Appeals & judicial review
Last reviewed March 2024 by the Clicklaw editors
Challenging a decision made by a court or tribunal is a complicated process. You’re asking a higher court to review the decision made by a lower court or tribunal because it made a factual or legal error.
Whether you appeal to the Court of Appeal of BC or Supreme Court of BC depends on your situation. There are different processes for appealing a family, criminal, or civil court decision. If you’re challenging a tribunal decision, including the Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT), it’s called a judicial review.
Explore the links below to reliable online guides and tools and to organizations in BC. They have been chosen by librarians at Courthouse Libraries BC.
Selected resources
Click on a topic to see a list of resources.
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Judicial Review Basics (civil law)
Supreme Court BC (Justice Education Society)
The basics of judicial review, which is when you’re asking the court to review a decision made by an administrative tribunal. It goes over the time limits, how to file your petition for judicial review, what happens to the original order while you wait for the review, what kind of mistakes can be reviewed, and possible outcomes.
Last reviewed March 2024
Appeals (small claims court)
Small Claims BC (Justice Education Society)
A step-by-step guide to appealing a decision made in small claims court, which would take place in BC Supreme Court. Includes the relevant forms and the various deadlines and fees.
Last reviewed March 2024
Appeals to the Supreme Court (civil law)
Supreme Court BC (Justice Education Society)
How to appeal decisions from small claims court, the BC Provincial Court, and tribunals.
Last reviewed March 2024
How to Start an Appeal
Court of Appeal (Justice Education Society)
Part of the online step-by-step guide for those appealing a civil or family case in the Court of Appeal of BC. Step 2 is preparing your documents, starting with the first form called “Notice of Appeal.”
Last reviewed March 2024
Guidebook for Appellants
Court of Appeal (Justice Education Society)
An online step-by-step guide for those appealing a civil or family case to the Court of Appeal of BC. If you’re representing yourself, you’ll need to learn about procedures specific to this court.
Last reviewed March 2024
BC Judicial Review Self-Help Guide
Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS)
This guide gives an overview of the judicial review process, from preparing and filing your petition and affidavit to representing yourself in court. It includes sample documents and ways to get in touch with CLAS lawyers to receive advice about your situation.
Last reviewed March 2024
CanLII Manual to British Columbia Civil Litigation
Canadian Legal Information Institute (CanLII)
This manual has three main parts: “Areas of Law Pathfinders,” “The Guide to Civil Procedure at the Supreme Court of British Columbia,” and “Annotations of the BC Supreme Court Civil Rules and Court of Appeal Rules.” The publication is written for a wide audience.
Last reviewed March 2024