for older adults who will be testifying in court about abuse or other crime
• Can assist with tenancy/housing, debt, pensions, assisted living, discrimination, abuse/neglect, financial exploitation, consumer complaints, and guardianship/capacity.
• Does not prepare wills or power of attorneys, or give advice on estate administration, real estate, criminal law or family law matters

Dial-A-Law

Telephone: 604-687-4680 Toll-Free: 1-800-565-5297 Website: https://dialalaw.peopleslawschool.ca/

• General information on a variety of topics on law in British Columbia
• Library of legal information prepared by lawyers

Clicklaw

Website: https://www.clicklaw.bc.ca

• Legal information and education for British Columbians
• Available in multiple languages

The Kettle Society

Telephone: 604-253-0669 Website: https://www.thekettle.ca/advocacy

• Advocacy and support, with a focus on mental health
• Family, tenancy, tax, welfare, ID replacement, and human rights

Amici Curiae

Telephone: 778-522-2839 Website: https://www.legalformsbc.ca

• Free assistance in completing legal forms (no criminal law, elder law, or wills and estates)

The Law Centre (University of Victoria)

Telephone: 250-385-1221 Website: https://www.uvic.ca/law/about/centre

• Law students at the University of Victoria provide legal assistance to low-income individuals with criminal, family, and civil law issues, including help with human rights, employment insurance, tenancy, welfare, and other administrative tribunals

PovNet

Website: https://www.povnet.org

• Comprehensive source of legal referrals

First United Church Advocacy

Telephone: 604-251-3323 Website: https://firstunited.ca/how-we-help/legal-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: https://www.stpaulsanglican.bc.ca/ministries/advocacy-office

• 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: https://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: https://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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