Legal Resources

Find websites and materials written in plain language.

Logo with six rectangles and a circle in six bright colours to represent people, and "People's Law School."

Selling Your Home

People’s Law School
Learn about what you should consider before putting up the “For Sale” sign. It explains the difference between selling your home yourself or hiring a real estate agent. It covers the process of selling a home, from getting a valuation to completing the sale.
Last reviewed July 2025
Logo features a red chevron shape resembling a rooftop above the acronym "CMHC" and its French equivalent "SCHL," with a small maple leaf in between the two acronyms.

Buying a Home (CMHC)

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)
Links to information from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) about buying a house. Content includes home-buying step by step, the First-Time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit, expansion of the Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP), planning and managing a mortgage, and information for newcomers.
Last reviewed July 2025
Thumbnail of the cover, with the title and an illustration of a child’s hand holding and adult’s hand, and the Legal Aid BC logo.

Parents’ Rights, Kids’ Rights: A Parent’s Guide to Child Protection Law in BC

Legal Aid BC
Explains what happens if the Director of Child Protection has concerns about a child's safety or plans to remove them. Describes collaborative (shared) planning, decision-making options, and presentation and protection hearings. Includes information for Indigenous families, where to get help, and definitions.
Last reviewed March 2024
Cover of the booklet with the title and a photo of a mother holding a young child. The YWCA logo is at the bottom.

Mothers Without Status

YWCA Vancouver
This booklet is for service providers assisting “mothers without status” — women who are neither Canadian citizens nor permanent residents. It gives an overview of the issues they face and options they can take. It includes information on where to get help.
Last reviewed March 2024
Logo with a green geometric design resembling two peaks of a roof that is repeated upside-down, above the text "FamilyLaw" in black with the tagline "Legal help for people in BC" below.

Information for Children & Teens

Family Law in BC (Justice Education Society)
Answers some of the common questions asked by children and teens about their family law rights, including whether a young person can get child support, medical care, guardianship over younger siblings, and a say in which parent they want to live with.
Last reviewed March 2024
Logo features the initials "JES" in green on the left and a grey scale of justice with the text "Justice Education Society" in a circular arrangement around it on the right.

Before Trial: Discovery (family law)

Supreme Court BC (Justice Education Society)
Discovery is the process that you (and the other party) use to determine what happened in your case. This guidebook describes the discovery process for family claims in BC Supreme Court. Topics include discovery of documents, examinations for discovery, and interrogatories.
Last reviewed March 2024
Logo features the word “PIVOT” in black other than the V, which is red. Under this are the words “legal society.”

Methadone Rights Cards

Pivot Legal Society
In cooperation with BC Association of People on Methadone, Pivot has produced 15,000 methadone patient’s rights cards. Faced with systemic abuse and discrimination from unethical physicians, pharmacists, and others, methadone patients across the province are standing up for their rights.
Last reviewed March 2024
The logo features a stylized infinity symbol, with the female symbol joined to the infinity symbol on the bottom left, and the male symbol joined to the infinity symbol on the top right. The words "Catherine While Holman Wellness Centre" are to the right of the female symbol.

Trans Rights BC: Know Your Rights

Catherine White Holman Wellness Centre
This project aims to spread human rights information that is accurate, accessible, and relevant to the safety and well-being of trans and gender-diverse individuals and their supportive allies across British Columbia. Topics include immigration, public spaces/services, sex work, and more.
Last reviewed March 2024
Logo features a symmetrical flower-like design with six grey teardrop-shaped petals radiating from a central yellow circle.

BC Human Rights Tribunal: Guide to Getting Ready for a Hearing

BC Human Rights Tribunal
A guide for the hearing process for a complaint under the BC Human Rights Code. It gives an overview of the process, describes how you can prepare for the hearing, and explains what happens at the hearing and when you can expect a decision.
Last reviewed March 2024
Thumbnail of the cover, with the title and a close up of the scales of justice.

Criminal Law Handbook for Self-Represented Accused

Canadian Judicial Council
A general reference for self-represented litigants appearing in Canadian courts. Includes SRL’s rights and responsibilities, first steps in your criminal case, bail, building your defence, legal research, court processes, jury, sentencing, and more. Also provides a list of Canadian and BC resources.
Last reviewed March 2024