Our Services

The Law Centre may provide advice, assistance and representation to eligible clients who cannot afford a lawyer. Thousands of persons living in the Capital Regional District are served annually.

The Law Centre also provides law students with clinical and legal education. Students are trained and supervised in the conduct of legal matters by lawyers who are members of the University of Victoria, Faculty of Law.
 

LEGAL SERVICES  

The Law Centre provides the following services:

Free legal representation for those persons who qualify for legal assistance. Examples of cases dealt with at The Law Centre include:

• criminal matters
  
• divorce, support and other family law matters
  
• human rights complaints 
  
• civil disputes
  
• hearings before administrative tribunals dealing with matters such as:
  
• employment insurance
  
• welfare
  
• landlord and tenant disputes
  
• Canada Pension Plan
   

ASSISTED DIVORCE PROGRAM 

The purpose of The Law Centre Assisted Divorce Program is to help those clients who are financially eligible and who have "simple, uncontested" divorces based on grounds of separation or adultery to obtain a divorce. All matters relating to custody, access, maintenance and division of property must have been settled prior to application for this program. While The Law Centre provides its services at no cost, the client must be able to afford disbursements (that is, fees payable to the Court Registry) which will range from approximately $270 to $330.00 or be eligible to obtain an indigency order from the Supreme Court so that those fees will not have to be paid.
 

FAMILY LAW DOCUMENT PREPARATION ASSISTANCE  

Law Centre students may assist unrepresented persons prepare documents to initiate or respond to proceedings in Family Court with respect to support, custody, access, and Protection Orders.

Unrepresented persons may also receive assistance with the preparation of Supreme Court documents required to bring or respond to interlocutory applications pertaining to custody, access and support.

HUMAN RIGHTS CLINIC SERVICES   

The Law Centre will assist Complainants from the Capital Regional District who contact or are referred to it for assistance in filing a human rights complaint. It will also help Respondents who reside in the Capital Regional District who have been notified that a complaint under the Human Rights Code has been filed against them. The Law Centre will help Complainants and Respondents with understanding the Human Rights Code and the Human Rights Tribunal process, preparing an initial complaint or reply, mediating the complaint with or without involvement of the Human RightsTribunal, and representing the Complainants or Respondents at Tribunal hearings as required. Click here for more information. 

SHUT-IN AND HOSPITAL LEGAL SERVICES  

Persons who are hospitalized, and persons who are unable by reason of disability or illness to attend The Law Centre may telephone The Law Centre. A staff member may visit them to take obtain instructions from them. The Law Centre staff will not give legal advice over the telephone.

INMATE LEGAL SERVICES

Law students attend William Head Penitentiary and the Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre (Wilkinson Road) and may be able to provide advice and assistance to inmates.

ELIGIBILITY FOR LEGAL SERVICES   

Legal services of The Law Centre are provided to those persons who qualify financially for legal assistance, if at the time of application the Law Centre has the resources needed to assist the client.

Clients are asked in confidence to provide The Law Centre with information about their income and assets to determine whether the client is eligible.

ELIGIBILITY FOR OTHER SERVICES  

The public legal education and referral services of The Law Centre are available free to all members of the public.

OFFICE HOURS   

Switchboard hours: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily

Interviews for new clients:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday: 
9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Please call for an appointment: 250-385-1221

Major funding for The Law Centre is provided by The Law Foundation of British Columbia
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