The following list of community referrals typically have their own eligibility requirements and serve only the residents of British Columbia. Please contact them directly to see whether they can help you.
1. Access Pro Bono Society of British Columbia
APB runs a Lawyer Referral Service program. They can connect you with a lawyer who will provide you with a free consultation for up to 30 minutes. Click here for more information.
APB also provides a number of other services including free legal advice and/or representation to low-income tenants and landlords, employees, and people detained under the Mental Health Act. For a complete list of their services visit their website.
Contact Information:
Phone: 604-878-7400 or 1-877-762-6664
Website: https://www.accessprobono.ca/
2. Legal Aid BC
Legal Aid BC provides free legal advice for criminal, family, and immigration matters. They provide free legal representation for criminal charges, mental health and prison issues, serious family, child protection, and immigration matters. Contact them directly to find out if you qualify for a legal aid lawyer.
Contact Information:
Phone: 604-408-2172 or 1-866-577-2525
Website: https://legalaid.bc.ca/
3. Community Legal Assistance Society
CLAS provides legal assistance for issues relating to housing, income security, employment insurance, workers’ compensation, mental health and human rights. They also help with judicial reviews of decisions from certain tribunals. They even help low-income homeowners facing foreclosure and members of housing co-ops whose membership has been terminated.
Contact Information:
Phone: 604-685-3425 or 1-888-685-6222
Website: https://clasbc.net/
4. Seniors First BC
Seniors First BC provides services to people over the age of 55. They assist with housing issues, debt, pensions, assisted living, discrimination, abuse/neglect, financial exploitation, consumer complaints, and guardianship/capacity issues.
Contact Information:
Phone: 604-437-1940 or 1-866-437-1940
Website: https://seniorsfirstbc.ca/
5. People’s Law School
People’s Law School provides free education and legal information. They run a lot of useful webinars about everyday legal issues. They also have a whole bunch of easy-to-understand articles on their website.
Website: https://www.peopleslawschool.ca/
6. Amici Curiae
Amici Curiae (latin for “friends of the court”) provides assistance in drafting legal forms. They do not provide legal advice.
Contact Information:
Phone: 778-522-2839
Email: legalformsbc@gmail.com
Website: https://www.legalformsbc.ca/#/
7. UBC Law Students’ Legal Advice Program
LSLAP provides free legal assistance to low-income individuals in the Greater Vancouver area. They can help with criminal law, tenancy, employment, small claims, welfare, human rights, and immigration matters.
Contact Information:
Phone: 604-822-5791
Website: https://www.lslap.bc.ca/
8. Clicklaw
Clicklaw is a great resource for those that are trying to represent themselves. Their website contains a ton of useful information. It’s definitely worth checking it out!
Website: https://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/
9. Battered Women’s Support Services
BWSS provides support and advocacy for women who have experienced abuse. They provide summary legal advice, workshops, and advocacy relating to family, immigration, refugee, and criminal law. They also offer counselling and support.
Contact Information:
Phone: 1-855-687-1868
Website: https://www.bwss.org/
10. RISE Women’s Legal Centre
RISE provides family law and immigration legal services to individuals who self-identify as women.
Contact Information:
Phone: 236-317-9000
Website: https://womenslegalcentre.ca/
11. Society for Children and Youth
SCY provides free legal advice to children and youth on family law issues.
Contact Information:
Phone: 778-657-5544 or 1-877-462-0037
Website: https://www.scyofbc.org/
12. Immigration and Refugee Legal Clinic
The IRLC provides legal advice and representation to individuals dealing with immigration and refugee matters.
Contact Information:
Phone: 778-372-6583
Website: https://www.irlc.ca/
13. South Asian Legal Clinic
SALC provides free summary legal advice and information related to immigration, child protection separation and divorce, domestic violence, sexual assault, racial discrimination and profiling, economic justice for workers elder abuse, mental health, wills and estates.
Contact Information:
Phone: 604-878-7400 or 1-877-762-6664 (appointments are booked through Access Pro Bono)
Website: https://www.salcbc.org/
Looking for other legal clinics or organizations? Check out the helpful list created by the UBC Law Students’ Legal Advice Program (scroll down to “Chapter 22 – Referrals”).
