Legal Services

This program helps Indigenous accused understand the criminal justice process from its outset, ensuring they receive fair, just, equitable, and culturally sensitive treatment before the courts. The service provides appropriate referrals, liaises between Indigenous accused and criminal justice personnel, and more.

This program provides culturally safe, trauma-informed support and counselling to Indigenous survivors of sexual assault through a community-based referral system. It serves Indigenous individuals (First Nations, Inuit, Métis), LGBTQ2S community members, and their families.

Lawyers who can help you in Provincial Court if you’re charged with a crime, and can’t get a legal aid lawyer, or haven’t yet applied for legal aid. They can give you advice about the charges, court procedures, and your legal rights, and can represent you at a bail hearing. If there’s time, duty counsel can help with a guilty plea.

Clinic providing prison-related legal aid (other than appeals) to people in federal and provincial prisons. Advocates help with issues including segregation, disciplinary hearings, involuntary transfers, parole suspensions, detention hearings, and sentence calculation. Services may range from summary advice to legal representation at hearings.

In BC, the Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons is responsible for the protection and well being of trafficked persons. If you suspect someone may be exploited or the victim of human trafficking, or if you would like some help or support, please call.

Provides information and referral services to all victims of crime and immediate crisis support to victims of family and sexual violence, including victims of human trafficking exploited for labour or sexual services. It’s a toll-free, confidential, multilingual service available across BC and the Yukon 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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.