Getting a Lawyer or Legal Advice
Legal information
Technical help to get ready for virtual court proceedings
Links related to specific types of cases
Statutes
• B.C. Statutes
• Canadian Statutes
Canadian Courts and Tribunals
International courts
Getting a Lawyer or Legal Advice (on all types of matters, including small claims matters)
AC Friends of Court - helps people around BC complete their legal forms and prepare for virtual court appearances. Free one-hour virtual workshops by appointment as well as in-person workshops. Make an appointment for help completing forms or help preparing for a virtual appearance.
Access Pro Bono - free legal advice and lawyers’ services
Ask JES – free service from BC Justice Education Society providing answers to legal questions by live chat, phone or email Monday to Friday, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.
Clicklaw - legal help and lawyers - links to sources of legal advice and lawyers in your community
Law Students' Legal Advice Program - (LSLAP) - law students at the University of British Columbia, supervised by lawyers, help people with many criminal and civil Provincial Court matters
Lawyer Referral Service - free 15 minute consultation with a lawyer
Legal Aid BC - a non-profit organization providing legal information, advice and lawyers for people with low incomes
Legal Aid Call Centre - phone to find out if you qualify for legal aid services - telephone interpreters can be arranged for people who don’t speak English
Legal Aid Intake Services - where to find Legal Aid and how to apply
Rise Women’s Legal Centre – free legal services by law students supervised by lawyers, for people around BC who self-identify as women
Seniors First BC (formerly BC Centre for Elder & Advocacy Support) - legal help for seniors
... in criminal matters
Legal Aid BC - Legal Aid BC provides free lawyers for some criminal charges to people who meet financial criteria
... in family matters
Family Court Duty Counsel - Legal Aid BC provides free legal advice and/or limited legal services to people with low incomes in many courthouses around the province
Family LawLine – lawyers provide legal advice by telephone, help preparing documents and coaching for court appearances in this Legal Aid service for people with limited income and eligible family law problems
Family Maintenance Enforcement Program – Contact this program to register your child or spousal support order. It’s free! Once you register, they will process and keep track of payments, calculate any money owing, and take steps (including going to court) to collect support payments when necessary. (It helps both the person paying and the recipient to have the program keep records of all payments, and they enable you to pay with online banking and receive payments through direct deposit.)
How to apply for Legal Aid - Legal Aid BC provides free lawyers for some family issues to people who meet financial criteria
Family lawyers & paralegals offering unbundled services - Some BC family lawyers are offering “unbundled” legal services. They will help you develop a plan to resolve your problems and divide the tasks as you wish, doing only the tasks you hire them for.
British Columbia Courthouse Library Society - legal research training videos and courthouse library locations and “Asked and Answered” - a collection of answers to legal research questions
CanLII - the legal information database where Canadian court decisions, including B.C. Provincial Court judgments, can be found
Clicklaw – wide range of legal info, education and help designed for the public
Continuing Legal Education Society of B.C. - legal information and education primarily for lawyers
Law Society of BC - regulates BC lawyers
Dial-a-Law - get info on topics including family law, criminal law and Small Claims Court on this website or by listening to recorded talks by telephone at 1-800-565-5297 or 604-687-4680 in the Lower Mainland
Justice Education Society - self-help, education and tool kits on a huge range of legal issues
Peoples Law School - events, programs and resources on legal rights and responsibilities
B.C. Ministry of Justice - information on all aspects of the provincial justice department’s work
B.C. Government Laws - FAQ and definitions of common legal terms – useful glossary of legal terms and FAQs
Office of the Public Trustee - protects the interests of people who lack legal capacity
Federal Department of Justice - information on all aspects of the federal justice department’s work
Technical help to get ready for virtual court proceedings
AC Friendship Society offers appointments for help in preparing to appear in court remotely by telephone or Microsoft Teams videoconference.
Legal Aid Virtual Proceedings – web page with information on preparing to attend court by audio- and video-conference, and what to expect
Links related to specific types of cases
Resources for Criminal Cases
Resources for Family Court Cases
Resources for Small Claims Cases
Resources for Traffic & Bylaw Cases
Resources for Youth Cases
The Provincial Court hears matters under a wide variety of federal and provincial laws (also called “statutes” or ‘legislation”) enacted by the Parliament of Canada and the British Columbia Legislature, including those listed here. Provincial Court judges and judicial justices must also apply "common law” precedents (applicable decisions of the British Columbia Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Canada in similar cases). Canadian courts’ decisions can be found at CanLII.
BC Laws – all provincial legislation in alphabetical order – click “Laws of British Columbia”and search
Adult Guardianship Act
Child, Family and Community Service Act
Provincial Court (Child, Family and Community Service Act) Rules
Civil Resolution Tribunal Act
Civil Resolution Tribunal Small Claims Regulation
Commercial Transport Act
Environmental Management Act
Family Law Act
Provincial Court Family Rules
Child Support Guidelines
Child Support Tables
Family Maintenance Enforcement Act
Family Maintenance Enforcement Act Regulation
Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act
Liquor Control and Licensing Act
Limitation Act
Local Government Act (bylaw offences)
Motor Vehicle Act
Offence Act
Passenger Transportation Act
Provincial Court Act
Small Claims Act
Small Claims Rules
Small Claims Monetary Limit Regulation
Workers Compensation Act
Youth Justice Act
Laws of Canada – searchable or click “Consolidated Acts” for all federal legislation in alphabetical order
Child Support Guidelines
Child Support Tables
Criminal Code Contraventions Act
Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
Firearms Act
Fisheries Act
Income Tax Act
Youth Criminal Justice Act
British Columbia Superior Courts
BC Civil Resolution Tribunal
Tax Court of Canada
Canadian Courts Judgments & Decisions