Vancouver Legal Resources
by Susanna Hughes
Greater Vancouver offers many services to people needing legal advice or assistance. Many of these services are free or inexpensive. The following is a fairly comprehensive listing. For those people who are not sure where to go for assistance, most of the organizations listed will refer callers to the appropriate agency.
COURTS
Provincial Court - Criminal Division Hears most cases under the Criminal Code, Narcotic Control Act, or other federal criminal legislation, with the exception of the most serious criminal offences. Hears all offences arising under provincial legislation.
Burnaby: 6263 Deerlake Ave. 660-7130 Coquitlam: 2165 Kelly Street 941-0604 Delta: 4465 Clarence Taylor Cres. 660-3121 Langley: 20389 Fraser Hwy. 530-1164 Maple Ridge: 11960 Haney P1ace 467-1515 New Westminster: Begbie Square 660-8520 North Vancouver: 200 E. 23rd St. 983-4000 Richmond: 6900 Minoru Blvd. 660-6900 Surrey: 14340 - 57th Ave. 572-2288 Vancouver: 222 Main St. 660-4200 Vancouver (Traffic): 190 Alexander St. 660-4278 West Vancouver: 1330 Marine Dr. 660-1232
Provincial Court - Family and Youth Division Can hear almost all family matters, except for divorce and division of property. Youth Court hears offences arising under the Young Offenders Act. Family court counsellors are available without charge to assist parties involved in family matters.
Burnaby: 6263 Deerlake Ave. 660-7130 Coquitlam: 2165 Kelly Street 941-0604 Delta: 4465 Clarence Taylor Cres. 660-3121 Maple Ridge: 11960 Haney P1ace 467-1515 New Westminster: Begbie Square 660-8522 North Vancouver: 200 E. 23rd St. 983-4000 Richmond: 6931 Granville Ave. 660-4693 Surrey: 14340 - 57th Ave. 572-2220 Vancouver: 800 Hornby St. 660-8989 West Vancouver: 1330 Marine Dr. 660-1232
Provincial Court - Small Claims Division Hears civil cases involving less than $10,000.00. Procedures are relatively informal, and most cases are handled by the parties themselves, without lawyers.
Burnaby: 6263 Deerlake Ave. 660-7135 Delta: 4465 Clarence Taylor Cres. 660-3121 Maple Ridge: 11960 Haney P1ace 467-1515 New Westminster: Begbie Square 660-8501 North Vancouver: 200 E. 23rd St. 983-4000 Richmond: 6931 Granville Ave. 775-1215 Surrey: 14340 - 57th Ave. 572-2210 Vancouver: 800 Hornby St. 660-8989
Supreme Court of B.C. Can hear any civil action, including family matters. Hears appeals from Provincial Court. Conducts the most serious criminal trials.
New Westminster: Begbie Square 660-8990 Vancouver: Law Courts, 800 Smithe St. 660-2847
Court of Appeal of B.C. Hears appeals from the Supreme Court. Appeals from the B.C. Court of Appeal go to the Supreme Court of Canada.
Vancouver: Law Courts, 800 Smithe St. 660-2858
LEGAL RESOURCES
B.C. Civil Liberties Association 425 - 815 West Hastings Street, Vancouver 687-2919 Defends and gives referrals on human rights and civil liberties issues (e.g. freedom of speech and association; privacy and access to information; due process). Active in public education programs, lobbying, and infrequent court action. Accepts complaints about discrimination, police misconduct, administrative procedures, prisoners’ and children’s rights, access to information, and invasion of privacy.
B.C. Coalition of People with Disabilities 204 - 456 W. Broadway, Vancouver 875-0188 Advocacy Access (toll free) 1-800-663-1278 Provides individual and group advocacy for people with disabilities.
B.C. Council of Human Rights 406 - 815 Hornby St., Vancouver 660-6811 or call toll-free 1-800-663-0876 Provincial agency opposing discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, mental or physical disability, or age. Enforces the B.C. Human Rights Act. Focus is on preventive education programs; Council also assists individual victims of discrimination.
B.C. Courthouse Library Society Vancouver Law Courts, 800 Smithe St. 660-2910 New Westminster Begbie Square 660-8577 Operates courthouse libraries, open to the public, in the Vancouver and New Westminster Supreme Court buildings.
B.C. Human Rights Coalition 718 - 744 West Hastings St., Vancouver 689-8474 A non-governmental organization which fights discrimination and seeks to improve human rights protection. Provides advocacy services to victims of discrimination or harassment, sponsors public education programs, and lobbies to enforce and enhance human rights legislation.
Canadian Human Rights Commission 750 - 605 Robson St., Vancouver 666-2251 Government agency administering federal human rights legislation.
Consumer Association of Canada, Consumer Assistance Office 306 - 198 W. Hastings St., Vancouver 682-3535 Handles enquiries regarding consumer issues and legislation. Provides individual assistance and referrals for consumer problems.
Consumer Services, Debtor Assistance Branch 5021 Kingsway, Burnaby 660-3550 Provides financial and related legal advice to people faced with debt problems.
Consumer Services, Investigations Branch 5021 Kingsway, Burnaby 660-3570 Administers consumer legislation; investigates disputes over unfair or deceptive selling practices.
Consumer Services, Residential Tenancy Branch #400 - 5021 Kingsway, Burnaby 660-3400 Information Line 660-3456 Provides information to landlords and tenants on their rights and responsibilities, and provides speakers to interested groups. Administers and arbitration system for resolution of most landlord and tenant disputes.
Dial-A-Law 687-4680 Toll-free outside the Lower Mainland 1-800-565-LAWS (5297) A library of taped messages prepared by the B.C. branch of the Canadian Bar Association, providing practical information on awide variety of legal topics.
Family Maintenance Enforcement Program 660-3281 or call Toll-free 1-800-663-9666 A provincial government program which monitors and enforces spousal and child support payments.
International Self-Counsel Press 1481 Charlotte, North Vancouver 986-3366 Publishes self-help guides and workbooks on numerous legal and business issues (e.g. divorce and separation agreements, incorporations, wills and estates, small claims procedures, etc.).
Law Courts Education Society Vancouver Law Courts, 800 Smithe St. 660-9870 Surrey 14340 - 57th Ave. 572-2276 Conducts Public education with respect to the court system, and offers courthouse tours.
Law Line Operated by the Legal Services Society (see below). Provides general legal information and referrals over the telephone.
Law Society of B.C. 845 Cambie St., Vancouver 669-2533 The legal profession’s governing body, responsible for the admission, conduct and discipline of lawyers. Handles complaints about lawyer’s conduct.
Law Student’s Legal Advice Program (LSLAP) 228-5791 Free legal clinics operated by U.B.C. law students, and supervised by lawyers. Clinics at various locations throughout the Lower Mainland provide legal assistance in the following areas: welfare appeals, U.I.C., family law, landlord/tenant disputes, immigration, wills, small claims, employee/employer disputes, I.C.B.C. and motor vehicle claims, and minor criminal offences. Specialty clinics are also held on women’s and First Nations’ issues.
Lawyer Referral Service 845 Cambie St., Vancouver 687-3221 or call toll-free 1-800-663-1919 Canadian Bar Association service refers callers to participating lawyers who provide an inexpensive 30 minute initial consultation.
Legal Resource Centre 200 - 1140 West Pender St., Vancouver 660-4673 A public library of easy-to-understand legal materials, including films and videotapes. Also sponsors legal research and referral workshops for librarians, teachers, and interested community groups.
Legal Services Society (Legal Aid) 660-4600 Branch Offices: Vancouver: 191 Alexander Street 687-1831 Burnaby: 509-5021 Kingsway 775-2100 Surrey: 105-9180 King George Hwy. 951-2030 Community Law Offices: Abbotsford: 100-2955 Gladwin Rd. 859-2755 Langley: 21-2018956th Ave. 530-5811 Maple Ridge: 4-22701 119th Ave. 467-3011 New Westminster: 103-668 Carnarvon St. 524-0381 North Vancouver: 1060 Roosevelt Cr. 985-7138 Port Coquitlam: 300-2232 McAllister Ave. 944-8841 Provides free or inexpensive legal counsel to eligible applicants. Deals primarily with family, criminal, or immigration matters. Also offers general legal information.
Native Courtworker & Counselling Association of B.C. 404 W. Esplanade, North Vancouver (Administration) 985-5355 50 Powell St., Vancouver (Vancouver office) 687-0281 10673 King George Hwy., Surrey (Surrey office) 589-0511 14340 - 57th Ave., Surrey (Surrey Courthouse) 572-2293 Provides legal information and advice to native people; referrals to legal and other resources. Helps natives in conflict with the law.
OASIS Immigrant Services Centre Vancouver: 8165 Main Street 324-8186 Surrey: 103-8386120th Street 590-4667 Provides direct services and programs to Indo-Canadian immigrants (e.g. information, interpretation and referrals for legal and human rights problems).
Office of the Ombudsman of B.C. 202-1275 W. 6th Ave., Vancouver 660-1366 or call toll-free 1-800-661-3247 Handles complaints about provincial government ministries, Crown agencies, boards or commissions, or other provincial government appointees. The Ombudsman can investigate and may recommend changes to bureaucratic decisions, actions or practices.
People’s Law School (The Public Legal Education Society) 150 - 900 Howe St., Vancouver 688-2565 A non-profit society providing public legal education in co-operation with various community organizations. Free law classes are available throughout the Lower Mainland. Topics include property law, wills and estates, landlord and tenant law, immigration, family law, seniors’ issues, etc. Self-help booklets and videos are available. Information is available in Cantonese, Japanese, Mandarin, Persian, Polish, Punjabi, Spanish and Vietnamese.
Public Trustee 808 West Hastings St., Vancouver 660-4444 A provincial government agency protects the financial affairs of individuals who can’t protect themselves legally, either by reason of youth or mental incapacity.
Queen’s Printer 849 Hornby St., Vancouver 660-0981 The official bookstore of the B.C. government; provides copies of legislation and other official government publications.
Tenants’ Rights Information Line 255-0546 or call toll-free 1-800-665-1185 Hotline with information on tenant’s legal rights.
Vancouver Community Legal Assistance Society (VCLAS) 800-1281 W. Georgia St., Vancouver 685-3425 Provides assistance in civil cases to low income clients and groups.
Vancouver Gay and Lesbian Centre 1170 Bute St., Vancouver 684-5307 Offers a library, free legal clinic, counselling, information and referral. All services are confidential.
Vancouver Status of Women 301-1720 Grant St., Vancouver 255-5511 Provides free legal and general information and counselling specifically for women; referrals to feminist lawyers.
Victims’ Information Line 1-800-563-0808 Offers information and referrals for victims of crime.
Welfare Rights Advocacy Group Society (WRAGS) 1111 - 6th Ave., New Westminster 521-6955 Gives advice regarding welfare rights and entitlements; occasionally provides advocacy services for clients.
West Coast LEAF Association (Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund) 905-207 W. Hastings St., Vancouver 684-8772 Promotes equality for women through public education and legal action. Sponsors legal test cases to challenge discrimination against women, using the provisions of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
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