Legal Clinics & Legal Advocates

Narrowing the Access to Justice Gap

For many people in BC, the legal system can feel out of reach. Cost, language, geography, and other systemic barriers mean that those who need legal support most are often least able to access it. Free legal clinics and a province-wide network of legal advocates exist to change that, and they represent one of our largest areas of funding. 

Through ongoing and multi-year support, we fund legal clinics across BC that provide free or low-cost services in areas including family law, tenancy, disability, immigration, refugee law, and more. These clinics serve people navigating some of the most difficult moments of their lives, offering not just legal information but practical, personalized support.

Meeting People Where They Are

In BC, legal advocates are a distinct and vital group of legal professionals who work alongside lawyers and notaries to provide direct legal assistance to people navigating complex legal processes. Family law advocates and community law advocates funded by the Law Foundation are trained to offer practical, specialized support. They meet clients where they are and help them understand and assert their rights. 

Legal advocates work closely with supervising lawyers, who review their legal work and provide timely guidance on legal issues, procedures, and ethical questions. We fund supervising lawyers in a number of ways, including in-house supervision and contracting with private practice lawyers, ensuring advocates have the support they need to do their work well.

Building Capacity and Resilience

Individual clinics and advocates do not work in isolation. The Law Foundation also invests in the infrastructure that holds this network together – funding the foundational training program for legal advocates, continuing education opportunities, and an annual training conference that brings the community together to learn and connect. 

Where possible, we also offer legal clinics and advocacy programs a range of practice and wraparound supports to strengthen their capacity and sustainability.