Legal Services

Provides restorative justice services in the Greater Victoria Area, working with youth (ages 12 and up) and adults. This victim-centred approach aims to address the harms caused by crime and violence. This approach can be used instead of, alongside, or independently of the traditional justice system.

A province-wide toll-free telephone service available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to provide criminal law advice. You can call to speak to a lawyer if you’re arrested, detained, or under active investigation by the police or another law enforcement agency for a criminal offence, but not yet charged, and in need of emergency legal services.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Free information and referrals to help you deal with your legal issues. Questions are answered by UBC law students on weekdays from 11 am to 2 pm. Questions outside these hours will receive a response the next business day. Ask JES is supported by a knowledge base of over 1,000 legally reviewed questions and answers.

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.

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.