Mediate BC’s New Website: Helping Your Clients with Mediation
by Mediate BC On May 1st Mediate BC launched a new, redesigned version of its
Continue readingMediate BC’s New Website: Helping Your Clients with Mediation
by Mediate BC
On May 1st Mediate BC launched a new, redesigned version of its website. The new MediateBC.com is designed to be a user friendly way to connect members of the public with information and options to resolve conflicts using mediation and other collaborative dispute resolution processes.
How is this good for the clients we serve?
Your clients come to you for advice and support on a number of issues. They might also have unresolved conflict within the family, at work, or in their business which is impacting other areas of their life. Unresolved conflict is stressful, time consuming, mentally and emotionally draining, and can be expensive. Resolving conflict in a consensual manner can allow your clients to get back to business and focus on other parts of their lives.
Why should our clients know about mediation?
Mediation is a fast, affordable way to resolve disputes out of the court system. A mediator is trained to help you have a constructive conversation, and find solutions everyone can agree to. This process gives you much more control than going to court, trying to convince a judge of your point of view, and having a solution imposed on you. Mediation is informal, private and confidential so it’s much less stressful than going to court. Mediation can even improve relationships because both parties often leave with a better understanding of the other person’s perspective.
What’s on the refreshed Mediate BC Website?
To help you as you explore the site, we’ll provide a bit of a run-through with summaries of all the different sections:
This tab gives more information on what mediation is, and how it compares to other options for resolving a dispute. Here you can find answers to some commonly asked questions, like how much does mediation cost, and why you might want to choose it for resolving conflicts.
If you have a conflict around a family issue, you can find more specific information on the Family Mediation Page. This includes separation and divorce, parents and teens, elder care, and child protection mediation.
If you have a conflict in the workplace, there is a section with relevant information, including bullying and harassment, and options for workplace mediation.
Mediation can also be used for wills and estate disputes, small claims, commercial and business disputes, and community disputes such as those with strata councils and within co-ops. The Resolving Other Disputes tab has information specific to resolving those disputes.
When you want to find a mediator, we make it easy by having this link available wherever you are on the website.
If you have any questions about mediation, or would like brochures or other public education materials you are warmly invited to contact Zoe Stryd the public education coordinator at Mediate BC: 1-877-656-1300 x 106.
Stay Informed with Mediate BC:
2019 Bi-Monthly Update Series: March/April
To keep you informed, here are some highlights of changes and updates made to Clicklaw in March and April:
Jan-Feb | Mar-Apr | May-Jun | Jul-Aug | Sep-Oct | Nov-Dec
Motor Vehicle Accidents and Injuries Solution Explorer
by Civil Resolutions Tribunal
On April 1, 2019, the Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT) started resolving many motor vehicle injury (MVI) personal injury disputes in British Columbia. This includes determinations of whether an injury is a “minor injury”, disputes about accident benefits, and disputes about damages and fault up to $50,000. The Solution Explorer is the first step in the online CRT process, with free legal information and tools.
Ordering a Court Transcript
by The National Self-Represented Litigants Project
This guide outlines the steps that are required to order court transcripts in each province/territory. It is a compilation of information obtained from court websites, telephone & email conversations with court services/transcript services at different courthouses, and from legal professionals.
The following help sheets have been updated:
- Income Assistance Application Process for People with Disabilities
- Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Benefit Application
- People with Disabilities on Reserve: The PWD Designation
- Transition from PWD Benefits to Old Age Benefits
- Rate Amounts for Persons with Disabilities (PWD) and Persons with Persistent and Multiple Barriers to Employment (PPMB) Benefits
- Persons with Persistent and Multiple Barriers to Employment (PPMB) Benefit Application
- Unbundling Legal Services Infographic – this new poster explains what unbundled legal services are, and where people can find lawyers offering these services.
- Keeping Aboriginal Children Safe: Your Family’s Rights – this new, illustrated booklet explains the child protection process for Aboriginal children and families.
- How to Appeal Your Sentence – New edition. Step-by-step guide for appealing a sentence for people who may or may not be in custody.
- How to Appeal Your Conviction – New edition. Step-by-step guide for appealing a conviction for people who may or may not be in custody.
- Your Welfare Rights: When You’re on Welfare – Includes what the ministry might ask you to do, what might happen if you don’t follow the ministry’s rules, income and assets you can have on welfare, your employment-related responsibilities, and how to appeal a ministry decision.
- A Second Chance: A Gladue Rights Story – this new graphic novel tells the story of Myra, who is charged with assault with a weapon. Myra learns about her legal rights and, with the help of Legal Aid, gets a Gladue report for her sentencing hearing.
- Clear Skies: A Family Violence Story – this new graphic novel tells the story of Marnie and her kids who live with family violence. With the support of her community, and by learning her legal options, Marnie is able to leave an abusive relationship
- How to Become a Child’s Guardian – the French language version updated.
Mediate BC has launched a new website, providing an easy way to learn everything you need to know about mediation, and help you find the right mediator. The updated listings on Clicklaw include:
- Being an Executor – this updated booklet is for people who have been asked to be an executor in a will.
- Power of Attorney – this updated booklet tells you how a power of attorney can be used to give someone the legal power to take care of financial and legal matters for you.
- Preparing Your Will – this updated publication explains how to prepare a will, what to consider when appointing an executor, and next steps after the will is finished.
- Essentials of Work & the Law (formerly Working in BC) – this updated booklet offers information about your rights & responsibilities as a worker.
- Unbundled Legal Services – this new website helps the public understand “unbundling”, a new service model for law in British Columbia.
Rise Women’s Virtual Legal Clinic (VLC)
from Rise Women’s Legal Centre
Provides free and low-cost legal services to self-identified women who live outside of the geographic zone from Whistler to Chilliwack (inclusive). The clinic offers a range of services, including information and summary advice, document drafting, and legal coaching for self-represented litigants.
Drop-in Legal Clinic at Ray-Cam Community Centre
from Society for Children and Youth of BC
This new drop-in legal clinic provides legal help for young people who are experiencing problems relating to family law, child protection, a breach of your human rights and many other legal issues.
- Dispute Resolution Education – education and coaching workshops regarding separation, divorce, parenting arrangements, support and division of property and debt.
- Pro Bono Estate Planning – estate planning assistance for low-income individuals who want to ensure that they have a valid will and all documents (incl. Power of Attorney & Representation Agreement) in place to handle their financial & personal matters should they not be able to.
- Pro Bono Family Mediation – family mediation for low income individuals with concerns in the areas of property division, support and custody.
Project Inclusion: Confronting Anti-Homeless and Anti-Substance User Stigma in British Columbia
by Pivot Legal Society
Project Inclusion is a comprehensive study into the ways in which specific laws and policies in policing, health care, and the court system directly undermine the health and safety of people who are homeless and living with substance use issues by trapping them in a cycle of criminalization.
Red Women Rising: Indigenous Women Survivors in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside
by Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre
This comprehensive report is based on the lived experience, leadership, and expertise of Indigenous survivors. The report places Indigenous women survivors at the center, rather than as a secondary reference. It proposes 35 key recommendations and goes into more details in its 200 recommendations.
Stay informed:
