South Asian Legal Clinic of British Columbia
Providing free legal advice and possible ongoing assistance.
Areas for legal advice from staff lawyers:
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Provide legal advice and/or brief services for:
People facing Intimate Partner Violence/Domestic Violence
Safety Planning
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Provide legal advice only on:
Separation
Divorce
Parenting Time
Decision-Making Responsibilities
Child Support
Spousal Support
Provide legal advice and/or brief services on:
Uncontested desk order divorces
Provincial Court Family Matters
Provincial Court Family Law Protection Orders
People facing Intimate Partner Violence/Domestic Violence and/or Family Violence
Safety Planning
Areas for summary legal advice from volunteer lawyers:
Book Your Free Legal Advice Appointment
You will get an appointment for legal advice at no-cost. You may also qualify for additional legal services.
Our lawyers provide low-barrier and culturally sensitive legal support for low-income South Asian families.
We do not accept walk-in appointments.
Unbundled Services Eligibility Criteria
1) Meet the current income eligibility guidelines, after tax deductions. That are:
$50,000 for a single person household
$50,000-$100,000 for a 2-4 person household
$120,000 for a more than 4 person household
2) Asset testing and eligibility for representation and drafting services will be discussed during the intake process.
3) For family law and child protection services, you must confirm you don’t qualify for legal aid.
Please note that we do not handle appeals or judicial reviews.
Our eligibility criteria encompass income, assets, and the specific legal services sought. Exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
What do I need to Bring to My Appointment?
Our lawyers will contact you prior to your appointment if additional documents are needed, such as bank statements, direct deposit information, details about your spouse and children, income tax returns, or immigration papers. Each case is unique, so the specific documents required may vary.
However, it is essential that you bring the following to your appointment:
A Photo ID with your current address (ie. Driver's License, Passport, BC Services Card).
Any letters that you have received related to the matter you are seeking assistance for.
Empowering Low-Income Families with Free Legal Advice
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South Asian clients are given priority for appointments.
Non South-Asian clients are referred to appropriate community resources and may be given a free summary appointment subject to availability.
We strive to accommodate all low-income individuals seeking our services.
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To ensure that our legal clinic effectively serves low-income families, clients are asked to self-disclose their income during the appointment booking process.
If deemed eligible for additional unbundled legal services, clients are kindly requested to provide proof of income before the commencement of the unbundled legal services file.
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Unbundling legal services means a lawyer provides legal services for only part of a client’s legal matter. This is also called a limited retainer. It allows clients and lawyers to decide which tasks are performed by the client and which are performed by the lawyer.
Unbundled Legal Service Areas
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Uncontested desk order divorces
Provincial Court Family Matters
Provincial Court Family Law Protection Orders
People facing Intimate Partner Violence/Domestic Violence and/or Family Violence
Safety Planning
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Reviewing Employment contracts
Federal Employment Insurance
Employment Law for Non-Unionized Workers
Employment Standards Act violations
Wrongful Dismissal in Small Claims Court
Discrimination in Employment under human rights law
You may be eligible for additional legal support:
After your first legal appointment, you may qualify for additional legal assistance, based on income qualification and lawyer discretion .
