Legal Aid BC has introduced changes to its family law services to better assist clients with family law problems during the pandemic. With courts unable to accommodate as many cases because of COVID-19, LABC will assist people to resolve their legal matters out of court. Now more than ever, many British Columbians need a lawyer’s advice and assistance to prepare for mediation or negotiation to settle some or all of their legal issues so that only the ones that cannot be resolved go before a judge.
The service covers a broader range of family law issues that we can help with, and we have increased the financial eligibility income guidelines so more people can get a lawyer’s help, no matter whether their case involves court or not.
Since the courts can accommodate only limited in-person services at this time, it has been more difficult for legal aid clients to connect with family duty counsel, who are legal aid lawyers in the courts on court days. By broadening the scope of our family law services, we hope to connect more clients with lawyers in lieu of in-person family duty counsel services.
The expanded service is available on a trial basis.