Category: The broader context

Organization of the Month | September 2017

Get help using Clicklaw, The broader context

This month, we feature Legal Services Society (LSS), a Clicklaw contributor.

WHO WE ARE

The Legal Services Society (LSS) is a non-profit organization created by the LSS Act in 1979 to provide legal information, advice, and representation services to people with low incomes. Most people call us Legal Aid BC. Our priority is to serve the interests of people with low incomes. But many of our services are available to all British Columbians.

WHAT DO WE DO?

Every year we help tens of thousands of British Columbians with:

  • serious family problems,
  • child protection matters,
  • immigration issues, and
  • criminal law issues.

We do this by providing a range of services that help people resolve their legal problems. These services include legal information, legal advice, and legal representation. Our services are offered at legal aid locations throughout the province or by calling 1-888-577-2525.

WHAT ARE WE WORKING ON?

Our Community and Publishing Services department is our legal information branch of Legal Services Society. Here’s what they’re working on:

Since it’s launched the site has had over 36,000 users. The Make a Will pathway has been used around 5,600 times and the Make a Separation Plan pathway is just below that at around 5,400. We’ve also done extensive user testing since the launch. If you’ve used MyLawBC in the past, check it out again and complete a 2-3 minute survey about your experience with MyLawBC.com. You could win a cash prize of $100. If you want to let others know about MyLawBC, see the Communication Kit.

  • Community Partners

LSS partners with 26 agencies in BC to provide legal information, connect people to the LSS call centre or local agent, and/or connect people to other legal help. We call them our community partners. The contracts are small, but the impact is big because the front-line workers do other jobs for their agency that put them into direct and frequent contact with people who need legal help. For a complete list of locations and the names of our partners, visit the Community Partners webpage and the Clicklaw HelpMap (for an interactive Google Map).

  • New and upcoming publications about Gladue Rights and First Nations Court

We have a suite of publications letting people know about Gladue rights and First Nations Court. These are:

  • What’s First Nations Court? – This fact sheet explains restorative justice, how you get into First Nations Court, where First Nations Courts are located, who’s at First Nations Court, and what a healing plan is.
  • Your Gladue Rights – a plain language booklet about Aboriginal peoples’ rights under the Criminal Code of Canada called Gladue rights.
  • Gladue Rights at Bail and Sentencing – This infographic poster shows when Gladue rights apply for Aboriginal people during the criminal court process, and when to get a Gladue report or prepare an oral Gladue submission.
  • Coming later in 2017 will be the Gladue Submission Guide and the Gladue Report Guide which help Aboriginal people, advocates, and intermediaries make Gladue reports or submissions. Clicklaw blog subscribers will stay up to date with new publications like these through the Bi-Monthly Update Series.

Get the latest updates about Legal Services Society

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Stay informed with LSS:

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Law Society Essay Contest for BC Secondary Students 2017-18

New on Clicklaw, The broader context

Please spread the word on this exciting opportunity for all BC Grade 12 students and any secondary school students who have taken, or are currently enrolled in Law 12 or Civic Studies 11:

The Law Society congratulates essay contest winner Angela Tian (pictured left), a grade 12 student from Burnaby South Secondary School, and runner-up Sylvan Lutz (pictured right), a grade 12 student from Reynolds Secondary School in Victoria, for their outstanding essays on the rule of law.

Do you have an interest in the legal and justice system? Are you passionate about upholding fundamental freedoms and rights for all persons? Do you value every person’s right to equality before the law? Show us what you know and submit an essay to our contest:

How does social media interact with the rule of law?

The winning entry will be awarded a $1,000 prize, and the runner up will receive a $500 prize. The first place winner and runner up will be invited to an awards presentation event at the Law Society in Vancouver. Deadline for submissions is April 6, 2018.

For further details, download the flyer, information sheet and submission guidelines.

The Rule of Law and Lawyer Independence Advisory Committee launched the annual essay contest in 2015 for BC secondary school students to reaffirm the significance of the rule of law and to enhance students’ knowledge and willingness to participate actively in civic life.

If you have questions about the contest, contact Policy & Legal Services.

Stay informed with the Law Society of BC:

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