Legal Information and Resources

Public > Legal Information and Resources

The Law Society cannot provide legal assistance or advice to the public. Our primary mandate is to regulate the legal profession in BC.

However, the following information and links may be of some help.

Public legal information

is a comprehensive website of legal information for the public. Operated by Courthouse Libraries BC, Clicklaw brings together the learning materials and educational resources of over 20 legal organizations throughout the province.

Clicklaw Wikibooks are collaboratively developed, plain language legal publications that are born-wiki and can also be printed. The following wikibooks are currently available:

JP Boyd on Family Law from Vancouver lawyer John-Paul Boyd is now updated for the new Family Law Act. Written in plain language, with rollover definitions for legal words and phrases, JP Boyd on Family Law provides practical, in-depth coverage of family law and divorce law in BC.
Legal Help for British Columbians, 3rd ed., covers over 40 common legal problems faced by low-income clients in BC. This edition includes new chapters on immigration and mental health. The guide also contains a list of legal agencies that provide information, assistance, advice and representation for low-income clients in BC.
Consumer Law Wikibook from People's Law School describes some of the most common consumer problems faced by British Columbians and in particular by newcomers to the province. It covers problems with a purchase, home repairs, loans, debt, identity theft and scams.
A Death in Your Family from People’s Law School covers what to do first when a family member dies, making funeral arrangements and where to find support.

Dial-a-Law is a telephone service provided by the Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch that provides general information on BC legal topics.

Family Law in British Columbia is a website dedicated to helping families use the law.

The Supreme Court of British Columbia website has information packages designed to assist people who are representing themselves in court.

JusticeBC is the provincial government’s web-based gateway for British Columbians who want information about the family and criminal justice systems, and justice reform. The family justice section has been updated to include the Family Law Act, which came into effect on March 18, 2013.

The Justice Education Society creates innovative programs and resources that improve access to British Columbia’s justice system and help individuals better understand how our justice system works and how to resolve their legal matters.

AdminLawBC is an online help guide for British Columbians navigating the world of administrative law

Legal Services Society provides legal assistance to B.C. residents living in poverty and has a number of publications for the public.

Access Pro Bono Society of British Columbia provides free legal services to people and non-profit organizations of limited means throughout BC.

Peoples Law School provides free and impartial public legal education.

Find a Lawyer

Suggestions on how to find a lawyer

Glossary of Legal Terms

There are many online resources that provide definitions of legal terms. Here are just a few:

BC Ministry of Attorney General
Courts of BC Guide to the Legal System
Vancouver Community College Multilingual Legal Glossary

Legal Research

Canadian Legal Information Institute (CANLII) (caselaw and statutes/regulations)
Best Guide to Canadian Legal Research
Lexum
LexisNexis Quicklaw
Statistics Canada

Laws, Statutes and Regulations

BC Statutes
Consolidated Statutes of Canada
B.C. Regulation Bulletins
Canada Gazette
Consolidated Regulations of Canada
Canadian Legal Information Institute (CANLII)
Dial-A-Law

Law Libraries

Courthouse Libraries BC is the primary provider of legal information services to the legal community and the public of BC. Some of the free and fee-based services include:

searching legal databases
access to bills, statutes, regulations, case law and texts
locating and noting up cases and legislation
access to all CLBC electronic and print resources through a web-based catalogue
access to electronic and Internet resources on public computers in the libraries
website with legal links and research guides
print, scanning, fax and e-mail services

The Law Library of UBC and The University of Victoria Diana M. Priestly Law Library are open to the public who may use library resources for study and research.

Canadian Association of Law Libraries

Courts and court information

BC Provincial Court
BC Superior Courts
BC Supreme Court Registries
Federal Court of Canada
Supreme Court of Canada

Typescripts of reasons of the B.C. Court of Appeal (from 1974), the Supreme Court of BC (from 1971) and the County Court (from 1977-1990) are housed in University of Victoria library.

BC Provincial Court (Family) Rules and Forms
BC Supreme Court Civil Rules
BC Supreme Court Criminal Rules
Federal Court Rules and Forms
Supreme Court of Canada Rules

Court and tribunal decisions
BC Superior Courts
Federal Court of Canada
Supreme Court of Canada

Canadian Legal Information Institute (CANLII) provides free, online access to legal documents from Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments for both legal practitioners and the general public .

The Law Society of British Columbia