If I don't qualify for free help because I earn too much, there's no option other than paying full cost for legal services.
Depending on how complex your legal issues are, it can be helpful to have a legal professional assist you. There are options for free and low-cost legal help.
What you should know
There are options for free legal help if you have a low or modest income.
One option is Access Pro Bono's Summary Advice Program. At clinics across British Columbia, volunteer lawyers provide up to a half hour of free legal advice on a range of legal issues.
Access Pro Bono also operates specialized programs (like this roster program and this tenancy program) that offer free assistance (including in some cases representation) to those experiencing certain legal problems.
Legal Aid BC provides free legal advice and other services to people who meet financial guidelines and who experience certain types of legal problems, such as family, criminal and immigration problems.
The Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS) provides free assistance to modest-income British Columbians facing certain types of legal issues, including eviction, human rights complaints, and work-related issues.
Access Pro Bono's Legal Advice Clinics
Volunteer lawyers provide 30 minutes of free legal advice to people with low or modest income.
Legal Aid BC
Provides free legal help in criminal, family, and immigration matters to those who meet financial guidelines.
Community Legal Assistance Society
Provides free assistance to modest-income British Columbians facing certain types of legal issues.
The Everyone Legal Clinic offers low-cost legal services to all British Columbians. The clinic, run by Access Pro Bono, operates on a fixed-fee basis and provides help for a range of legal issues. Examples include resolving certain types of disputes, helping with workplace problems, and preparing a will and planning documents. The services are provided by articling clinicians supervised by lawyers. See their services page for their fixed-fee pricing.
An emerging option that can reduce the expense is to look for a lawyer who offers unbundled legal services. Instead of hiring a lawyer to handle your entire matter, you can hire a lawyer to handle specific parts. Doing so “unbundles” these tasks from the parts you can do yourself.
Access Pro Bono’s Everyone Legal Clinic
Clinicians provide affordable fixed-fee services on a range of everyday legal problems.
Unbundled legal services
You handle parts of your case; a lawyer handles other parts.
Depending on your situation, you may be able to get help from other legal professionals. A notary public is a legal professional authorized to provide many non-contentious legal services to the public. For example, a notary can prepare powers of attorney, representation agreements, and most types of wills. They also notarize signatures on documents.
Legal advocates provide free support, advocacy and information to people who are on a low income or marginalized and are experiencing legal problems. Advocates usually work out of community agencies, such as community service centres, churches or women's centres.
PovNet
Legal advocates provide free legal information and help to low-income people in the community, under the supervision of a lawyer.
At student legal clinics in the Lower Mainland, Victoria, and BC's interior, law students can help those who would otherwise be unable to afford legal assistance. The students help with legal problems such as tenancy or work problems, accessing government benefits, (less serious) criminal charges, and small claims cases.
UBC Law School's Student Advice Program
Law students provide help to people with limited means in the Vancouver area.
University of Victoria Law Centre
Law students provide help to people with limited means in the Victoria area.
Thompson Rivers University Community Legal Clinic
Law students provide help to people with limited means in the BC Interior.
Finding a lawyer or notary
BC Legal Referral Service
Helps you connect with a lawyer, notary or paralegal for a free 15- to 30-minute consult to see if you want to hire them.
BC Legal Directory
Search for a lawyer by community, area of law, or language spoken. From the Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch.
