The following webpage provides a curated list of free or low-cost legal resources available to refugees and refugee claimants in British Columbia.

Free or Low-Cost Legal Counsel for Refugee Claimants

It is very important that refugee claimants seek legal counsel as the process is complicated. Legal counsel can be found through legal aid offices when applicable or through other legal clinics and community resources. Many claimants will need to seek legal aid to cover the costs of being represented by a lawyer. Legal aid is a provincial jurisdiction. Claimants can apply for legal aid at the following organizations in BC:

• Legal Services Society of BC: Legal aid / 1-866-577- 2525 / 604-408-2172 (Greater Vancouver)
• Law Students’ Legal Advice Program: Free legal counsel / (604) 822-5791
• Access Pro Bono Society: Free legal counsel/ 1-877-762-6664 or 604-878-7400 (Greater Vancouver)
• Rise Women’s Legal Centre: Taking files on family law and immigration applications for permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate (H&C) grounds / 236-317-9000 or intake@womenslegalcentre.ca

Law Foundation of BC – Legal Advocacy Programs

The Law Foundation of British Columbia funds Legal Advocacy Programs across British Columbia for low-income immigrants, refugees and migrant workers. Below is a referral protocols document curated by ISSofBC with information about all programs and how to apply for or make referrals to the programs.

Note: The programs listed in this document can be accessed by refugee claimants once supports from legal aid programs are exhausted – with the exception of Ready Tours, which is specifically designed for Refugee Claimants.

Click here to access the document.

Ready Tours

The Ready Tours offers refugee claimants the opportunity to gather information, familiarize themselves with the refugee hearing procedure and see inside a real hearing room. The tour takes place at the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) and is highly encouraged for individuals making a refugee claim. The tours are also open to those working with and supporting refugee claimants, including lawyers, immigration consultants, front line workers and community stakeholders. To register, phone 604-328-3132 or email ready@refugeeclaim.ca

Free Resources and Publications – Legal Services Society of BC

The Legal Services Society of BC helps British Columbians resolve their legal problems through free  information, advice, and representation services. LSS also offers a variety of free publications that fall under the topics of Family, Criminal, Immigration and Children. Below are those that relate most to refugees and refugee claimants:

Immigration

• Sponsorship Breakdown  – A booklet for permanent residents who need help when the person sponsoring them in Canada will no longer support them, and they are unable to support themselves.
  Languages available: Arabic, English, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Farsi (Persian), Punjabi, and Spanish.
• Need Help with Your Refugee Claim? – Info card that promotes the legal aid immigration phone line and other legal aid services for refugee claimants.

Languages available: English, Dari, French, Kurdish, Pashto, and Spanish.

Welfare

• Your Welfare Rights: How to Apply for Welfare – Explains the application process to get welfare.
• Your Welfare Rights: Welfare Benefits – Describes monthly welfare benefits and supplements and how to get them.
• Your Welfare Rights: When You’re on Welfare – Explains what the rules and responsibilities are when you’re on welfare (i.e., what the ministry might ask you to do and how you might do those things, income and assets you can have and still get welfare, employment related-responsibilities).

Legal Aid

• Legal Aid Can Help You – Brochure that outlines what legal aid is, and how and where to apply for it. It also lists the phone numbers of legal aid offices in BC. 
  Languages available: English, Kurdish, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Punjabi, and Spanish.
• Working with Your Legal Aid Lawyer – A fact sheet that describes client and lawyer responsibilities to help them both know what to expect from a legal aid contract.
  Languages available: English, Arabic, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Punjabi, and Spanish.

Legal help for refugee claim

• Need Help with Your Refugee Claim? (info card)
  • This bilingual infocard promotes the legal aid immigration phone line and other legal aid services for refugee claimants.
  • Languages available: Arabic, Dari, English, Farsi (Persian), French, Kurdish, Pashto, Spanish
• Working with Your Legal Aid Lawyer (fact sheet)
  • Describes client and lawyer responsibilities to help them both know what to expect from a legal aid contract.
  • Languages available: Arabic, Chinese (simplified & traditional), English, French, Punjabi, Spanish

Family law

Publications below are ones that are available in multiple languages. To get the full list of family law publications, click here.

• Family Law in BC: Quick Reference Tool (postcards)
  • This set of postcards introduces the reader to the basics of family law. Each card covers one legal aspect of separation, such as:
    • which laws apply,
    • how couples can reach agreements, and
    • how to deal with issues involving children and money.
  • Languages available: Chinese (simplified & traditional), English, French (online-only), Punjabi, Spanish
• Living Together or Living Apart (booklet)
  • Explains the basics of family law in BC. Includes information about:
    • your rights and responsibilities if you’re married or in a marriage-like relationship,
    • how spouses can work out agreements,
    • how to work out arrangements for parenting if you have children,
    • what to do if you decide to separate or divorce, and
    • how to sort out money matters.
  • Languages available: Chinese (simplified & traditional), English, French (online-only), Punjabi, Spanish

Family violence

To get the full list of family violence publications, click here.

• For Your Protection (booklet)
  • This publication is for people who need protection from violent partners or former partners. Explains how and when you can apply for peace bonds and family law protection orders, and what the differences are between them.
  • Languages available: Chinese (simplified & traditional), English, Farsi, French (online-only), Punjabi, Spanish
• Is That Legal?: What the Law Says about Online Harassment and Abuse
  • To help youth become safer online when they use social media.Explains what the law says about each, and where you or someone you know in these situations can get support services and legal help.
  • Languages available: Arabic, Chinese (simplified & traditional), English, Punjabi, Spanish
• Live Safe End Abuse (booklet)
  • For people leaving an abusive partner. The fact sheets and folder contain information on what abuse is, how people can plan for their safety and protect their children, and who can help.
  • Languages available: Chinese (simplified & traditional), English, Farsi, French (online-only), Punjabi, Spanish
• Mothers Leaving Abusive Partners (booklet)
  • Plain language guide primarily for women with children who’ve been abused by their intimate partner (such as a spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend). Describes the legal process and terms to do with family law, as well as where to get help.
• Leaving Abuse (graphic novel)
  • This graphic novel tells the story of Maya, a young mother who has left her abusive partner but doesn’t know what to do next or where to get help. Through illustrations and basic legal information written in plain language, Leaving Abuse shows how Maya finds the support and legal aid she and her children need to stay safe and start a new life free from abuse.
  • [Written for adult literacy learners]
• Safety in Relationships for Trans Folk (booklet}
  • Describes relationship abuse, provides tips for staying safer, dispels common myths, and lists community resources where help is available.
  • Co-produced with QMUNITY as a resource for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer community.
• Safety in Same-Gender Relationships (booklet)
  • Describes relationship abuse, provides tips for staying safer, dispels common myths, and lists community resources where help is available.
  • Co-produced with QMUNITY as a resource for members of the trans community.

Note: many of the above resources are available in multiple languages.

More publications about abuse & family violence, family law, welfare, and child protection are available at here.

All publications are free and there are no shipping costs. How to order: If you would like to order multiple copies (up to 25), please fill out the online customer account form. If you have questions about ordering, please contact publications@lss.bc.ca or call 604-601-6000.

Legal Informational Websites

Available in multiple languages

• Clicklaw with information for immigrants & refugees (curated by Courthouse Libraries BC)
• Ready For My Refugee Hearing
  • “Ready For My Refugee Hearing” aims to empower every person seeking refugee protection in Canada to be as prepared as possible for their refugee hearing. It brings together two successful programs aimed at achieving this mission: The Preparation Guide and READY Tours.

Only available in English

• Legal Services Society
  • Apply for legal aid and find out where you can get legal help.
• Family Law in BC
  • Find complete information about family law, use self-help guides, and get the court forms you need.
• MyLawBC
  • Get a plan to help you settle legal problems (family, family violence, wills, personal planning, mortgage issues).
• People’s Law School
  • Legal information booklets and webpages on everyday legal problems (i.e., consumer, money & debt, cars, wills/planning/estates, employment)
• Pivot Legal Society
  • Pivot works in partnership with communities affected by poverty and social exclusion to identify priorities and develop solutions to complex human rights issues. The website provides a list of legal resources and support services targeted to specific topics and groups – click here.
• PovNet
  • PovNet provides online tools that facilitate communication, community and access to information around poverty-related issues in British Columbia and Canada. PovNet provides a curated list of legal advocates on a variety of topics and regions across BC – click here.
• Dial-A-Law
  • A starting point for information on the law in British Columbia. Dial-A-Law features free information on the law in British Columbia in 130 topic areas. The information is reviewed by lawyers and updated regularly. Learn more. To listen to Dial-A-Law information on the telephone, call 1-800-565-5297 (604-687-4680 in the Lower Mainland).
• Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS)
  • CLAS provides free legal assistance and resources on a variety of topics, including mental health law and employment related issues.
• Justice Education Society
  • Justice Education Society improves the legal capability of people through education programs and resources to strengthen legal knowledge, skills and confidence.