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{{Template:Legal Help Guide TOC}}By a "good" lawyer, we mean one that knows what he or she is doing, has experience dealing with the relevant areas of law, communicates effectively, is efficient and affordable, and <span class="noglossary">will </span> work hard for his or her client. The [[Resource List]] describes several legal services that provide information and assistance and some limited advice and representation, but you really can't beat full representation by a lawyer or legally supervised advocate.
== First steps ==
If you do not know a lawyer who can help you:
# See if you qualify for legal aid representation: people with low incomes who are facing serious criminal, family or immigration issues may qualify for legal aid. If you qualify for legal aid, the Legal Services Society <span class="noglossary">will </span> appoint a lawyer for you. For information on applying for legal aid representation, see [[Legal Aid Representation|legal aid representation]] in the [[Resource List]].
# Speak with friends or helping professionals who have worked with lawyers recently, and see if they can recommend someone.
# Contact the Lawyer Referral Service and ask for the names of lawyers near you who practice the type of law you need (see [[Lawyer Referral Service]] in the [[Resource List]]).
== What happens next ==
The lawyer <span class="noglossary">will </span> want to meet with you (either in person or by phone) to discuss your case. Before meeting with a lawyer or advocate, complete the [[Preparing for Your Interview]] form included in this Guide. Make sure you bring copies of all documents relating to your case. A meeting with a lawyer is more effective if you are well prepared.
At the end of the meeting, you can discuss whether the lawyer <span class="noglossary">will </span> do more work for you, and how much that work <span class="noglossary">will </span> cost.
== Where to get help ==
See the [[Resource List for Legal Help for British Columbians|Resource List]] for a list of legal resources, including lawyers and legally supervised advocates who can provide advice and sometimes representation for little or no cost.
Complete the [[Preparing for Your Interview]] form included in this Guide before speaking with an advocate or lawyer.