Legal Services

Find organizations that provide legal help in BC. Most services are free or low cost.

Logo shows three fish forming a circle in the Pacific coast Indigenous art style, in black, teal, and white. To the right are the words “BC FIRST NATIONS” in black, above the much larger words “JUSTICE COUNCIL” in teal.

Indigenous Justice Centres

BC First Nations Justice Council
The centres provide culturally appropriate information, advice, support, and representation directly to Indigenous people at the community level. While focused primarily on criminal law and child protection issues, they also offer services based on community and cultural needs.
Last reviewed May 2026
Logo with two swoops and a circle, to represent a person, and "Legal Aid BC."

Legal aid intake services

Legal Aid BC
To qualify for a legal aid lawyer, your legal problem must be covered by their legal aid rules and you must meet their financial guidelines. When applying, intake staff will ask you for complete and true information about your legal problem, income, savings, and assets. Proof of the financial information you provide is required.
Last reviewed May 2026
Logo with two swoops and a circle, to represent a person, and "Legal Aid BC."

Community partners (legal aid community outreach)

Legal Aid BC
These service providers located throughout BC have partnered with Legal Aid BC to improve access to legal aid services in rural, remote, and Aboriginal communities. They help you get free legal information, call legal aid, find your nearest legal aid location, get legal help online, and connect with people who can help.
Last reviewed May 2026
Logo with two swoops and a circle, to represent a person, and "Legal Aid BC."

Legal aid navigators

Legal Aid BC
Legal Aid BC staff who guide you through the legal aid process, if you're a legal aid client. They answer questions about legal aid, provide practical support, help with your appointments, communicate with your lawyers, find specialized support services for your needs, and connect you with duty counsel, Family LawLINE, and other community services.
Last reviewed May 2026
The logo consists of a shield with the text "University of Victoria" below it, and the text "Law" below that. The shield features three red birds at the top, a book with yellow pages in the centre, and alternating blue and white horizontal stripes at the bottom.

Prisoner Legal Services

The Law Centre at the University of Victoria
Law students will come to William Head Penitentiary and the Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre (Wilkinson Road) and may be able to provide advice and assistance to inmates.
Last reviewed May 2026
Logo features the acronym "salc bc" in lowercase, bold, orange letters. To the right, there is a text block in smaller font that reads "SOUTH ASIAN LEGAL CLINIC OF BC," also in orange, contained within a partial circular outline.

SALCBC Legal Advice Clinic

South Asian Legal Clinic of BC
The clinic’s lawyers provide low-barrier and culturally sensitive legal advice and support for low-income South Asian families. Unbundled services may be available. Issues covered by staff lawyers include gender-based violence, separation, family law protection orders. Volunteer lawyers may help with civil litigation, criminal law, and more.
Last reviewed May 2026
The logo consists of a shield with the words "Thompson Rivers University" on the right. The shield depicts two rivers running between two hills, with a semi-circle of sun behind the hills.

TRU Community Legal Clinic (TRU CLC)

Thompson Rivers University Faculty of Law
This student-staffed free legal clinic provides legal help and advice to eligible people. They represent clients in areas including residential tenancy, employment standards, small claims, human rights claims, and some criminal charges. They draft legal documents such as simple wills, demand letters, powers of attorney, and more.
Last reviewed May 2026
The logo consists of a shield with the text "University of Victoria" below it, and the text "Law" below that. The shield features three red birds at the top, a book with yellow pages in the centre, and alternating blue and white horizontal stripes at the bottom.

First Nations and Metis Outreach Program

The Law Centre at the University of Victoria
May provide legal advice, assistance, and representation to First Nations and Métis clients who live in the Capital Regional District and who can’t afford a lawyer. Staff work with First Nations communities and organizations to provide accessible and holistic legal services to their members. They also help with access to the Human Rights Clinic.
Last reviewed May 2026
The logo consists of a shield with the text "University of Victoria" below it, and the text "Law" below that. The shield features three red birds at the top, a book with yellow pages in the centre, and alternating blue and white horizontal stripes at the bottom.

The Law Centre

The Law Centre at the University of Victoria
Provides legal advice, assistance, and representation to eligible clients who live in the Capital Regional District and who can’t afford a lawyer. They help with criminal matters, divorce, support and other family law matters, human rights complaints, and civil disputes. They also help with some hearings before administrative tribunals.
Last reviewed May 2026
The logo consists of a shield with the text "University of Victoria" below it, and the text "Law" below that. The shield features three red birds at the top, a book with yellow pages in the centre, and alternating blue and white horizontal stripes at the bottom.

Shut-In and Hospital Legal Services

The Law Centre at the University of Victoria
Persons who are hospitalized or who can’t attend the Law Centre in person because of disability or illness may telephone the office for more information. A staff member may arrange to visit them. (The Law Centre staff won’t give legal advice over the telephone.)
Last reviewed May 2026