A new Justice Access Centre (JAC) and the University of Victoria (UVic) Law Centre officially opened their doors today adjacent to the Victoria courthouse, bringing new and improved access to justice for south island families.

The Victoria JAC will serve as a one-stop centre for people seeking assistance with family and civil problems such as separation and divorce, housing, income assistance and employment disputes. For people pursuing court or tribunal actions, staff can help to navigate the justice system by providing information and simplifying the process. It is anticipated many clients will be vulnerable families.

The Government of B.C. has invested more than $1 million to develop the Justice Access Centre in Victoria, which is the third of its kind in B.C. - the others are located in Nanaimo and Vancouver.

What is unique about this JAC is its co-location with the University of Victoria Law Centre, which opens the door to new opportunities for collaboration on services to better assist area residents. Under the supervision of practising lawyers, Law Centre students provide free advice, assistance and representation to clients who could not otherwise afford a lawyer.

The creation of the Victoria Justice Access Centre builds on the knowledge and expertise gained through the Nanaimo and Vancouver Justice Access Centres. While services for the new centre will be gradually phased in, initially the centre will provide all the services of a family justice centre, such as family justice counselling, mediation, parent education and other resources for families experiencing problems.

Like its counterparts, the Victoria JAC has a number of legal and community relationships that include the Legal Services Society, which provides family legal advice, and the Access Pro Bono Society, which provides legal advice for other kinds of justice problems through legal clinics at the Victoria JAC.

The Justice Access Centres' focus on early resolution mirrors the recommendations of reports released since fall 2012 by government including White Paper: Part 2, which outlines a plan for reforming justice services to the public so that our system is timely, balanced, and more responsive to the needs of citizens.

Quotes:

Attorney General and Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton -

"Justice Access Centres help keep disputes out of court, giving families access to more affordable legal solutions. Our experience with the Vancouver and Nanaimo centres shows that giving families timely and affordable solutions can significantly reduce their need to resolve problems through the courts or tribunal hearings."

"It is with great pleasure that we are able to provide services in the same location as the University of Victoria Law Centre and work with the Legal Services Society and Access Pro Bono Society to better serve south island families."

"This project fulfils one of the requirements in my mandate letter as directed by Premier Christy Clark. Her mandate letter outlined the priorities for my ministry. The opening of the Victoria Justice Access Centre is a promise made and a promise kept."

Jeremy Webber, dean, school of law, University of Victoria -

"It is wonderful that UVic's Law Centre is now co-located with the Justice Access Centre. Each year more than one-third of our students, through the Law Centre alone, provide services to people who otherwise could not afford them. The new facilities will help us to augment this very considerable contribution."

Eugene Raponi, QC, governor, Law Foundation -

"The Law Foundation is pleased to support the Law Centre, which it has funded for over 30 years, and the new Justice Access Centre through an innovative funding arrangement between the University of Victoria, the government and the Law Foundation. This arrangement will allow law students at the Law Centre, now housed at the Justice Access Centre, to better help low-income clients with their legal problems."

Jamie Maclaren, executive director, Access Pro Bono Society -

"Access Pro Bono is a strong believer in the Justice Access Centre approach to resolving people's legal and non-legal problems through a holistic hub of collaborative services. Our volunteer lawyers are happy and eager to begin providing free legal advice at the new Victoria JAC."

Quick Facts:

• In 2012, approximately 10,000 distinct clients were served at the Nanaimo and Vancouver JACs, with many attending multiple times for help with ongoing issues.
• One survey showed only one-third of Vancouver Justice Access Centre clients proceed to court.
• Approximately 75 per cent of clients have questions about family issues.
• The University of Victoria Law Centre provides law students with clinical legal education. Students are trained and supervised by faculty members and volunteers from the local bar.
• Prior to co-locating at the JAC, the law centre was located at the UVic campus.
• Family civil law cases comprise approximately 20 per cent of litigation files in B.C. Supreme Court, approximately 12,500 new files in fiscal year 2012-13.
• Of the non-criminal cases initiated each year in Provincial Court, approximately 40 per cent are family cases, with about 10,000 in fiscal year 2012-13.
• While JAC services will include assistance with civil justice issues, a new resource will be available in 2014 to assist families and small business owners: Canada's first-ever 24/7 online civil dispute resolution tribunal. The online tribunal will handle strata and small claims disputes.

Learn More:

Vancouver and Nanaimo Justice Access Centres: www.ag.gov.bc.ca/justice-access-centre

Family Justice Counsellors: http://www.justicebc.ca/en/fam/help/fjc/index.html

Family justice information: www.justicebc.ca

Family Law Act: www.ag.gov.bc.ca/legislation/family-law/index.htm

Civil Resolution Tribunal Act: www.ag.gov.bc.ca/legislation/civil-resolution-tribunal-act/index.htm

Legal Services Society: www.lss.bc.ca

Access Pro Bono Society: http://accessprobono.ca

University of Victoria Law Centre: http://thelawcentre.ca

The Law Foundation: www.lawfoundationbc.org

Contacts:

Lori DeLuca
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Justice (Attorney General)
250 953-3196
250 508-9471 (cell)

Jeremy Webber
Dean, Faculty of Law
University of Victoria
250 721-8147