Getting Help with Your Legal Problem

If you think you have a legal problem, this section of the website will help you get started. It will help you find legal information, legal advice and where to go to get help.

Legal Information

Getting legal information will help you understand the law that applies to your situation and how you can solve your problem. Learning about the law is important because, in addition to knowing your legal rights, it will help you decide if you should talk to a lawyer or try to deal with the problem on your own.

On the main page of Legal Help, there are services that will give you legal information in person, by telephone, or on the Internet.

Legal Advice

If you have a legal problem, it is a good idea to talk to a lawyer to get legal advice. Even if you are going to handle your own case, a lawyer can help you at every step in the legal process. Only lawyers are qualified to give legal advice.

A lawyer can give you important information about many things, including:

  • the court system
  • the law that applies to your case
  • the correct court forms to use
  • the documents and other evidence you need to prove your case
  • and your chances of success if your case is heard by a judge or jury.

A lawyer can also tell you about other ways to resolve your dispute without going to court.

Legal Advice Options

You may be surprised to learn that hiring a lawyer is not always expensive. Here are some payment options to consider before you get legal advice:

  1. Retain a lawyer (pay in full)
    You can retain (hire) a lawyer and pay for all the legal services that he or she provides.To find a lawyer, you can use the Canadian Bar Association BC Branch’s lawyer referral service: www.CBABC.org. For just $25, you can get up to 30 minutes of legal advice. If you hire a lawyer, be sure to ask about costs at the start. You can also ask if the lawyer’s fees can be negotiated.
     
  2. Unbundled legal services (pay for some services)
    Most legal problems involve a series of legal steps to be taken before the issue is solved. You can ask a lawyer to handle only certain parts of the legal work and do the other parts yourself. This is called ‘unbundled legal services,’ because you are only paying for some legal help – not the whole bundle. To learn more, go to Unbundled Legal Services.
     
  3. Legal Aid (free)
    You may be able to get legal aid from the government,if you meet certain financial requirementsand you have a certainlegal problem. The Legal Services Society provides legal aid to some low-income earners in British Columbia. For example, if there are 2 people in your household, your income (after deductions) must be below $1,980 per month to qualify for legal aid. To learn more, go to www.LSS.bc.ca/legal_aid.
     
  4. Pro bono legal services (free)
    “Pro bono” is a Latin word that is used to describe free professional services. In British Columbia, a few organizations can help you find a lawyer who provides probono (free) legal services. To learn more, go to Free Legal Services.

There are many places where you can get legal information – online, by phone, and in person. To get legal advice, you will need to meet with a lawyer. To learn more about why this is a good idea, go to the next section: How Lawyers Can Help You.