Provides information about BC’s criminal justice system and helps you access resources and services.
Links
These websites provide information about the law and legal services in BC.
Criminal law
Family law
Basic information on family law topics and alternatives to court for family disputes.
Contains step-by-step guides to help people resolve their family law problems, current family law information and resources, and links to useful related sites.
Describes the services available at the Justice Access Centres in Abbotsford, Nanaimo, Surrey, Vancouver, and Victoria. Their staff provide legal help and information to people facing a separation or divorce.
Housing
Find resources for refugee claimants.
Indigenous peoples
Has information to help Aboriginal people across BC understand their legal rights. Includes information on First Nations Court; fishing, hunting, and gathering rights; matrimonial property on reserve; child protection; and family law. Also has information on who can help and how to get legal aid.
Offers legal services for Indigenous people in BC, including Indigenous Justice Centres and a Gladue report program.
Legal help
Contains information about free legal services available to people who can’t get legal aid or afford a lawyer. Includes a map to help people find legal clinics throughout Canada.
Information about how the centre can help you prepare to represent yourself in a Supreme Court or civil case, and links to other legal information websites and services.
Provides links to legal information, education, and help for British Columbians. The HelpMap finds people and resources in the community to help with legal problems.
Transcripts of taped information written by lawyers, about various legal topics and your legal rights.
Information about services that are available through government agents, and a listing of the Service BC centres around the province.
Find resources for refugee claimants.
Contains information about free legal advice clinics offered by law students at the University of British Columbia, including their clinic solely for immigration and refugee legal issues. Also includes the LSLAP Manual of legal information.
Describes how you can get a free 15-minute consultation meeting with a lawyer. At the meeting, you briefly describe your issue and the lawyer determines whether you have a legal problem.
Current information about poverty issues in BC and Canada for advocates, community groups, and people on welfare. Lists community-based advocates around the province.
A simple, user-friendly way of locating pro bono legal services throughout BC. Enter your location to get contact information, office hours, maps, directions, and descriptions of the free legal services offered in and around your community.
Legal information
Transcripts of taped information written by lawyers, about various legal topics and your legal rights.
Legal information on a variety of topics in plain language.
Legal research
On the BC Courthouse Library Society’s website, a collection of some hard-to-find answers found by staff while helping users with their legal research questions.
The Canadian Legal Information Institute (CanLii) provides access to court judgements from all Canadian courts and the consolidated statutes and regulations of every jurisdiction in Canada.
Legal information on a variety of topics in plain language.
A guide to finding court records and transcripts relating to a case.
Legal system and courts
The website of the BC branch of the professional lawyers’ organization.
Analytical articles on various types of law, news from the legal community, information about recent court decisions, and more.
Contains links to information about the BC Supreme Court, Provincial Court, and Court of Appeal. Also links to Court Services, the section of the Ministry of Attorney General that delivers administrative services such as court registry and trial support.
A non-profit foundation created by legislation in 1969 to fund legal initiatives.
The website of the governing body of BC lawyers.
Refugee, immigration, and citizenship
Connects refugee claimants with settlement workers and provides links to resources and services.
A non-profit organization that’s committed to the rights and protection of refugees around the world, and to the settlement of refugees and immigrants in Canada.
Get the latest information update on the Afghan crisis.
Get links to refugee and immigration resources, find answers to common questions, use the HelpMap to find services in your community.
Access free immigration and refugee legal services for people with low incomes in BC.
Learn about Canada’s response to the situation in Afghanistan and the supports that are available. Contact IRCC at 1-613-321-4243.
Find resources for refugee claimants.
Seniors
Publications for seniors about benefits, services, and planning for the future:
When I’m 64: Benefits
When I’m 64: Controlling Your Affairs
When I’m 64: Services
See also their Seniors publications page for links to other useful booklets and fact sheets for seniors. Several of their publications are available in languages other than English.