Author: Clicklaw Editor

Blog post banner for Pro Bono Collaborative Family Law Project

Legal Help from Home: The Pro Bono Collaborative Family Law Project

Community posts

Legal Help from Home is a Clicklaw Blog series highlighting free or low-cost resources available during COVID-19.

Public health directives associated with the response to the pandemic have changed accessibility to various services, creating what can be a confusing landscape for anyone needing access to legal resources. To ease confusion and highlight resources available and how to access them, Clicklaw has put together the Covid-19 Resources for British Columbians wikibook and will be featuring legal help and tools in this and other Clicklaw Blog posts. The resources featured in this series provide help beyond finding legal info and are accessible from home or remotely.

Separation during COVID-19: the Pro Bono Collaborative Family Law Project           

The British Columbia Collaborative Roster Society is currently offering a remote, voluntary and confidential program to assist people going through a separation or divorce, called the Pro Bono Collaborative Family Law Project. This program is available for people who are unable to afford the Collaborative team for their case, and wish to negotiate and meet (via Zoom, a teleconferencing software) using the principles of Collaborative Practice.

Who is eligible?

The program is available to couples in which both parties:

  • Agree to participate in settlement meetings; and
  • Earn a combined gross annual income of $75,000 or less; and
  • Have less than $100,000 worth of assets (excluding pension plans)

How will it work?

Interested parties are required to fill out an application form, at which point eligible applicants will be contacted by the Collaborative team.  A team of professionals will be assigned to the successful applicant’s case, with the focus being to find a solution that works for both parties and any children involved. The team will include a lawyer for each party, a neutral divorce coach and if needed, a financial neutral to work with both parties to reach a settlement that works for all sides. This may include a parenting plan or arrangements around financial support, depending on the situation.

Get in contact

For more information about accessing this program and how to apply, visit https://www.bccollaborativerostersociety.com/practice/probono/

Find it on Clicklaw: https://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/helpmap/service/1224

Stay informed:

To stay informed on resources available during COVID-19 restrictions, visit Covid-19 Resources for British Columbians.

Find it on Clicklaw: https://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/resource/4725 or use short URL: bit.ly/covid19bc

01_Clicklaw_30px01_Twitter_30px01_Linkedin_30px01_Website_30pxFB-f-Logo__blue_29

Clicklaw Monthly Roundup: May 2020

New on Clicklaw

We share with you a monthly roundup of changes to Clicklaw’s collection. Here is a summary of updates done in May 2020. For resources specific to pandemic responses, go to Covid-19 Resources for British Columbians (bit.ly/covid19bc).

Solve Problems

COVID-19 Pandemic Response: Civil Liberties & Human Rights for All
by British Columbia Civil Liberties Association

  • What is an Emergency Order? (new)
    What is an emergency order and what powers does it give governments? Learn about your rights and civil liberties in a pandemic.
  • Enforcement of Public Health Orders in B.C. during COVID-19 Pandemic (new)
    Are police and bylaw officers allowed to enforce provincial public health orders? Learn about public health order enforcement power in BC and your rights in a pandemic.
  • COVID-19 and Tenant Privacy Rights (new)
    The law gives tenants control over whether to share their medical information, including a COVID-19 diagnosis, with their landlords, and whether the landlord may share it with others. Learn about your privacy rights as a tenant in a pandemic.

Help Sheet #17: COVID-19 Supports and Resources (new)
by Disability Alliance BC

To help mitigate the financial challenges posed by COVID-19, the federal and BC governments have introduced several new emergency supports and programs. An overview of these emergency measures is available in our new information Help Sheet, HS #17: COVID-19 Supports and Programs.

Coronavirus: how COVID-19 is affecting the legal system
by Legal Aid Society

New online resources covering a wide range of topics:

  • Legal aid and other access to justice services
  • Q&A on each level of Courts, parenting, support, mortgage & rent, family violence, immigration, welfare & benefits
  • A video on applying for a protection order
  • Aboriginal peoples

Reform & Research

BC Gender Equality Report Card 2019/2020 (new)
by West Coast LEAF

This Report Card assesses the BC government’s progress on human rights and gender equality between December 2018 and early April 2020. It explores access to justice; economic security; gender-based violence; health; justice for people who are criminalized; and rights of parents, children, and youth.

HelpMap

Great news! The HelpMap listings (200+) are now mostly up to date with the latest info on accessing the services during COVID-19 restrictions. Check it out: https://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/helpmap.

Disability Law Clinic (new)
by Disability Alliance BC

Free legal advice to people with disabilities about human rights and discrimination, including:

  • Accommodations related to the COVID-19 virus and social distancing
  • Accommodation in the workplace
  • Access to transportation o Access to education
  • Housing
  • Service animals

Stay informed:

01_Clicklaw_30px01_Twitter_30px01_Linkedin_30px01_Website_30pxFB-f-Logo__blue_29