In addition to contributing to the costs of legal aid in the provinces and territories, the Legal Aid Program provides secretariat support to the Permanent Working Group on Legal Aid (SWG) in the federal-provincial territory. The WMP is composed of representatives from the federal, provincial and territorial governments as well as representatives from each provincial and territorial legal aid authority and reports directly to the Deputy Ministers of Justice and Public Safety responsible for Justice and Public Safety. The PWG is a forum for the national exchange of information, research and joint development of policies and discussions on issues of common interest related to legal aid and for the negotiation of the federal contribution to legal aid. Federal funding supports the capacity of provinces and territories to provide criminal and juvenile justice, immigration and refugee legal aid, and legal aid in public safety and counter-terrorism matters. Justice Education Society improves people`s legal skills through educational programs and resources aimed at building legal knowledge, skills and confidence. Visit justiceeducation.ca. Instead of hiring a lawyer to handle all your legal affairs, you can hire a lawyer to handle certain parts. In this way, these tasks “unbundle” parts that you can do yourself. With unbundled legal services, you get help where you need it most, at a price you can manage. You only pay for the tasks that the lawyer is working on.
At student law clinics in the Lower Mainland and Victoria, law students can help those who otherwise cannot afford legal assistance. Students help with legal issues such as rent or work issues, access to government benefits, criminal charges (less serious), and small claims cases. Call the Lower Mainland at 604-822-5791 or visit lslap.bc.ca. In the Victoria area, call 250-385-1221 or visit uvic.ca/law/about/centre. Most courthouses have lawyers who are called service advocates. They offer free legal advice to people with limited resources who have a case at the courthouse that day. If you are on trial in a criminal or family case, they can give you some brief advice. They may be able to speak on your behalf in court on simple issues. For business advice at your community courthouse, visit legalaid.bc.ca or contact your local legal counseling office.
The Federal Government does not provide legal aid. If you need help, please read the blue pages of your local telephone directory or visit the Provincial and Territorial Legal Services websites listed below: Visit Indigenous Legal Resources for Indigenous legal resources. If you are not eligible for legal representation, you may still be eligible for other legal aid services. This includes public defenders and lawyers who advise by telephone. As legal aid is a cost-shared program between the federal government and provincial and territorial governments, funding for the federal contribution to the provision of mutual legal assistance services is provided directly to provincial and territorial governments. Legal Aid BC, the province`s legal aid provider, provides free legal information on family law, criminal law, immigration and Indigenous legal issues. Your main website contains legalaid.bc.ca many publications in languages other than English. Their Family Law in BC website in family.legalaid.bc.ca provides self-help information to people in family conflict.
Information for Aboriginal people can be found on their Aboriginal Legal Aid in British Columbia website at aboriginal.legalaid.bc.ca. The Legal Aid Program is a cost-sharing program that provides contribution funds to provinces and territories for the provision of legal aid services to economically disadvantaged persons. This federal-provincial/territorial cooperation in the area of legal aid is based on the shared responsibility for criminal justice by the federal Government within its constitutional jurisdiction over criminal law and criminal procedure and by provincial/territorial governments within its constitutional jurisdiction over the administration of justice, including legal aid. If you are arrested or detained and are in police custody, you can call the Brydges Line to speak to a lawyer. This is a free 24-hour hotline for legal advice. Call 1-866-458-5500 toll-free. “Pro bono” means “for the common good”. With pro bono legal services, lawyers voluntarily provide free legal advice and assistance to those who cannot afford a lawyer or receive legal assistance.
Through Access Pro Bono, pro bono lawyers provide summary legal advice across a network of legal clinics across British Columbia. Other Access Pro Bono programs offer representation services in limited situations. Call 604-878-7400 in the Greater Vancouver Area or 1-877-762-6664 toll-free from elsewhere in the province, or visit their website at accessprobono.ca. Legal Aid BC has increased the amount a person can earn to receive legal aid. In communities across the province, lawyers provide free support and advocacy to low-income and marginalized people with legal issues. Lawyers help with legal issues such as rent or work issues, domestic violence, access to government benefits, and immigration issues. Advocates usually work from non-profit institutions such as non-profit centres, churches or women`s centres. Lawyers are trained to help people enforce their rights, including with the paperwork involved. PovNet has a Find an Advocate card in povnet.org. Clicklaw`s help map on clicklaw.bc.ca/helpmap lists dozens of defenders in British Columbia.
Visit Youth Services for legal services and resources for youth. To find out if you are eligible for free legal advice or representation, visit Legal Aid (British Columbia). Access to Justice Centres in Vancouver, Victoria, Surrey, Nanaimo and Abbotsford offer help with family and everyday problems such as work, housing or debt problems. Access to justice centres offer free mediation services and limited legal advice. Many of these services are accessible to all. Some services (such as family counselling lawyers) are available to low-income individuals. For more information, call Service BC toll-free at 1-800-663-7867 or visit the Government of British Columbia website. Courthouse Libraries BC also offers Clicklaw Wikibooks, plain language legal publications that are Born Wiki and can also be printed. See wiki.clicklaw.bc.ca. If you have a low income and are facing certain types of criminal, family or immigration issues, you may be able to get a lawyer for free from legal aid. Contact Legal Aid (British Columbia) by visiting legalaid.bc.ca or by calling 604-408-2172 in the Greater Vancouver Area or toll-free at 1-866-577-2525 elsewhere in British Columbia.
Their website lists legal aid locations across the province. People`s Law School is a non-profit corporation committed to making the law accessible to all. Their website in peopleslawschool.ca offers free education and information to help people deal with the legal problems of everyday life. Topics presented include consumer and debt issues, workplace issues, wills and estates. If you have a low income and a family law problem, you may be entitled to free legal advice over the phone from a family law lawyer. Family LawLINE`s lawyers give short “Next Step” advice on family law issues. Call Legal Aid (British Columbia) at 604-408-2172 in Metro Vancouver or toll-free at 1-866-577-2525 elsewhere in British Columbia. The Legal Aid Program promotes fair trials and helps ensure access to justice for economically disadvantaged persons accused of serious and/or complex crimes and likely to be incarcerated, as well as for minors charged under the Juvenile Justice Act, regardless of where they live in Canada. The Legal Aid Program also contributes to ensuring that Canada is able to meet its criminal legal aid obligations at the federal level, such as under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and in public safety and counter-terrorism cases, as well as its responsibilities in matters of immigration and legal assistance for refugees and the administration of court-ordered lawyers at the Office of the Prosecutor General of Switzerland. Dozens of agencies provide legal assistance in specific areas to people who are disadvantaged or have limited resources. The Legal Aid Program, through its contribution agreements for criminal legal aid and the territories through the consolidated agreements on access to justice services, provides funding to the provinces for: Visit Clicklaw information on legal services and resources. Browse Clicklaw`s help map to find free and cost-effective legal services in your community.
Ask a lawyer to handle your case and represent you in court. More than 25,000 people receive a legal aid lawyer each year. We provide legal aid in British Columbia. The law is complicated, but not everyone can afford a lawyer. We can help you with your legal problem. If you are in police custody and waiting for a bail hearing, you can get advice by phone in the evenings, on weekends and on holidays. You can reach Legal Aid BC`s lawyers at 1-888-595-5677 toll-free. Free or low-cost legal assistance options include legal aid, pro bono services, legal clinics, and lawyers. Also, find out about the best sources of legal information to solve legal problems.
The Tenant Resource and Advice Centre (TRAC) offers a telephone information line to help tenants resolve legal issues. They also offer tenants free representation at dispute resolution hearings in limited situations. Call 604-255-0546 in Vancouver or toll-free 1-800-665-1185 or visit tenants.bc.ca. Clicklaw is a website operated by Courthouse Libraries BC to provide the layman with access to legal information. It covers dozens of topics and includes information on problem solving. Visit clicklaw.bc.ca. The Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS) provides legal advice and support to people who are disadvantaged or whose human rights need to be protected.