Legal Aid BC Can Help You

Call, click, or come in for free services.

Help people

What is legal aid?

Representation

  • A lawyer to take your case when you have a serious family, child protection, criminal, immigration or refugee law matter

Advice

  • Duty counsel (lawyers) provide family, child protection, or criminal advice, and may be able to help at some types of court appearances
  • Family LawLINE provides free family and child protection advice over the phone from a family lawyer. Call 604-408-2172 (Greater Vancouver) or 1-866-577-2525 (elsewhere in BC) 

Information

  • Legal information and referrals to other services from legal navigators in your community
  • Information services in person and over the phone
  • Online legal information and resources

What help can I get?

It depends on your legal problem and your income.

Family and child protection law matters

  • Help for people representing themselves at court
  • Legal advice or representation for matters including separation and divorce, parenting time and contact with children, parental responsibilities, financial support, and other family law and child protection problems
  • Advice and support at Parents Legal Centres

Criminal law matters

  • Assistance from duty counsel (lawyers at the courts)
  • Access to a 24-hour phone line for people arrested, detained, or under investigation
  • Advice from lawyers at bail hearings

Immigration and refugee matters

  • Help with refugee claims
  • Access to our immigration phone line

How can I get help?

Contact us to find out which services you qualify for.

To get some services, your legal problem must be covered under legal aid rules and you must meet financial guidelines. Contact your local legal aid location to find out which services you qualify for.

Services in many languages

  • Help from a translator when you apply for legal aid, or when you talk to a lawyer