The Legal Services Society (LSS) is an independent, non-profit organization that operates and administers the legal aid program in B.C. The LSS provides legal information, advice, and representation services to people with low incomes. Every year, it helps tens of thousands of British Columbians with serious family problems, child protection matters, immigration and criminal law issues.

• Government is increasing legal aid funding by an additional $2 million in each of the next three years - bringing the total commitment to $74.5 million in 2014-15.
• The extra $6 million will be used to fund five legal aid pilot projects:
• Full-time family duty counsel at the Victoria Justice Access Centre
• Provincial expansion of the Family LawLINE
• Mediation Referrals Program for family justice matters
• Expanded criminal duty counsel pilot in two locations, to be determined
• Parents Legal Centre for child protection matters

• Government also spends an additional $30 million annually on access to justice services such as Justice Access Centres, Family Justice Centres, and the Family Maintenance and Enforcement Program. 
• Justice Access Centres in Nanaimo, Vancouver and Victoria are available to help with family and civil law issues, such as separation or divorce, income security, employment, housing or debt. 
• Family Justice Centres are located in 21 communities and provide services to British Columbians going through separation or divorce.
  

Legal Services Society Information:

• The Legal Services Society (LSS) http://www.lss.bc.ca/ provides free publications on a variety of topics, including: the legal system, housing, debt, criminal law and civil law.
  
• The LSS website, Family Law in British Columbia, assists individuals with family justice problems. http://www.familylaw.lss.bc.ca/

Family Law Information:

• Justice Access Centre: http://www.ag.gov.bc.ca/justice-access-centre/
• Family Justice Centre: http://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/helpmap/service/1019
• The Family Maintenance and Enforcement Program: https://www.fmep.gov.bc.ca/ or by  phone in Victoria: 250 387-6121 or elsewhere in B.C.: 1 800 663-7867
• The Family LawLINE and Mediation Referrals Program operates throughout the province. British Columbians can apply for legal aid in-person at any of the 34 legal aid offices or by phone at 604 408-2172 or toll-free at 1 866 577-2525.
  

Small Claims and other Legal Resources:

• JusticeBC is the provincial government's web-based gateway for British Columbians who want information about the family and criminal justice systems, and justice reform: http://www.justicebc.ca
• The Access Pro Bono Society of British Columbia provides free legal services to people and non-profit organizations of limited income: http://www.accessprobono.ca/
• The Justice Education Society provides resources to help people access B.C.'s justice system and resolve legal matters. Most services are available free of charge and include information on the courts, small claims, family law, victim services and more: http://www.justiceeducation.ca/
• Dial-a-Law is a telephone service provided by the Canadian Bar Association, B.C. Branch, that provides general information on legal topics: http://cbabc.org/For-the-Public/Dial-A-Law/
• The Peoples Law School provides free public legal education and information: http://www.publiclegaled.ca/
• AdminLawBC is an online help guide for British Columbians navigating the administrative justice system: http://www.adminlawbc.ca/
  
• The Supreme Court of B.C. provides information packages to assist people who are representing themselves in court: http://www.courts.gov.bc.ca/supreme_court/self-represented_litigants/info_packages.aspx