Legal Services

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.

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).

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.

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.

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).

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.

A legal clinic for women who have experienced violence. Services are trauma informed and violence informed, culturally responsive, and offered in several languages. Staff, interns, and volunteer lawyers provide legal information, accompany you to court and legal appointments, appeal when legal aid has been denied, and help you prepare documents.

The centres provide culturally appropriate information, advice, support, and representation directly to Indigenous people at the community level. While focused primarily on criminal law and child protection issues, they also offer services based on community and cultural needs.

Lawyers who help people with low incomes deal with their family law issues, including child protection issues if the MCFD is involved, and if you’re going through a separation or divorce. You might qualify for help from family duty counsel in Provincial or Supreme Court even if you don’t qualify for a legal aid lawyer.