Legal Services

The clinic provides advocacy, legal advice, and representation mainly to low-income individuals. Areas of the law include social assistance, income assistance, tenancy, employment (including employment insurance and employment standards), workers’ compensation, human rights, debt, and disability (including mental health).

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.

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.

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).

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).

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.

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.

To qualify for a legal aid lawyer, your legal problem must be covered by their legal aid rules and you must meet their financial guidelines. When applying, intake staff will ask you for complete and true information about your legal problem, income, savings, and assets. Proof of the financial information you provide is required.

Pro bono (free) legal advocacy services to caregivers and other migrant workers. They help with immigration, employment issues, labour exploitation, and trafficking and human rights. They cover issues such as recovering lost wages, illegal recruitment fees, employment contracts, EI, immigration status, work permits, and temporary resident visas.

Free legal advice and representation on issues such as criminal summary offences, civil resolution, small claims, residential tenancy, WorkSafeBC, consumer protection, EI, CPP and Old-Age Pension, wills and estates, and immigration and refugee issues. They may draft certain types of legal documents such as demand letters, wills, and more.