Legal Resources

An introduction to legal research, including how to search for cases and where to find help.

An overview of hiring a lawyer, free and low-cost legal help, and how to prepare for a meeting with a lawyer.

An overview of alternatives to going to court, including the advantages of avoiding court.

A series of guidebooks on the Supreme Court of BC for cases involving a civil matter — claims exceeding $35,000, as well as bankruptcy, personal injury, and contract disputes. Explains everything from starting an action and serving documents to how trial works and how to enforce an order after trial.

The basics of judicial review, which is when you’re asking the court to review a decision made by an administrative tribunals because you don’t think it was reasonable and fair. It goes over the time limits, what happens to the original order while you wait for the review, what kind of mistakes can be reviewed, and possible outcomes.

This guide contains information about the steps required when you’re starting an Action by Notice of Civil Claim, the parties involved in an action, and how to prepare your documents. This applies to the Supreme Court of BC.

This guidebook will help you defend a lawsuit started against you in BC Supreme Court. Defending a lawsuit is complicated and time consuming, and the consequences of doing things late or incorrectly may be serious. Features sample forms, including a response to civil claim and a counterclaim.

This guidebook gives an overview of how to start a proceeding by petition in BC Supreme Court and how to respond if you’ve been served with it. Topics include whether to start your proceeding with a petition or a notice of civil claim, and how to prepare, file, and serve your court documents.

Information about which court to file your claim and the fees involved, the difference between an action and a petition, and how to serve documents.

How to appeal decisions from small claims court, the BC Provincial Court, and tribunals.