Legal Services

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

Red logo with the words “north shore” above the larger word “women’s” which is above the word “centre.” The “O” is directly above the “T” and they form the woman’s symbol. Below are the words “a place for women, a voice for women.”

Family Law Clinic

North Shore Women’s Centre
Free summary advice for low-income women. The monthly clinic provides information, support, and legal advice about family law issues. This includes a private one-hour appointment with a female family lawyer. Priority is given to women who haven’t attended the clinic in the past.
Last reviewed July 2024
Logo features the CLAS acronym in bold orange with the text 'BC Human Rights Clinic' to the right.

BC Human Rights Clinic

BC Human Rights Clinic
The BC Human Rights Clinic provides free legal assistance to people who have filed a complaint with the BC Human Rights Tribunal. They provide summary advice, 1-2 hour legal consultations, and legal representation, if you’re eligible. The Short Services clinic provides free 30 minute appointments with a human rights lawyer or advocate.
Last reviewed July 2024
Logo with two swoops and a circle, to represent a person, and "Legal Aid BC."

Parents Legal Centres

Legal Aid BC
Parents Legal Centres (PLCs) provide a lawyer and an advocate to help parents in select locations settle their child protection matters early on and collaboratively (everyone works together).
Last reviewed July 2024
Logo featuring the letters "bwss" in an italic font, in black, with curved black lines swooping round the upper left and lower right. Below this are the words "BATTERED WOMEN'S" in black, with the word "WOMEN'S" in a bold font. Below this are the words "SUPPORT SERVICES" in black, with the word "SUPPORT" in a bold font.

Justice Centre at BWSS

Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS)
A legal clinic for women who have experienced violence. Services are trauma informed and violence informed, culturally responsive, and offered in several languages. Staff, interns, and volunteer lawyers provide legal information, accompany you to court and legal appointments, appeal when legal aid has been denied, and help you prepare documents.
Last reviewed July 2024
Logo of the Community Legal Assistance Society, featuring a workmark in black text with a colorful abstract design on the left around another wordmark "CLAS" consisting of blue, green, purple, and orange shapes.

Mental health law program

Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS)
Offers representation for people who have applied for a review panel hearing with the Mental Health Review Board under the Mental Health Act, and for people who have a BC Review Board hearing under the Mental Disorder Provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada.
Last reviewed July 2024
Logo with two swoops and a circle, to represent a person, and "Legal Aid BC."

Immigration law duty counsel

Legal Aid BC
Lawyers for people in detention at the Canada Border Services Agency’s enforcement centre in Vancouver. They can give advice regarding procedures and your legal rights, and may appear on your behalf at detention hearings. You don’t have to meet financial eligibility requirements for these services.
Last reviewed July 2024
Logo with two swoops and a circle, to represent a person, and "Legal Aid BC."

Family duty counsel

Legal Aid BC
Lawyers through Legal Aid BC can help people with low incomes deal with their family law issues, including child protection issues if the MCFD is involved, and if you’re going through a separation or divorce. You might qualify for help from family duty counsel in Provincial or Supreme Court even if you don’t qualify for a legal aid lawyer.
Last reviewed July 2024
Logo showing the name "Seniors First BC" in a modern lowercase font in a gradient of blue colors, each letter overlapping the next.

Seniors Abuse and Information Line (SAIL)

Seniors First BC
SAIL is a safe place for older adults to talk to someone about situations where they feel they’re being abused or mistreated. They provide information about elder abuse and the legal rights of older adults to friends, family members, and professionals who are concerned about an older adult.
Last reviewed July 2024
Logo features a curved design in rainbow colours, including pink, blue, brown, and black, and the organization name, with a red maple leaf after the name.

Inland Program

Rainbow Refugee
This service supports people already in BC who have fled persecution in their country of origin based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or HIV status. It focuses on their right to claim asylum, protection and eligibility, providing essential services, access to justice, and getting legal identity documentation.
Last reviewed July 2024
Logo features a stylized drawing of a brown flower with red petals, with its stem forming an underline for the letters PACE to the right of the flower.

Gender Self-Determination Project

PACE Society
This project is open to all trans, two-spirit, and non-binary persons to help with legally changing their names and gender markers on government identification.
Last reviewed July 2024