The Law Society of British Columbia is leading a coalition to raise awareness of vulnerable and disadvantaged British Columbians who are unable to access legal advice and representation due to inadequate legal aid funding.
The coalition will bring together low-income individuals, people from Aboriginal and immigrant communities, and service organizations to share the current difficulty they face in finding someone to help resolve the legal issues of those in need. The effort builds on the experiences shared by individuals and organizations on the front lines who participated in the second legal aid colloquium hosted by the Law Society in the fall of 2018, and will reflect the Law Society’s “Vision for Publicly Funded Legal Aid in British Columbia.”
“It is marginalized and disadvantaged British Columbians trying to resolve their legal issues who suffer when the family law and criminal defence counsel who assist them are starved of resources,” said Law Society President Nancy Merrill, QC. “A single parent fighting to protect his or her children, or those dealing with government lawyers, should not have to go to court alone, and we are committed to ensuring they do not.”