The Law Society is committed to advancing legal aid in BC.
In March 2017, the Law Society released the report "A Vision for Publicly Funded Legal Aid in British Columbia" prepared for the Benchers by the Legal Aid Task Force. The Benchers voted unanimously to adopt the vision set out in the report.
The vision concludes that legal aid is a crucial part of the proper administration of justice in a free and democratic society. In a society based on the rule of law, every person must have equal access to the justice system. If people do not have equal access to the law, rights and freedoms may be jeopardized. Because there is no equality of resources within society, some people will require aid to enforce their rights or understand their responsibilities.
Read the report: A Vision for Publicly Funded Legal Aid
The Access to Justice Advisory Committee monitors and advises the Benchers on key matters relating to the state of legal aid in British Columbia and advances the Law Society’s Vision for Publicly Funded Legal Aid.
What is legal aid?
Legal aid offers a range of free legal services to low income individuals and families. It is provided by Legal Aid BC and funded by the provincial government and organizations such as the Law Foundation of BC and Notary Foundation of BC. If you wish to apply for legal aid, contact Legal Aid BC.
Watch our short video, which explains that if legal aid is not available for the most vulnerable, their legal problems can jeopardize their jobs, housing, health, and their lives. It is essential for government to provide adequate and sustainable legal aid funding.
-
- Rule of Law and Lawyer Independence
- Lawyer Independence and Self Regulation
- Statements on Issues that Affect the Rule of Law
- Secondary School Essay Contest
- Rule of Law Lecture Series
-
- Rule of Law Matters Podcast
- Introduction to the Rule of Law transcript
- What is the rule of law vs. rule by law? transcript
- Lawyer Independence and the Rule of Law transcript
- The Rise of Authoritarianism and Assaults on the Rule of Law, Part 1 transcript
- The Rise of Authoritarianism and Assaults on the Rule of Law, Part 2 transcript
- COVID 19 and the Rule of Law, Part 1 transcript
- COVID 19 and the Rule of Law, Part 2
- Privacy and the rule of law
- Authoritarianism, closer to home
- Judges and the rule of law transcript
- COVID-19 and returning to "normal"
- The role of prosecutors in criminal justice and the rule of law transcript
- Rule of law news: a year in review
- Racism, equity, diversity and inclusion and the rule of law
- A conversation with Marie Henein on the role of lawyers in society
- Improving Mental Health for the Legal Profession
- Lawyer Development Initiatives