Collaborations to Improve Access to Justice

Access to Justice BC

Access to Justice BC (A2JBC) was formed in 2015 as the province’s response to a national call for action to make family and civil justice more accessible. A2JBC has adopted a Framework for Action that seeks to improve the justice system by fostering action and approaching issues from the user's perspective.

The committee is chaired by the Chief Justice of British Columbia and brings together leaders from government, the judiciary, the legal profession and related sectors such as health and municipalities. The broad membership fosters a multi-disciplinary approach to improving access to justice. 

In December 2016, the Law Society and the Law Foundation announced a joint three-year funding arrangement, in which each contributed $150,000 over three years to enable A2JBC to continue its innovative work. 

For the latest updates, visit the Access to Justice BC website.

The Law Foundation

The Law Society provides funding, paid by a portion of lawyers' fees, to the Law Foundation of BC to support pro bono services and access to justice programs. The Law Society’s contribution in 2020 is $353,736, of which approximately $60,000 goes into an access to justice fund.

CanLII and Courthouse Libraries BC

A portion of lawyer's fees are directed to support The Canadian Legal Information Institute (CanLII) and the Courthouse Libraries. Both organizations provide free legal information to the public.

Justice Summit

The Justice Summit is a forum for discussion between justice sector leaders about how the system is performing and how it can be improved. It is held at least once a year by invitation of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General.

For more information on Justice Summits, visit the Justice and Public Safety Council’s website.