Call, click, or come in for free services.
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.
Find your local legal aid location or contact our Call Centre at 604-408-2172 (Greater Vancouver) or 1-866-577-2525 (elsewhere in BC)
Information
Get general information about the law. Our resources help hundreds of thousands of people each year.
Your legal aid location
- Apply for legal aid, or ask about other types of help (call for hours)
Your courthouse
- Get brief advice from duty counsel. Find out what services are available at your court location
- Apply for legal aid at some courthouses
Legal aid immigration
- Call 604-601-6076 (Greater Vancouver) or 1-888-601-6076 (elsewhere in BC), or
- Come in to the Vancouver legal aid office
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