legal services society
© 2018 legal services society | maintained by the legal services society, bc, canada .
the legal services society, also known as legal aid bc, provides legal information, advice and representation services to people with low incomes .
legal services authorities act, 1987 prescribes the criteria for giving legal services to the eligible persons .
aboriginal community legal workers provide legal information and limited advice services (find locations) .
legal services society of british columbia .
legal problems faced in everyday lives of british columbians .
vancouver, 2008 .
legal services society lss has a range of free services that may help you. we give priority to people with low incomes, but many services are available to all british columbians .
community partners provide legal information and connect people to legal aid services (find locations) .
legal services society staff who give legal information and limited advice; explain the legal process; attend court with clients; help clients prepare forms ...
the legal services society (legal aid bc) provides intake at more than 50 locations across bc. to qualify for a legal aid lawyer, your legal problem must ...
as a community partner with the legal services society (lss), we can help you get information on applying for legal aid, call the nearest legal aid office, and get free legal information .
the legal services society (lss) says the money comes from the federal government — the jurisdiction primarily responsible for funding immigration and refugee legal aid .
so far $ 1. 6 billion has been allocated over the next five years to legal assistance services through the national partnership agreement on legal assistance services and direct funding agreements with indigenous legal assistance providers .
connecting across language and distance: linguistic and rural access to legal information and services .
as the auditor of the society, the society must appoint an auditor to audit the accounts of the society at least once each year .
service: we respect the people who use our services and strive to deliver services that improve their lives .
the legal services society (lss) provides legal aid in bc. legal aid includes representation by a lawyer, legal advice, and legal information. lss gives priority to people with low incomes, but many of its services are available to all british columbians. lss' s mission is to provide innovative and collaborative legal aid services that enable people with low incomes to effectively address their issues within the justice system .
( 4) the society is not an agent of the government or of the law society .
we strive to engage our clients in finding solutions to their legal problems. by taking an integrated approach, legal aid services can help clients prevent future legal issues and increase their ability to positively contribute to society .
that help people resolve their legal problems. we determine the services we offer as part of our
is to provide the legal aid services people need, and to promote better access to justice .
the legal services society can assist lawyers to get a gladue report for their indigenous legal aid clients. here' s a story of how this kind of report can really help someone .
the nova scotia barristers’ society is building a new model of regulating legal services, in a manner that is risk focused, proactive, principled and proportionate. the new approach is designed to be more responsive to a diverse and profoundly changing environment, to enhance the quality of legal services, to encourage ethical legal practice, to foster innovation in legal services and to increase access to justice .
“…and justice for all. ” this basic belief inspires the legal aid society of metropolitan family services to defend our most vulnerable among us regardless of income .
b. c.' s legal services society will suspend new applications for immigration and refugee claims aug. 1, 2017. (mike laanela / cbc )
project governance: currently leading this initiative with council are the society’s legal services regulation in - house & government lawyers working group and solo & small firm working group .
( 2) the society may provide legal aid through lawyers or any other persons, whether or not those lawyers or other persons are employed by the society .
the lss says the society receives $ 1. 7 million total per year for immigration legal aid .
the lss province - wide call centre provides legal representation and information services. when applying for legal aid, callers are asked questions to determine ...
the 2014 budget cut $ 6 million from community legal centres, along with $ 15 million from legal aid commissions and $ 43 million from advocacy services .
( 5) no legal proceeding for damages lies or may be commenced or maintained against the society because of any breach by the society of the memorandum of understanding .
british columbia' s legal services society maintains this site. if you' re having a family problem, you may qualify for a lawyer to advise you or take your case. contact legal aid to find out .
british columbia' s legal aid society will no longer represent new immigration and refugee claimants starting august 1, 2017 because the society says there is a lack of funding .
there are 35 communities in bc where you can apply for legal aid and get legal information .
bc' s legal services society holds the copyright to all information on this site. none of this material may be commercially reproduced, but copying for other purposes, with credit, is encouraged .
b. c.' s legal services society says it can no longer accept new immigration and refugee cases because it says there' s been an increase in cases with no increase in funding .
( 4) the extent to which legal aid may be provided in relation to any legal problem is not to exceed the extent of legal and other services that a reasonable person of modest means would employ to resolve the problem .
british columbia' s legal services society holds the copyright to all information on this site. none of this material may be commercially reproduced, but copying for other purposes, with credit, is encouraged .
attorney - general george brandis and his labor counterpart mark dreyfus (l) are at odds over the role of community legal services .
along with metropolitan family services, we provide multiple services that help empower older adults by protecting or removing them from abusive situations and connecting them with legal counsel and other resources that help them maintain their dignity and independence .
the federal opposition has seized on a report saying australia' s democracy is being undermined by cuts to community legal services and advocacy organisations .
the society says it would need an additional $ 1. 07 million just to maintain services until the end of the year, and so it says it must suspend services to make sure it can pay for the cases that have already been accepted .
we have a range of free services that may help you. we give priority to people with low incomes, but many services are available to all british columbians. we offer :
mr dreyfus said people delivering frontline services are often best placed to make suggestions for reform .
at the federal level, alison has held positions in the solicitor general secretariat. prior to that she was assistant director of a legal aid clinic that provided legal services to prisoners in six federal penitentiaries .
( 1) without limiting any other right or remedy available to the society in respect of a client' s financial obligation to the society, the society may issue a certificate in the prescribed form setting out the amount of the client' s financial obligation to the society at the time the certificate is issued .
legal information outreach workers are available in several locations to give legal information and provide referrals (find locations) .
advocacy is an essential part of the work of community legal centres, of aboriginal and torres strait islander legal centres, of a whole range of community groups, advocacy benefits our society .
legal aid offices in five bc communities provide intake services outreach to aboriginal bands. staff from these offices travel to certain remote communities to ...
the society must submit to the attorney general, in the format and within the time required by the attorney general, any financial, statistical or other information that the attorney general may require respecting the operations of the society and the services provided by it .
intake services outreach is provided to the following communities. click the location to get contact information .
( 2) the members of the society are the directors appointed under section 4 .
legal advocacy program the north shore legal advocacy program provides legal information and assistance on poverty law issues to people on the north shore with low incomes, mental or physical disabilities, and others who have difficulties accessing legal services. it serves the city of north vancouver, district of north vancouver, district of west vancouver, bowen island and lions bay .
( 3) the society must be operated without purpose of gain for its members, and any right or other accretions to the society must be used for promoting its objects .
to maintain excellence in board governance, the society reviews its governance framework regularly to ensure it meets the society' s ongoing business needs while being consistent with recognized best practices .
clicklaw contains general legal information. it is not intended to be used as legal advice for a specific legal problem. © 2018 clicklaw accessibility policy | privacy statement | disclaimer & terms of use
( 6) if, after the society has discharged a registration affecting a client under subsection (5), the client incurs a further financial obligation to the society under the same or any other legal aid contract, subsections (2) to (5) apply in respect of the client' s financial obligation to the society .
means, for a fiscal year of the society, the revenue of the society from all sources for that year, including, without limiting this, all grants made or to be made to the society for that year by the government or any other person or agency .
( 3) if a budget is returned to the society under subsection (2), the society must promptly revise the budget and provide the revised budget to the attorney general .
( 2) the society must not provide prescribed services to prescribed persons or classes of persons in prescribed circumstances unless it does so without using any of the funding provided to it by the government .
the legal services society (lss) is governed by a nine - member board of directors. the board is governed by policies and bylaws that reflect established best practices. under its bylaws, the board' s role is to
ensure the effective governance of the society through setting direction, monitoring performance, and hiring and supporting the executive director .
( b) whether or not the society has issued or filed a certificate under section 13 .
( 3) in determining the method, if any, by which legal aid is to be provided in any circumstance, the society must have regard to the costs involved, the needs of the person or persons involved and the society' s financial resources .
equal access to justice is a cornerstone of a democratic society. the legal aid system is under - funded and under - resourced and we’re all paying the cost :
( f) an annual review with the attorney general of the budget of the society and the measures taken and to be taken by the society to implement the terms of the memorandum of understanding .
consultation: the society continues to consult widely with the legal profession and other stakeholders in creating a truly ‘made - in - nova scotia’ solution. please contact us with your questions, feedback and examples of innovative legal practice in nova scotia .
( b) the client' s financial obligation to the society is repaid or recovered in full .
find out more about the new framework for legal services regulation, with nsbs regulatory objectives and outcomes sought, management systems for ethical legal practice (mselp), and the triple - p, risk - based approach at the heart of the new regulatory model .
( 2) if the attorney general does not approve the budget provided under subsection (1), the attorney general may return the budget to the society and require the society to prepare a revised budget .
consolidated common billing rules for preparation and attendance for all areas of law, and added a list of billable preparation services .
( 4) no act of the society is invalid merely because the act contravenes the memorandum of understanding .
however, the national partnership agreement on legal assistance services does not prevent organisations from making submissions to government, royal commissions or parliamentary bodies to provide factual information and / or advice with a focus on systemic issues affecting access to justice, or community legal education campaigns .
( 4) carrying on a business, trade, industry or profession as an incident to the purposes of the society is not prohibited by subsection (3), but the society must not distribute any gain, profit or dividend or otherwise dispose of its assets to a member of the society without receiving full and valuable consideration .
less than a year later $ 25. 5 million was restored to the sector over two years, and the government' s women' s safety package included a further $ 15 million for legal services .
( c) is required to allow the society to realize the goals set out in subsection (3) .
the cuts to legal aid have in some ways disproportionately impacted rural british columbia .
integrity: we make principled decisions that earn the trust of the people who use our services, our staff, and the public .
clarified that lss may request additional information about the case or services rendered when considering requests for extra fees, additional preparation, or extended services (meeting the standards for recordkeeping set out in paragraphs 32 and 35 of the general terms and conditions — see below) .
( d) the society is to be flexible and innovative in the manner in which it carries out its objects .
the commission is separately funded by the state government for approved matters that exceed the legal services commission' s cap on funding. the matters are funded pursuant to the criminal law (legal representation) act 2001. the commission enters into an approved case management agreement with the state government for these cases .
obtain prior authorization for a legal fee or disbursement, where required by the tariff .
taxpayers pick up the tab for these inefficiencies as other government agencies – including police and social / health services – deal with the fallout .
the lss says it will also continue to fund duty counsel for people held in custody at the canada border services' vancouver enforcement centre .
battered women' s support services in vancouver says this move will gravely affect their clients because more than 40 per cent are immigrant women .
this is one of a very few studies on the economic impact of expenditures on civil legal aid services. one of its key conclusions :
for every direct dollar expended in the state for indigent civil legal services, the overall annual gains to the economy are found to be $ 7. 42 in total spending, $ 3. 56 in total output (gross product) and $ 2. 20 in personal income .
( page 3 )
( 3) subsection (1) does not absolve the society from vicarious liability arising out of anything done or omitted by a person referred to in that subsection for which the society would be vicariously liable if this section were not in force .
( 1) the society must provide a budget to the attorney general when directed to do so by the attorney general .
the finance committee, which makes recommendations on the society' s finances, funding, fiscal allocations, and risk management .
the stakeholder engagement committee, which recommends ways to strengthen the society' s relationship with key stakeholders in the justice system .
the mission of the legal aid society is to protect and strengthen families by providing equal access to justice for our most vulnerable among us, including those who are impoverished, the elderly and victims of domestic violence .
task of the legal services society is to provide the law students an occasion to learn by doing, use social spaces as a class room, sensitize them to the nature of law that can empower or oppress, facilitate access to justice to the deprived and marginalized, and create socially responsible citizens, advocate, judges, police officers and other state officials .
below are the current versions of the various chapters of lss tariffs, which explain how lss will compensate you for your services provided to clients .
to learn why legal aid matters, watch this short video of our ceo mark benton .
the social and economic circumstances associated with the special legal needs of people with low incomes .
clients who have applied for legal representation before aug. 1 will be processed as usual .
four are appointed by the law society of bc after consultation with the executive of the bc branch of the canadian bar association .
services are available in - person or over the phone throughout the province. click the service below to get a list of locations and contact information .
a report released by the human rights law centre (hlrc) argued the decisions of governments around the country were undermining the nation' s democracy, and singled out funding cuts to community legal centres and advocacy services as key to the damage .
if an advocate is unable to see you as soon as you would like, the front desk staff can provide information and referral. you can also check out the did you know? information sheets, including legal information and referral, legal representation and assistance, and legal aid .
( 2) if costs are awarded under subsection (1), those costs are assigned to the society and recoverable by it .
( 2) when an official trustee is appointed under subsection (1), the directors of the society cease to hold office .
hours: call kamloops legal aid office for outreach hours (250 - 314 - 1900) .
hours: call nanaimo legal aid office for outreach hours (250 - 753 - 4396) .
hours: call nanaimo legal aid office for outreach hours (250 - 753 - 4396) .
hours: call victoria legal aid office for outreach hours (250 - 388 - 4519) .
hours: call victoria legal aid office for outreach hours (250 - 388 - 4516) .
with the absence of legal aid, macdougall is concerned these women will have to represent themselves .
( 3) despite subsection (2), the society may make an expenditure or incur a liability that would have the effect of placing the society in contravention of that subsection if the expenditure or liability is first approved by the attorney general and the minister of finance .
the state government funds through the normal state budget process and provided state funding of $ 17, 750, 000 in 2014 - 15. state funding is indexed annually and each year the legal services commission submits state funding bids for specific state related projects .
( 8) nothing in subsection (6) or (7) precludes the society from registering a further lien under this section against any land owned by the client or in which the client has an interest if, after a discharge is provided under subsection (6), the client incurs a further financial obligation to the society under the same or any other legal aid contract .
hours: call north vancouver legal aid office for outreach hours (604 - 980 - 7000) .
hours: call salmon arm legal aid office for outreach hours (250 - 545 - 3666) .
do you have a family law problem? get legal information on our family law in bc website .
( e) the social and economic circumstances associated with the special legal needs of low income individuals .
lack of access to legal aid in b. c. slows courts and leaves families fending for themselves
( d) whether the society realized, through execution on a filed certificate, some or all of the amount set out in the certificate .
( d) whether the society realised, through execution on a filed certificate, some or all of the amount set out in the certificate .
( 1) the court may award costs to an individual in a proceeding in which the individual has received legal aid from or through the society or a funded agency even though the individual has not paid and will not be liable to pay counsel .
. our priority is to serve the interests of people with low incomes. but many of our services are available to all british columbians. for more about our history ,
( 11) a director must be reimbursed for reasonable out of pocket travelling and other expenses incurred in the discharge of duties and may be paid a fee for services .
( 2) without limiting section 13 of this act, in order to secure repayment of the client' s financial obligation to the society, the society may register a lien in accordance with subsection (3) against any land owned by the client or in which the client has an interest .
for some family law problems, you' ll need legal advice from a lawyer. a lawyer can :
sharon matthews, cbabc president .
making the case for the economic value of legal aid
february 2012
economic value of legal aid. analysis in relation to commonwealth funded matters with a focus on family law .
the attorney general of ontario commissioned this report in response to a crisis in the criminal legal aid system and to job action taken by senior criminal defence lawyers in the province. it focuses primarily on criminal legal aid. the companion study is the ontario civil legal needs project report ,
listening to ontarians ,
above .
( 3) four directors are to be appointed by the law society after consultation with the executive of the british columbia branch of the canadian bar association .
( 9) directors are to be appointed under section 4 to assume office when the society ceases to be subject to the direction of an official trustee .
apart from serving on the board of variance with the city of surrey, she is an active member / director with the rotary club of surrey - newton, south asian business association of bc, mannkind charitable society, panjab digital library, surrey homelessness and housing society and surrey board of trade. she has also conducted interviews and seminars through local media to educate and create awareness around various legal issues and fundamental rights .
the federal government is currently reviewing whether additional funding can be provided for immigration and legal aid across the country .
( 2) the public service act and the public service labour relations act do not apply to the society or its officers and employees appointed under this section .
underfunding legal aid is bad fiscal policy. existing research shows that increased funding for legal assistance programs actually saves money, by making the system more efficient and reducing the burden of health care, mental health and social welfare costs .
disclaimer the legal services society is not responsible in any matter for direct, indirect, special, or consequential damages, however caused, arising out of your use of this website and / or any web browser, including any damages you may suffer if you transmit confidential or sensitive information to us, or if we communicate such information to you at your request over the internet. links to other websites from this website are for convenience only. no endorsement of any third - party products, services, or information is expressed or implied by any information, material, or content referred to or included on, or linked from or to, this website .
, the society or a funded agency may employ, with or without remuneration, an individual who is not a lawyer or an articled student to provide services that would ordinarily be provided by a lawyer so long as the individual is supervised by a lawyer, but the individual may not appear as counsel in a court except with leave of the court .
to apply for legal aid in person or over the phone, see do i qualify? and how to apply .
our vision, mission, and values statements guide our work and reflect our commitment to an integrated legal aid model .
' we are starving the courts': b. c. legal aid lawyer calls attention to underfunding of justice system
( 2) despite subsection (1), the lieutenant governor in council may order that one or more provisions of the business corporations act apply to the society .
( 10) an official trustee appointed under this section is to be remunerated out of the funds of the society or otherwise as the lieutenant governor in council determines .
( 10) subject to subsection (9), the board must control and direct the business of the society and may, by resolution, determine its own procedure .
( b) may enforce the filed certificate as if it were a judgment of the supreme court in favour of the society for the amount set out in the certificate .
consolidated separate preparation items into one block of preparation hours for most types of appeals, but did not change the total number of preparation hours that lss will authorize for appeal services in most cases .
the government believes that the limited government funding available should be used in frontline services to directly assist vulnerable people most in need rather than financing lobbying and advocacy activities ,
the spokesman said .
( c) to provide advice to the attorney general respecting legal aid and access to justice for individuals in british columbia .
grants from governments account for approximately 80% of the commission' s total annual income. the commonwealth government provides funding for commonwealth related legal matters and specific commonwealth projects and the state government funds for state related legal matters and specific state projects .
legal aid commissions recoup as much of the expense of providing legal aid, as is possible, from the people who receive a service (within the limit of what the person can afford to pay). the commission requires people who are granted legal aid to pay initial contributions towards their legal expense. the contribution is determined by reference to the applicant' s means and the expected cost of the services the commission is to provide. the contribution is applicable whether the matter is conducted by an in - house lawyer or conducted by an external lawyer (private practitioner). some people are required to make further or final payments if the legal expenses reach a certain level, or make full repayment of their legal costs. where the person (or any person giving them financial support) has real estate, the repayment is secured by the commission taking a statutory charge over the real estate of the person. the charge is exercised on the sale or disposal of the property by the owner. statutory charges are not imposed if legal costs incurred are less than $ 2, 200. the commission also recovers legal costs where there has been a court order awarding costs in litigation .
this is another cost / benefit analysis of legal aid expenditures. while the study makes clear it cannot quantify all the benefits of improved or expedited outcomes for family law litigants or their families; nevertheless, based only on a cost / benefit analysis of the family justice system itself, the report concludes, in part :
direct legal assistance in relation to court and dispute resolution services for family law matters has a net positive efficiency benefit for the justice system. these benefits outweigh the costs of providing these services, ranging from a return of $ 1. 60 to $ 2. 25 for every dollar spent .
( page ix )
( 1) the lieutenant governor in council may appoint an official trustee to manage the property and conduct the affairs of the society if, in the opinion of the lieutenant governor in council, the appointment is in the public interest and is required to ensure continued and effective delivery of legal aid .
( 2) the executive director must supervise, manage and administer the business of the society in accordance with the policy of the board and subject to its control and direction .
the society must, in respect of each fiscal year ending march 31, prepare a report respecting the operations of the society and an audited financial statement and must, within 180 days after the end of the fiscal year, forward the report and financial statement to the attorney general, who must as soon as practicable lay them before the legislative assembly .
legal aid in bc is provided by the lss. financial and issue eligibility requirements for legal aid in bc change and are adjusted by the lss in response to the funds available to them from time to time. for information on current eligibility requirements visit urltoken
get a plan to help you settle legal problems (family, family violence, wills, personal planning, mortgage issues) .
sharon matthews, cbabc president .
making the case for the economic vale of legal aid - briefing note .
january 2012
the cash amount received from the legal practitioner' s act funding in 2014 - 15 was $ 2, 854, 000 .
the society may enter into agreements in writing varying the priority of a lien referred to in section 14 (4) or of a lien referred to section 15 (3) .
( 1) information disclosed by a client or an applicant for legal aid to a director, employee or agent of the society or funded agency is privileged and must be kept confidential in the same manner and to the same extent as if it had been disclosed to a solicitor under a solicitor and client relationship .
the statutory interest account and the trust account. the percentage of interest earned is prescribed in the act. the commission may also receive a percentage of the excess funds held in the legal practitioner' s guarantee fund, at the discretion of the state attorney - general and the law society of south australia. the funds generated pursuant to the legal practitioner' s act are considered to be state funds for the purpose of reporting state and commonwealth income .
in bc. the law is complicated, but not everyone can afford a lawyer. we can help you with your legal issue .
( g) facilitate coordination among the different methods, and the different persons and other entities, by which legal aid is provided .
peak bodies and other non - government organisations that advocate for legal and policy reform have been defunded ,
the report said .
the current lack of access to legal aid has contributed to the court system being overwhelmed and cases being thrown out. people accused of serious crimes walk free because their cases can’t be heard in time, while innocent women and children suffer because they can’t access legal aid .
important: any bills submitted to lss through lawyer e - services have been processed. however, not all of your billing history is captured in your tariff items on your lss online migrated contract. before submitting any invoices, review your previous billing history (go to the invoices page and click “pre 2015” to access pdfs of your lawyer e - services billings). if you have any questions, please contact lawyer. support @ urltoken .
the national partnership agreement on legal assistance services was entered into between the commonwealth of australia and states and territories, effective from 1 july 2015. pursuant to that agreement, the commonwealth government committed funding to south australia for the next four financial years until 30 june 2020. the commonwealth government provided funding of $ 16, 194, 000 in 2014 - 15 .
get a lawyer to take your case and represent you in court. over 25, 000 people get a legal aid lawyer each year .
the chair, in consultation with the society' s chief executive officer, appoints the members of these committees, unless the board directs otherwise. specific inquiries should be directed to the corporate secretary .
( 4) registration of a certificate of lien against land under this section creates a lien in favour of the society on the client' s interest in the land against which the registration is made .
( 3) registration of the registrable interest as a claim against personal property under subsection (2) creates a lien in favour of the society on the client' s interest in that personal property .
lss’s stakeholders, in addition to the ministry of justice and our clients, include our non - government funders the law foundation and the notary foundation, our local agents and our community partners, the lawyers who deliver legal aid services and the organizations that represent them, such as the canadian bar association (bc branch) and the trial lawyers association of bc, and the judiciary. other important stakeholders include public legal education and information service providers, social service agencies, community agencies, and advocates that provide support to our clients .
jean is a group leader of the law society’s inns of court program, which gives junior barristers an opportunity to discuss issues with senior lawyers. she was a member of the law society’s trust assurance review task force and disclosure privacy task force. she is a frequent speaker on professional regulation and ethics. jean received her law degree from the university of british columbia in 1983 and was appointed queen’s counsel in 2001 .
mceown, carol, for the law foundation of british columbia .
civil legal needs research report .
2nd ed. vancouver: march 2009 .
authorization for services (paragraph 18 (1) ) — deleted this paragraph. lawyers’ contracts in lss online have a service start date that is 10 days prior to the contract issue date. lawyers have to request authorization via lss online to change the service start date to bill for a bail hearing, or any other legal service, occurring prior to the service start date stated on a contract .
currie, a .
the unmet need for criminal legal aid: a summary of research results .
ottawa: department of justice canada, 2003 .
family duty counsel — changed requirements for provincial court family duty counsel. duty counsel are required to remain at the courthouse for the entire minimum authorized time as set out in their duty counsel schedule to ensure services are available to drop - in clients .
the commission generates interest from funding received from governments and other sources. these funds are invested with the south australian financing authority (safa) the commission sells various kits and publications and provides educational courses, some of the courses attract a consultation fee in other instances the commission provides submissions to external bodies (e. g. the law foundation) to receive funding to provide educational services where a need is perceived. a telephone legal advice line is provided to the public sector association union members and funding is provided by the public sector association for this purpose. the commission provides other services on a project basis from time to time, when specific funding is provided .
philip riddell was called to the bar in 1989 and currently practises criminal defence as a sole practitioner in port coquitlam. philip is a law society of bc bencher and member of that organization’s discipline committee, lawyer education advisory committee and rule of law and lawyer independence advisory committee. he has served as a canadian bar association provincial council member for westminster county and as president of the new westminster bar association. philip presents at a number of professional programs with the trial lawyers association of bc and the professional legal training course. he was the board solicitor for kerrisdale community centre society from 2004 to 2012 .
( c) the society has not complied with one or more of the terms and conditions of the memorandum of understanding that were established under subsection (2) (b), (c) or (d) .
if you have to call long distance to reach a legal aid location, you can phone service bc and ask them to put your call through for free .
the deterioration of legal aid is the result of perpetual under - funding and service cuts, at a time when more people, not fewer, need help .
family lawline lawyers give legal advice about family law issues such as parenting time or contact / access, guardianship / custody, child support, spousal ...
this report summarizes much of the research on legal aid, the canadian bar association' s involvement with the issue, and recommendations for moving forward with the issue .
the canadian bar association .
the right to publicly - funded legal representation in canada: making the case .
ottawa: the canadian bar association, 2000 .
legal advice telephone service for individuals who are in custody at a police lock - up awaiting a bail hearing. service is available during the evenings and on ...
legal aid clinic at law centre - 1 is a role model to be emulated by other law schools and colleges. i wish them all the success and continuous support .
resources: the reports & resources section includes research and progress reports from the society and its project consultants, reports from other organizations, and relevant links to other online resources. for detailed explanations, visit the faqs and glossary of terms .
( 1) the board or, if authorized by the board, the executive director, may appoint officers and employees and engage and retain specialists and consultants required to carry out the business of the society and may determine their remuneration and benefits .
if you are a person with a low income experiencing separation or divorce, you may be eligible for up to three hours of free legal advice from supreme court ...
lss online is a secure online portal for lawyers who represent legal aid clients. if you' re a lawyer with an lss vendor number, you can use the portal to :
the canadian legal system is challenging and intimidating for anybody... [ but especially so ] if you don' t have the proficiency of english ,
she said .
celeste haldane was appointed chief commissioner of the bc treaty commission in april 2017. prior to that, she served as an elected commissioner for three two - year terms. she is a practising lawyer and holds an llm in constitutional law from osgoode hall (york university), and an llb and ba from the university of british columbia (ubc). in 2015, she began her doctorate in anthropology and law at ubc. celeste was appointed by the provincial government to serve on the legal services society' s board of directors and the ubc board of governors. she is also director of the brain canada foundation and the hamber foundation, as well as an active member of the indigenous bar association and canadian bar association .
if you don’t have a lawyer, first nations court duty counsel can give you free legal advice on or before the day of court. duty counsel can help you apply to ...
in june 2010, the british columbia branch of the canadian bar association (cbabc) and five other organizations in british columbia formed the public commission on legal aid in british columbia. those organizations include the law society of british columbia, the law foundation of british columbia, the british columbia crown counsel association, the vancouver bar association and victoria bar association. the commission is headed by commissioner leonard t. doust, qc, and has its own website at urltoken .
dinyar was a member of the family justice reform working group for the justice review task force established in 2002. his professional memberships include fellow of the international society of barristers; fellow of the american college of trial lawyers (provincial committee chair, 2011 - 2012); former chair of the canadian bar association’s vancouver family law subsection; and member of the committee on relations with the judiciary and the nova scotia barristers society; and a past member for two terms of the supreme court rules committee. he has written and presented extensively on various family law topics .
there has been considerable study of legal aid in british columbia, across canada, and throughout the commonwealth countries. the canadian bar association (cba) commissioned a report from melina buckley, entitled
moving forward on legal aid ,
which was released in june 2010. it summarizes much of the existing research and suggests ways in which the cba could be involved in taking the issue farther in canada .
( 2) if a civil or criminal proceeding is or may be brought against a person respecting the person' s eligibility for legal aid, subsection (1) does not apply to information respecting eligibility .
the shutting down of advocacy, which is the first thing that' s drawn attention to in this report, shows a fundamental misunderstanding of what community legal centres and other community groups need to do .
as with many provinces, including ontario and british columbia, alberta has been experiencing a legal aid funding crisis which was only exasperated by the economic downturn of 2008 / 2009. this report sets out alberta’s response .
reid, g. with jackson, d. and mcewon, c .
clicklaw and beyond: public legal education and information materials in bc .
vancouver: the law foundation of british columbia, 2009 .
you may be able to get the name of a lawyer who specializes in family law problems from a community agency (such as a women' s centre) or a community advocate. or use one of the other resources listed under
other services
( see the links on the right) to find a lawyer you can speak with .
( 4) the attorney general may approve a budget provided under this section and, if the attorney general does not return to the society a budget presented under subsection (1) or (3) within 30 days after receipt, the budget is deemed to have the approval of the attorney general .
a lack of legal aid funding is unacceptable in a province as rich as ours. this means that many british columbians facing loss of liberty, homelessness or losing custody of their children do not have access to representation .
from 2009 to 2013, raymond was a member of a legal team retained by the nlaka’pamux communities to negotiate and settle claims against the highland valley copper mine. he is now one of three community trustees managing the nlaka’pamux legacy trust .
the lss standards of conduct policy describes the conduct expected of all lss employees, and promotes integrity, respect, confidentiality, public responsibility, cultural competence and disclosure of wrongdoing as the society’s core principles. the standards of conduct also assures the public that lss employees fulfill their duties honestly and impartially. to learn more, read the
there should be written into funding agreements with all community organisations, legal centres or any other kind of organisation, which expressly tells them that they are free to advocate, that it is totally within their ordinary functions to do so .
the other studies listed below are some of those which were included in the buckley report or included in submissions to, or material from, the public commission on legal aid in british columbia. links to these reports are included, with a brief introduction .
raymond joined the canadian bar association’s justice reform committee in 2013, providing a response to the bc government’s “green paper” with an attempt to create “efficiencies” in the justice system, and served on the law society of bc’s access to justice committee in 2015 and 2016. since 1992, raymond has served as director and chairperson on the nzenmen child and family development centre in lytton .
legal aid clients are among the province’s most vulnerable and marginalized citizens. our clients don' t have the financial resources — or frequently the educational, social, or health resources — to effectively access the justice system when their families, freedom, or safety are at risk .
a predecessor to both the trebilock and ontario civil law needs project, this report assesses the impact of legal aid on, and its challenges for, remote communities and individuals separated by language or culture. interestingly, much of the research builds on work from british columbia. it is ironic that one of the findings of the report was that rural and remote communities needed regional legal aid offices. the report notes bc’s success with such offices (this is before 5 of the remaining 7 were closed) and recommends ontario keep and build on its regional offices .
according to statistics canada, legal aid expenditures are up 4% nationally for 2009 / 2010. interestingly, though, it says expenditures average $ 23 per canadian, which would put bc well below the average. our funding currently amounts to about $ 16 per person in the province .
linda is of cree - norwegian ancestry and a member of the tk’emlúps te secwépemc (formerly kamloops band) through marriage. the ttes community has been her home for over 30 years. linda has been a lawyer for 15 years and practices in the area of child protection and family law in kamloops, merritt and lillooet. she is the executive director of the secwépemc child and family services delegated child welfare agency, which serves seven secwépemc communities and the kamloops urban aboriginal community .
in 2014, linda received the cba - bc’s aboriginal lawyers forum special contribution award, which recognized her leadership in establishing the first nations court in kamloops and her commitment to improving relationships between aboriginal people and the legal system. linda is also the proud recipient of the 2015 kamloops ymca peace award.
the legal services society ( lss ) is the legal aid provider in british columbia , canada . its mission is to provide innovative and collaborative legal aid services that enable people with low incomes to effectively address their issues within the justice system . services are available for family , immigration , and criminal law matters and include legal information , advice , or representation , depending on the client ’s legal problem . each year the society helps tens of thousands of low-income people to solve their legal problems . lss is a non-profit organization governed by a nine-member board of directors . while the provincial government is its primary funder , the society remains independent of government . it also receives funding from other sources , including the law foundation of british columbia and the notary foundation of british columbia . provincial funding has declined over the past two decades , significantly impacting the society 's services and operations ( see below ) . 
the legal services society (lss) is the legal aid provider in british columbia, canada. its mission is to provide innovative and collaborative legal aid services that enable people with low incomes to effectively address their issues within the justice system. services are available for family, immigration, and criminal law matters and include legal information, advice, or representation, depending on the client ’s legal problem. each year the society helps tens of thousands of low-income people to solve their legal problems. lss is a non-profit organization governed by a nine-member board of directors. while the provincial government is its primary funder, the society remains independent of government. it also receives funding from other sources, including the law foundation of british columbia and the notary foundation of british columbia. provincial funding has declined over the past two decades, significantly impacting the society's services and operations (see below).
the legal services society (lss) is the legal aid provider in british columbia, canada. its mission is to provide innovative and collaborative legal aid services that enable people with low incomes to effectively address their issues within the justice system. services are available for family, immigration, and criminal law matters and include legal information, advice, or representation, depending on the client ’s legal problem. each year the society helps tens of thousands of low-income people to solve their legal problems. lss is a non-profit organization governed by a nine-member board of directors. while the provincial government is its primary funder, the society remains independent of government. it also receives funding from other sources, including the law foundation of british columbia and the notary foundation of british columbia. provincial funding has declined over the past two decades, significantly impacting the society's services and operations (see below).