Browse Categories: Legal & Advocacy

Independent provincial office that assists seniors and their families with concerns about long-term care, assisted living, home support services, and other government programs affecting older adults in British Columbia. The Office provides information, referrals, and assistance navigating provincial systems, and can investigate complaints or escalate systemic issues affecting seniors’ care and rights.

Crisis line and ongoing support for women experiencing intimate partner violence, childhood sexual abuse, or sexual assault, including trans, immigrant, Indigenous, and 2SLGBTQI+ survivors. Workers offer safety planning and counselling, help navigating police, courts, housing, and financial systems, and can report an assault to police on a survivor’s behalf so they stay anonymous. A separate Justice Centre program offers free legal representation and clinics. Free and confidential, in many languages. Call the crisis and intake line Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm; leave a voicemail or email intake@bwss.org after hours or if it is not safe to talk.

Free tenancy legal education, information, and advocacy for renters in BC. Call the Tenant Infoline for help understanding tenant rights around evictions, repairs, rent increases, and deposits. The line only answers at specific times on different days, so check the hours before calling. Tenants facing a serious Residential Tenancy Branch hearing may qualify for hearing representation through TRAC's Housing Law Clinic. A free self-paced online course, Renting It Right, and plain-language fact sheets are also on the website.

Provides peer support, resources, and advocacy for people living with spinal cord injuries and related mobility disabilities across British Columbia. Services include peer mentoring, accessibility navigation, assistive technology and mobility equipment resources, support navigating housing and community living, and information about health and chronic condition management. SCI BC also offers adaptive recreation and community programs that help people stay active and connected. Individuals can access support by contacting the organization directly by phone or online to connect with staff or trained peer mentors and learn about available programs and resources.

The BC Human Rights Tribunal handles complaints about discrimination in areas like housing, services, and employment. If you feel you’ve been treated unfairly based on things like age, disability, gender, or other personal characteristics, you can bring your concerns forward for review. The Tribunal looks at whether discrimination may have occurred and can help resolve the issue through mediation or a formal decision. It’s a useful option if something about your treatment doesn’t seem right and hasn’t been addressed through regular channels.

Free legal help from Seniors First BC for people age 55 and older in BC, covering wills, powers of attorney, representation agreements, adult guardianship, and other legal matters older adults face, but not family or criminal law. Eligibility depends on income and assets, assessed at intake. Appointments run at the Seniors First BC office in Downtown Vancouver on weekdays, plus monthly outreach clinics in Surrey, Burnaby, and at QMUNITY. Call the Seniors Abuse and Information Line at 604-437-1940 or 1-866-437-1940, Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, to book.

Free legal help from law students at the UBC Allard School of Law, supervised by practicing lawyers, for people in the Lower Mainland with low income who cannot afford a lawyer. Covers smaller civil disputes and small claims, residential tenancy, employment standards, consumer issues, CPP and pension appeals, simple wills, and some criminal and immigration matters, but not family law. Appointments only, request one online or by phone, walk-ins without an appointment cannot be seen.

Free legal help from Seniors First BC for people 55 and older dealing with residential tenancy or housing problems, debt, or pension and benefit issues. Income must generally be under $45,000 a year for a single person, plus $20,000 per additional household member, though exceptions are considered. Call the Seniors Abuse and Information Line at 604-437-1940 or 1-866-437-1940, Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, to request a consultation, expect a reply from a legal advocate within about three weeks unless the matter is urgent.

Free legal help for British Columbians who cannot afford a lawyer and meet income guidelines, covering family, criminal, immigration, and child protection matters. Offers legal information, phone advice, and representation by a lawyer at legal aid offices and courthouse locations across BC, including a Vancouver regional office. Call the Call Centre to check eligibility and get connected to a lawyer or a local office.

The Office of the Ombudsperson is an independent office that reviews concerns about provincial government services in British Columbia. If you’ve had ongoing difficulties with a program, such as income assistance, housing, health coverage, or other public services and something doesn’t seem right, you can contact the Ombudsperson to have your situation looked at more closely. They can review issues like delays, confusing decisions, or situations where you feel your concerns haven’t been fully addressed, and work with the appropriate agency to help reach a fair outcome. It’s a helpful option when you’ve tried to resolve something but are still left with questions or concerns.

Free legal support for Indigenous people dealing with criminal or child protection matters, even if they do not qualify for legal aid. Services include access to lawyers, help understanding court processes, support with interactions involving the Ministry of Children and Family Development, and assistance preparing Gladue reports. The centre also provides outreach, advocacy, and referrals to housing, health, and community supports, taking a holistic approach to helping people navigate the justice system.

Free legal help by phone for Indigenous people across BC, with a focus on people in rural and remote communities, dealing with a criminal or child protection court matter. A navigator answers calls and books a time to speak with a lawyer, even for people who do not qualify for legal aid. Also helps connect people to housing, health, and other community supports related to their case. Call 1-866-786-0081, Monday to Friday 8:30am-4:30pm (some after-hours and weekend appointments may be available).

Low-barrier drop-in for women in the Downtown Eastside, with a safe indoor space, washrooms and showers, and help with advocacy and system navigation. Dinner is served free every day from 6pm to 7pm, with takeout containers while supplies last. Open daily 1:30pm to 10:30pm, except on income assistance payment days when the centre is closed.

Information and rights advice for people detained and receiving involuntary psychiatric treatment under BC Mental Health Act. A Rights Advisor explains legal rights as an involuntary patient and how to act on them, independent of the hospital or treatment team, and keeps the conversation confidential unless the patient agrees otherwise. Ask the treatment team for a Rights Advice meeting, or book one directly through the IRAS BC website. Free. Serves all of BC.

Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre (TRAC) legal clinic for tenants across BC. Lawyers give free advice and sometimes representation for a judicial review of a Residential Tenancy Branch decision, responding to a landlord judicial review application, disputing an eviction notice, or a co-op membership termination. Legal advocates can also represent tenants at Residential Tenancy Branch hearings for serious, urgent, or systemic issues. Free. Call 604-255-3099, or 1-800-665-1185 and press 5, and leave a voicemail describing which situation applies - a callback is only given if you do.

Advocacy organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families across BC. Helps individuals and families with self-advocacy and navigating systems like education, housing, and employment, and campaigns for policy change at the provincial level. Call ahead to book an appointment before visiting the New Westminster office. A separate advocacy phone line is also available.

Online tribunal that resolves BC strata property disputes of any amount, small claims disputes up to $5,000, and motor vehicle accident and injury claims up to $50,000. Provides legal information and self-help tools, and can make a decision that is enforced like a court order if the parties cannot agree. Does not give legal advice about whether to file a claim. Fees apply depending on the type and value of the dispute. Online services run 24 hours a day, every day. Phone calls are returned within 3 business days.

Legal Aid BC phone line giving free next-step legal advice on family law matters such as parenting time, guardianship, child and spousal support, property division, and court procedures. For people with low income, whether or not they qualify for a full legal aid lawyer. Interpreters are available. Call the province-wide Call Centre - Greater Vancouver 604-408-2172 or elsewhere in BC 1-866-577-2525 - and an intake worker checks eligibility before connecting you to a lawyer.

Free legal advice and limited representation for low-income people in BC with immigration or refugee law matters, prioritizing people facing imminent removal from Canada or without legal status. Handles refugee claims and appeals, Federal Court judicial reviews, humanitarian and compassionate applications, and requests to defer or stay a removal. Complete the intake form on the website, or contact by phone, WhatsApp, or email. Free, but capacity is limited and the clinic cannot guarantee it can take every case.

Free, confidential legal advice and representation for people who have faced discrimination, harassment, or violence because they are Muslim or were perceived to be Muslim, including people such as Sikhs, Hindus, or Buddhists mistaken for Muslim. Callers must live in BC or have a legal issue under BC jurisdiction. Call the hotline or fill out the intake form on the website to start a case. Free. Also runs Know Your Rights workshops and community education.

Government-run legal help centre at Robson Square covering civil legal issues such as housing, debt, employment, income security, immigration, human rights, and wills and estates, plus some family law matters. Staff give legal information, help with dispute resolution and mediation options, and refer people to other services and community agencies. A staffed self-help resource room has public computers and a printer for preparing court documents. Free, available in person, by phone, or by video, call ahead or drop in during open hours. Does not handle criminal matters or small claims filings.

Legal Aid BC intake office at the Vancouver Provincial Courthouse, for criminal charges only. Takes applications for legal representation, refers eligible clients to a lawyer, and connects people to legal information and community services. Walk in during office hours, or call the Vancouver Call Centre at 604-408-2172 to book ahead.

Free legal information for anyone in BC with an everyday legal problem, run by the Justice Education Society of BC. Trained legal navigators answer questions by live chat, phone, text or email about common legal issues and point people toward the right service. This is legal information, not legal advice from a lawyer. Phone and live chat are staffed Mon-Fri 11am-2pm. Text and email are answered outside those hours, though replies can take longer.

Free recorded legal information on everyday BC law topics, available any time by phone or on the website, reviewed and updated by lawyers. Does not give legal advice or representation for a specific case. Beagle plus, a 24/7 AI chat assistant from People's Law School, can also point to relevant legal information. Run by the Law Foundation of BC and People's Law School.

Non-profit that leads dispute resolution services across BC, including a roster of trained mediators for family, workplace, and other conflicts. Works by phone and online only, with no office to visit. Free Ask a Mediator virtual clinics run the first and third Tuesday of each month, 4pm to 6pm, where anyone can talk privately with a mediator about a conflict - drop in or book ahead online. Hiring a mediator from the roster afterward is a paid service with fees set by each mediator.

Free legal help for migrant workers in BC, including people with closed work permits, caregivers, people without immigration status, and workers facing serious exploitation or sexual harassment. Services include legal representation, advocacy, and help understanding rights at work, in Spanish and Tagalog as well as English, with interpretation available in other languages. Call 604-669-4482 or 1-888-669-4482 to book an appointment. Limited walk-in help is available on Saturdays.

Plain language legal information for everyday situations in British Columbia, including housing, money and debt, employment, healthcare, wills and estates, and resolving disputes. Available on the peopleslawschool.ca website, and by phone through the free Dial-A-Law line (604-687-4680, or 1-800-565-5297 toll-free) with recordings on 190+ topics, useful for people without internet access. This is an information resource only, it does not provide legal advice, representation, or in-person services.

Battered Women’s Support Services program giving free legal help to women and femmes in BC who have experienced intimate partner, domestic, or sexualized violence, especially those denied legal aid or facing barriers such as language, disability, trauma, or cost. Offers full legal representation for qualifying cases, family law advice clinics, court accompaniment, help with court forms and affidavits, and legal education workshops. Free. Call the crisis and intake line to ask about services.

Free legal clinic for people who self-identify as Indigenous and meet income and asset limits, run by UBC Allard School of Law in the Downtown Eastside. Law student clinicians, supervised by lawyers, take on criminal, family, human rights, small claims, and wills and estates cases, Indian Status applications, and limited help with some divorces. Call, email, or fax to arrange an intake appointment. New intakes are not taken on Thursdays.

Indigenous-run nonprofit in Metro Vancouver offering culturally based alternatives to the mainstream criminal justice system, along with housing help and referrals to other community services. The Justice Program supports both people in conflict with the law and victims, aiming for healing and accountability. The Housing Program helps people find and keep housing. Call to connect with a program.

Advocates for Filipino migrant women and provides settlement, legal information, and community programs.

Nonprofit run by disabled and neurodivergent people, offering education and peer support on disability and accessibility. Runs workshops on disability awareness and disability justice, plus paid consulting for organizations. Chronically Queer, a peer support group for 2SLGBTQIA+ people with chronic health conditions, meets twice a month. Contact by phone or through the website to book a workshop or ask about the support group schedule.

Free phone line for grandparents and other relatives raising a related child, such as a grandchild, niece, nephew, or other family member. Advocates help callers understand legal rights and options, and connect them to benefits, resources, and legal information. Call 604-558-4740 in the Lower Mainland, or 1-855-474-9777 toll-free from anywhere in BC.

A BC government website with information and public and legal services on subjects such as starting a court action, filing court documents, accessing court file information, paying fines or requesting information on court processes and more.

Free help for couples going through separation or divorce without a lawyer, using a collaborative, out-of-court process. Each person gets a lawyer, plus a neutral divorce coach and, if needed, a financial specialist, at no cost. Open to couples with combined household income under about $150,000 and under $200,000 in assets (not counting pensions). Priority goes to those with the greatest need. Normally based in Vancouver and Victoria but currently meeting by Zoom, so people across BC can take part. Apply through the form on the website. There is no phone line, only email.

Free self-help guide for people representing themselves in the Court of Appeal of British Columbia, covering civil, family, and criminal appeals. Includes step-by-step guidebooks, a map of the appeal process, required court forms, and the court's rules. An online form lets people ask a specific question about their appeal. Produced by the Community Legal Assistance Society. Call 604-660-9870 or use the online question form for help.

Legal Aid BC lawyers give free phone advice on family law issues such as parenting arrangements, guardianship, child and spousal support, property division, and court procedures. Parents with low income going through separation or divorce can get up to three hours of free advice. People above the income limit may get one hour if referred by a family justice counsellor during mediation. Appointments are by phone only, through Family Justice Centres in Kamloops, Kelowna, New Westminster, and Prince George. Call 604-660-2421 (Greater Vancouver) or 1-800-663-7867 (elsewhere in BC) to book.

John Howard Society of BC program that helps people apply for a criminal record suspension, formerly called a pardon. Case managers help gather paperwork and complete the application. Applicants must have finished all sentencing conditions and waited the required time since their conviction, generally about three years depending on the offence. Free, serves the Lower Mainland and Northern BC in person, with virtual support available province-wide. Email pardon@jhsbc.ca or use the online contact form to get started.

Helps people apply for a record suspension (formerly called a pardon), which keeps a past criminal record separate from new record checks. For adults who have completed all sentences, including fines, probation, or parole, and the required waiting period (3, 5, or 10 years depending on the offence). Staff give administrative support through the application and may help cover application fees. Based in Vancouver, serving the Lower Mainland, with partner locations elsewhere in BC and the Yukon. Call 604-315-2046 or email record.suspension@connective.ca.

Free online self-help guide to BC Small Claims Court, for civil disputes between $5,001 and $35,000. Covers starting or replying to a claim, serving documents, settlement conferences, and includes court forms and a court-location directory. A legal navigator answers questions by phone, text, or live chat Monday to Friday, 11am-2pm. Run by the Justice Education Society of BC, funded by the Law Foundation of BC.

Free online help guide to BC Supreme Court processes in civil, family, and criminal law, including guides on divorce, child support, and civil claims. Includes court forms and a directory of BC court locations. A legal navigator answers questions by phone, text, or live chat Monday to Friday, 11am-2pm. Run by the Justice Education Society of BC, funded by the Law Foundation of BC.

Provincial criminal court registry and duty counsel at 222 Main Street in Vancouver, serving Vancouver and Burnaby (circuit court also held in Bella Bella, Bella Coola, and Klemtu). Duty counsel gives free advice on charges, court procedure, and legal rights, and can represent people at bail hearings or with a guilty plea, for people charged with a crime who do not have a lawyer and have not been able to get legal aid. Duty counsel sees drop-in clients only if time allows that day, so hours vary. The registry is open Monday to Friday, 9am-4pm.

Indigenous case worker based at the Downtown Community Court in Vancouver, for Indigenous people going through the court as the accused. Helps clients understand their rights, obligations, and the court process, accompanies them in court, and advises court staff and judges on cultural considerations. Contact through the court or call directly.

Support for Indigenous people going through the BC criminal justice system: help understanding court processes, connections to legal resources, and addiction, mental health, and family or victim support. Courtworkers meet clients at court and in the community across BC rather than at one office. Free. Call 604-985-5355 to ask about a courtworker or counselling support in your area.

Rise Women's Legal Centre offers free family law help for women and gender-diverse people in BC with a non-urgent matter who meet financial eligibility requirements. Request an appointment through the online form on the centre's website, staff respond within 3-5 business days. Drop-in 30-minute appointments are also available the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month, 11am-3pm, at Suite 820 - 510 Burrard Street. Services include legal navigation, summary advice, and limited court assistance, not full representation. Only court filing fees are extra.

Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of BC office inside the Vancouver Main Street Courthouse, supporting Indigenous people accused in criminal court. Offers court accompaniment, interpretation, referrals to legal and community services, information about rights and the court process, and counselling and referrals for Indigenous victims of crime. Also runs youth diversion support. Open Monday to Friday, 8:30am-12:30pm and 1:30pm-4:30pm. Jointly funded by the Ministry of Attorney General and the federal Department of Justice.

Pacific Association of First Nations Women supports Indigenous women in BC through advocacy, cultural programs, and leadership and health initiatives. Programs address housing, health, and other issues affecting Indigenous women and their families, and include membership-based workshops and community events across the Lower Mainland. Call 604-872-1849 or visit the website to ask about current programs and membership.

Free legal help for veterans, current and former members of the Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP, and their dependents who are appealing a decision on a disability benefits claim. Advocates prepare and present reviews and appeals on behalf of that person. Call to be connected with an advocate. There is no cost to the client.

National organization that helps Canadian Muslims respond to discrimination, harassment, or hate crimes from an employer, landlord, government agency, or other service provider. Report an incident online at nccm.ca or call for support. Staff review each report and can advise on next steps, including referrals. Also runs public workshops on Islamophobia and equity for schools, community groups, and workplaces. Free. Nonprofit registered charity, serves all of Canada.

Helps victims collect court-ordered restitution payments after a criminal case in BC, when an offender has been ordered to pay for financial loss or property damage. Also encourages offenders to pay what they owe and answers general questions about the civil court process, though this is not legal advice. Apply online or call 604-660-4898 (toll-free 1-844-660-4898), Monday to Friday 8:30am-4:30pm. Only covers restitution orders from an adult criminal sentence in BC.