Legal Aid Financial
https://legalaid.bc.ca/legal_aid/doIQualifyRepresentation
To get a legal aid lawyer to represent you:
● your legal problem must be covered by our legal aid rules, and
● your net monthly household income and assets must be at or below our financial
guidelines.
Immigration Law
If you are in BC, you can get a lawyer to represent you in your immigration law case if:
● you are facing an immigration proceeding that may result in your removal from Canada,
or
● you wish to claim refugee status.
If you wish to claim refugee status and you qualify, you can get a lawyer to:
● help you fill out forms
● help you prepare for a refugee claim hearing
● represent you at your hearing
For more information or to apply for legal aid, call the Legal Aid BC immigration line:
● 604-601-6076 (Greater Vancouver), or
● 1-888-601-6076 (elsewhere in BC)
You can also visit the office in Vancouver.
If you're in detention, ask to speak to duty counsel or call the legal aid immigration line.
***You do not need to have an appointment with Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)
before you contact Legal Aid BC
Criminal
You can get a lawyer to represent you in your criminal case if, after you were convicted, you
would:
●
●
●
●
go to jail,
face a conditional sentence that would severely limit your liberty,
lose your way of earning a living, or
face an immigration proceeding that could lead to your deportation from Canada.
You can also get a lawyer to represent you if you:
● have a condition that makes it impossible for you to represent yourself, such as a physical
condition, disability, mental or emotional illness, or
● are Aboriginal and the case affects your ability to follow a traditional livelihood of
hunting and fishing.
You can get a lawyer to represent you, but not go to trial with you, if you:
● have been charged and don't face a risk of jail, or
● face a risk of jail and have a higher household monthly income (see criminal early
resolution cases).
A Rowbotham Application can be made if you are facing serious and complex criminal charges
and you have been denied legal aid but can't afford a lawyer.
Youth
If you're a young person charged with a federal offence, you have the right to legal
representation. However, if you're in the care of the Ministry of Children and Family
Development, you must speak to your social worker to arrange for a lawyer. You also have rights
under the Youth Criminal Justice Act that apply before the police can question you or get a
statement from you as part of their investigation.
Gladue Principles
If you identify as Aboriginal, you have rights under the Criminal Code to have Gladue principles
applied to your case. You may also have your bail or sentencing hearing in First
Nations/Indigenous court.
Brydges Line (1-866-458-5500)
Brydges Line is a province-wide toll-free telephone service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week. You can call to speak to a lawyer if you're:
● arrested;
● detained; and
● under active investigation by the police or another law enforcement agency for a criminal
offence
● In custody, but you are not yet charged, and you need emergency legal services.
Duty Counsel
You may be able to get help from duty counsel in Provincial Court if you:
● are charged with a crime, and
● can't get a legal aid lawyer, or
● haven't yet applied for legal aid.
Duty counsel can provide you with advice about:
● the charges against you,
● court procedures, and
● your legal rights (including the right to counsel and the right to apply for legal aid).
Duty counsel can also represent you at a bail hearing. If there's time, duty counsel can help with
a guilty plea.
You don't have to be financially eligible to get criminal duty counsel services. However, to
receive ongoing representation you must meet Legal Aid BC coverage and financial eligibility
requirements.
Duty counsel is available at courthouses throughout the province. For duty counsel hours in your
area:
● Contact your local court registry.
● Look in the blue pages of your phone book under "Government of British Columbia —
Court Services."