Legal Services

Find organizations that provide legal help in BC. Most services are free or low cost.

Logo showing a white outline of a circle with the words “BELLA COOLA” arching round the top, with the silhouette of an eagle beside the “A,” and the words “LEGAL ADVOCACY PROGRAM” arching round the bottom. In the centre is a quill pen and ink.

Bella Coola Legal Advocacy Program

S.H.E.D. Society of Bella Coola
Free and confidential legal advocacy services including information and referrals, summary advice and support, and full representation in many legal matters including housing (on and off reserve), income/social assistance, debt, police accountability, human rights, disability, Indigenous legal issues, elder issues, child protection, and much more.
Last reviewed July 2024
Logo features the CLAS acronym in bold orange with the text 'BC Human Rights Clinic' to the right.

BC Human Rights Clinic

BC Human Rights Clinic
The BC Human Rights Clinic provides free legal assistance to people who have filed a complaint with the BC Human Rights Tribunal. They provide summary advice, 1-2 hour legal consultations, and legal representation, if you’re eligible. The Short Services clinic provides free 30 minute appointments with a human rights lawyer or advocate.
Last reviewed July 2024
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Access Pro Bono Summary Advice Program

Access Pro Bono
Offers free legal advice to low- and modest-income individuals by phone or videoconference. Their volunteer lawyers provide up to a half hour of advice at each appointment, with the possibility of more appointments. Legal issues include family, immigration, criminal, and civil law (such as debt, employment, welfare, and housing matters).
Last reviewed July 2024
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Access Pro Bono Roster Program

Access Pro Bono
Provides free legal representation services for particular case types to individuals with low and modest incomes. It includes a Barristers’ Program (limited and extended litigation services), Court of Appeal Program (civil and family), Family Law Program (limited scope), Refugee Program (for sponsors), and Wills and Estates Program (non-litigious).
Last reviewed July 2024
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Access Pro Bono Residential Tenancy Program

Access Pro Bono
Provides free legal assistance and representation to tenants with low and modest incomes contending with tenancy law issues before the RTB. Issues include contesting evictions, disputing illegal rent increases, seeking compensation for loss of quiet enjoyment, seeking an order for repairs, recovering security deposits, and appearing at a hearing.
Last reviewed July 2024
Logo with two swoops and a circle, to represent a person, and "Legal Aid BC."

Family LawLINE

Legal Aid BC
Family LawLINE lawyers give legal advice about family law issues such as parenting time or contact/access, guardianship/custody, child support, spousal support, property division, family agreements, adoption, and court procedures. To be considered for this service, call Legal Aid BC’s Call Centre at the hours listed on the web page.
Last reviewed July 2024
The logo consists of a shield with the text "University of Victoria" below it, and the text "Law" below that. The shield features three red birds at the top, a book with yellow pages in the centre, and alternating blue and white horizontal stripes at the bottom.

First Nations and Metis Outreach Program

The Law Centre at the University of Victoria
May provide legal advice, assistance, and representation to First Nations and Métis clients who live in the Capital Regional District and who can’t afford a lawyer. Staff work with First Nations communities and organizations to provide accessible and holistic legal services to their members. They also help with access to the Human Rights Clinic.
Last reviewed July 2024
Logo featuring a Pacific west coast-style Indigenous art depiction of a dark blue hummingbird, with its beak over a red flower outlined in dark blue.

Indigenous Community Legal Clinic

UBC Indigenous Community Legal Clinic
The clinic provides advice, assistance, and representation to eligible clients who can’t afford a lawyer and who self-identify as Indigenous. They help with administrative and civil law matters, criminal matters, Aboriginal law/Indigenous legal issues, family law matters, child protection, human rights complaints, and more.
Last reviewed July 2024
Logo of "TRAC" with the letter "A" shaped like a house.

Housing Law Clinic (direct representation)

Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre (TRAC)
If you're eligible, the housing law clinic lawyer provides free legal advice and/or representation if you would like a Supreme Court Judge to review your Residential Tenancy Branch decision for a serious error or unfairness, if you need help enforcing an RTB monetary order, or if your housing situation falls outside the Residential Tenancy Act.
Last reviewed July 2024
Logo with two swoops and a circle, to represent a person, and "Legal Aid BC."

Parents Legal Centres

Legal Aid BC
Parents Legal Centres (PLCs) provide a lawyer and an advocate to help parents in select locations settle their child protection matters early on and collaboratively (everyone works together).
Last reviewed July 2024