How to apply for legal aid

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Is my problem covered?
Representation coverage →

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Find out if you’re eligible
Do I qualify →

Ways to apply

To apply for a legal aid lawyer you can:

Before you contact us, please read the information below.

In person

If you want to apply for a legal aid lawyer in person, it’s a good idea to phone your local legal aid location first or check this website to find out the office or courthouse hours before you go.

Please bring all of your financial and court information with you when you come in (see below).

By phone

If your area doesn’t have a legal aid location or if you can’t get to the office or courthouse, you can apply for legal representation over the phone by calling our Call Centre.

Please have all of your financial and court information handy when you phone (see below).

You will need to provide proof of the financial information you give by fax or by dropping it off later at the closest legal aid location.

Online

You can apply for legal aid online by filling out an application form for your legal issue and emailing it to us.

You will need to include proof of the financial and court information you provide (see below).

An LABC intake worker will contact you within 5 – 7 business days to follow up on any incomplete responses and provide a status update on your application.

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What information do I need to give when I apply?

You’ll need to provide proof of your income and assets in some, but not all, situations.

You might not need to provide proof if:

  • you face significant barriers to providing proof, such as homelessness or having no source of income, or
  • your most recent application for legal aid was approved in the last five years, and your financial circumstances have not changed.

Proof of your income can include one or more of the following:

  • two recent pay stubs,
  • a recent welfare stub, or
  • a recent income tax return or bank records (if you’re self-employed or seasonally employed).

You’ll also need to provide:

  • proof of the value of your assets, and
  • any papers you have about your case — such as court orders or papers related to your criminal charge.

To take your application, a staff person will ask you for complete and true information about:

  • your legal problem,
  • income,
  • savings, and
  • assets.

If you don’t have all the documents we need, we’ll tell you what to do next.

What happens if my financial situation changes after I get legal aid?

If you get a legal aid lawyer, you must let the legal aid office know if your income changes.

If your financial situation improves and you’re no longer eligible for legal representation, you’ll be responsible for paying your lawyer. Ask your lawyer how much you’d need to pay if you were taken off legal aid.

If you get money from the resolution of your case, you may have to refund Legal Aid BC for part or all of the money it paid to your lawyer.

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You can help us improve our services

When you apply for legal aid, you can choose to fill out a survey and share information related to your race, gender, sexual orientation, or any disabilities you are living with. This will help us improve our services and make them more inclusive.

To complete the survey, fill out the: 

Find out more about the survey in the Demographic Data FAQ (PDF)

Email communications aren’t secure. Although LABC is committed to protecting applicants’ personal information, we aren’t responsible for the security of any information you send to us by email.

If you’re an advocate or community worker, find out how to help your client apply for legal aid.