March 14, 2019
The Law Foundation of British Columbia, Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch, and People’s Law School are pleased to announce that Dial-A-Law is now available through the People’s Law School.
Joint Media Release
In 1983, the Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch (CBABC) identified a need for public access to legal information on a variety of law topics. With funding from the Law Foundation of BC, CBABC initiated Dial-A-Law, featuring over 125 scripts of legal information written and edited by volunteer lawyers in British Columbia.
“The Law Foundation invests in a number of public legal education & information initiatives. Dial-A-Law is one of those and for many years CBABC has grown it into a solid, respected resource serving thousands every month,” said Law Foundation of BC Executive Director, Wayne Robertson, QC. “As we looked closely at Dial-A-Law’s future,” he continued, “it became clear that the People’s Law School was its natural home with its long history of serving the public as the first organization in Canada dedicated to educating the public about law.”
The People’s Law School was created in 1972 as a non-profit society dedicated to making the law accessible to everyone. The school provides free education and information to help all British Columbians understand the legal problems of everyday life. Increasingly, the school’s focus is on technology to improve access and to address the needs of people looking to prevent or resolve law-related matters.
“People’s Law School is committed to maintaining and modernizing Dial-A-Law, available online and by phone,” said Executive Director, Patricia Byrne. “Starting today, British Columbians will see a refreshed website, dialalaw.ca. Legal information is presented in plain language and in a format that’s visually interesting and easy to scan.” She continued, “British Columbians who access our phone service will also find our recordings simplified so it’s easier to find the information you need. People’s Law School will employ emerging technologies to keep Dial-A-Law responsive and relevant.”
People’s Law School is pleased to provide a home for Dial-A-Law as it fits the school’s mission to provide British Columbians with everyday legal information. Featuring free information on the law in British Columbia in over 130 topic areas, Dial-A-Law can be accessed online at dialalaw.ca or on the telephone at 1-800-565-5297 (604-687-4680 in the Lower Mainland).
Contact
Patricia Byrne, BA, JD, MBA Executive Director, People’s Law School e: pbyrne@peopleslawschool.ca | t: 604-331-5400
People’s Law School
People’s Law School is a non-profit society in British Columbia, dedicated to making the law accessible to everyone.
Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch
The Canadian Bar Association is the professional organization representing more than 38,000 lawyers, judges and law students across Canada with over 7,000 members in British Columbia.
Law Foundation of British Columbia
The Law Foundation of British Columbia receives the interest on funds held in lawyers’ pooled trust accounts. Its mandate is to fund programs and projects throughout BC for the benefit of the public in the following areas: legal education, legal research, legal aid, law reform and law libraries.