General Legal Resources
Access Pro-bono Legal Clinics
604-878-7400 or 1-877-762-6664 help@accessprobono.ca
Service by volunteer lawyers with eligibility based on income. 30-minute appointments scheduled 2-3 weeks in advance and offered around Surrey. Cannot provide services on an urgent basis. Call to setup an appointment.
Learn more about the Access Pro-bono Legal Clinics.
Amici Curiae (Friends of Court)
778-522-2839 legalformsbc@gmail.com
Get help completing legal forms in a one-hour session with a legal professional. Service available through videoconferencing in Zoom, or by phone. Book an appointment by phone or on their website.
Learn more about Amici Curiae (Friends of Court).
Ask JES Multilingual Legal Help
1-855-875-8867 (call/text)
Can answer legal questions in a range of languages via phone or text. Also have a chat service online. Supported by UBC law students, as well as a knowledge base of over 1000 legally reviewed questions and answers. When complex questions are asked, they are escalated legally trained professionals who respond by email. Provides legal help information, not legal advice.
Learn more about Ask JES Multilingual Legal Help.
Askanadvocate.ca by SOURCES
Website provides basic and clear information about tenancy, income assistance, disability benefits (provincial and federal), and other income supports. Has videos, FAQs, fact sheets, and links to other services and resources.
Learn more about Askanadvocate.ca by SOURCES.
Business Law Clinic at the Allard School of Law
cblassistant@allard.ubc.ca
Provides business oriented legal advice to small businesses, entrepreneurs, non-profit organizations, and individuals who cannot otherwise afford legal advice. Services provided by law students at the Allard School of Law at UBC and supervised by practicing lawyers. Website has overview of services.
Learn more about the Business Law Clinic at the Allard School of Law.
British Columbia Ombudsperson
947 Fort Street, Victoria BC (get directions to the British Columbia Ombudsperson)
1-800-567-3247
May be able to help if you think a provincial government ministry, public agency, or local government has treated you unfairly. Receives enquiries and complaints about the practices and services of public agencies within its jurisdiction and impartially investigates to determine whether they have acted fairly and reasonably, and whether their actions and decisions were consistent with relevant legislation, policies and procedures.
Learn more about the British Columbia Ombudsperson.
Brydges Line - Legal Services Society
1-866-458-5500
Province-wide, toll free, 24-hour emergency legal services. Provides access to a lawyer on criminal matters for people who have been arrested, detained, are under active police investigation and in custody, but have not yet been criminally charged.
Learn more about the Brydges Line - Legal Services Society.
ClickLaw
Offers basic legal information on a wide range of subjects.
Learn more about ClickLaw.
ClickLaw Wikibooks
ClickLaw provides a series of free online law books for the average person on a wide variety of topics. All are available online with links to relevant forms, and some are also available in print at Surrey Libraries. The online versions are regularly updated.
Learn more about the ClickLaw Wikibooks.
Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS)
300 - 1140 West Pender Street, Vancouver BC (get directions to the Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS))
604-685-3425 contact@clasbc.net
Provides legal help and education around human rights complaints, housing, mental health law, workplace issues, sexual harassment in the workplace, and issues accessing government benefits.
Learn more about Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS).
Courthouse Libraries
14340 57th Avenue, Surrey BC (get directions to the Surrey Courthouse Library)
604-572-2307 (Surrey) 1-800-665-2570 (Main)
The Surrey courthouse library is a small branch library open to the public between 8:30am - 12pm and 12:30pm - 4pm Tuesdays. The library resources are mainly online, with a small print collection. For reference assistance, please use our more comprehensive New Westminster courthouse library, open Monday to Friday (9am - 12pm, 12:30 pm - 4pm).
Learn more about the Courthouse Libraries.
Dial-A-Law
604-687-4680 Toll free in BC: 1-800-565-5297
Library of scripts prepared by lawyers. It offers general information on a variety of topics on law in BC, but not legal advice. Dial-A-Law is a free service available by telephone and Internet at all times.
Learn more about Dial-A-Law.
Law Students Legal Advice Program & UBC Law Students’ Legal Advice Manual
604-822-5791
Run by UBC law students. Free legal advice and representation for low income clients. Offers a range of services but cannot offer help with family law, probate or small business law, personal injury, and criminal cases that might result in jail time. Can meet at many local locations if needed. Also have an online legal information manual with an extensive referral section as well if you need more help finding resources or help.
Learn more about the Law Students Legal Advice Program & UBC Law Students’ Legal Advice Manual.
Lawyer Referral Service
604-687-3221 Toll free in BC: 1-800-663-1919
Available by phone from 8:30-4:30pm on weekdays. This program refers you to the right lawyer. Lawyers who participate in the program offer an initial consultation of up to 15 minutes to determine if an individual has a legal issue.
Learn more about the Lawyer Referral Service.
Legal Aid BC
102 - 10706 King George Boulevard, Surrey BC (get directions to Legal Aid BC)
604-498-2920 Intake.Surrey@legalaid.bc.ca
Legal aid available for serious criminal charges, young offenders, urgent family law problems and immigration matters. Some restrictions apply dependent on case and income.
Learn more about Legal Aid BC.
Legal Aid Navigators
400 – 510 Burrard Street, Vancouver BC
604-408-2172 or 1-866-577-2525
Legal aid navigators are Legal Aid BC staff who can: help people find legal information and self-help resources online, including Legal Aid BC websites; give people printed legal information, such as Legal Aid BC publications, on a variety of legal issues; print forms for people (but can't help to fill them out); refer people to other community services to get legal advice or to connect with an advocate; provide legal information and referral services by phone or in person; and assist Community Court clients.
Learn more about Legal Aid Navigators.
LGBTQ-Friendly Legal Services from Sher Vancouver
Find lawyer referrals, human rights information and other community resources.
Learn more about LGBTQ-Friendly Legal Services from Sher Vancouver.
Mylawbc.com
Online legal information providing guided pathways on a number of common issues including wills and estates, separation and divorce, abuse and family violence, and missed mortgage payments.
Learn more about Mylawbc.com.
Mediate BC
604-684-1300 info@mediatebc.com
Provides information about mediation as a dispute resolution process and alternative to court, which can be very costly. Can connect you with mediators for small claims court, family law and other situations.
Learn more about Mediate BC.
Patient Care Quality Office
(4th Floor) 11762 Laity Street, Maple Ridge BC (get directions to the Patient Care Quality Office)
1-877-880-8823 pcqoffice@fraserhealth.ca
Complaints process to receive and respond to patient concerns. For patients, clients, residents, and their loved ones in BC
Learn more about Patient Care Quality Office.
People’s Law School
Good, straightforward legal information on a wide range of topics. Offers answers to Frequently Asked Questions as well as links to free publications. Also offer local classes.
Learn more about the People’s Law School.
Public Guardian and Trustee of BC
700 - 808 West Hastings Street, Vancouver BC (get directions to the Public Guardian and Trustee of BC)
604-660-4444 mail@trustee.bc.ca
The mandate of the PGT is to protect the legal and financial interests of children under the age of 19, protect the legal, financial, personal and health care interests of adults who require assistance in decision making and administer the estates of deceased and missing persons.
Learn more about the Public Guardian and Trustee of BC.
Ready For My Refugee Hearing
info@myrefugeeclaim.ca
Provides straightforward guides to the refugee hearing process. These online guides are available in a number of languages and are customized to different parts of Canada. Also offer online orientation sessions for the process. Registration required.
Learn more about Ready For My Refugee Hearing.
SOURCES Legal Resource Centre
105 - 13771 72A Avenue, Surrey BC (get directions to the SOURCES Legal Resource Centre)
778-735-1368
Offers free information and resources on a variety of legal issues.
Learn more about the SOURCES Legal Resource Centre.
South Asian Legal Clinic of BC
1-877-762-6664 (ask for an appointment with the South Asian Legal Clinic of BC)
Offers free legal advice in family, child protection, wills and estates, employment, immigration, and WCB law. Services offered in Punjabi, Hindi, and Urdu.
Learn more about the South Asian Legal Clinic of BC.
Unbundled Legal Services
With unbundling, your legal matter is broken down into parts. You choose which parts a lawyer helps with, and which parts you will do yourself. You get professional assistance where you need it most — at a cost you can afford. There is a directory of lawyers offering this service on the website.
Learn more about Unbundled Legal Services.
Looking for services not covered here?
Please ask at your local library. We are here to help.
You can also call 211 for a free, confidential, multilingual information and referral line to a full range of community, social, and government services. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you would like further information or if you spot a change that is needed you can contact us.
Surrey Libraries does not endorse or promote particular resources or programs, and inclusion here does not imply the Library’s endorsement.