Category: Community posts

By AC Friends of Court

As courts and tribunals look to continue their virtual proceedings after the pandemic, self-litigants now face the added stress of preparing for their appearance virtually. AC Friends of Court created Tech Check 2.0 to help you, a self-litigant, prepare your digital device and prepare for your virtual appearances. If you decide to ask AC for help completing your legal forms after your appearance, you may do so. AC does not provide legal advice.

Features

Tech Check 2.0 will train you on how to use Microsoft Teams or Zoom. There are Teams/Zoom functions that you will be most likely required to use in your appearance, and thus, required to have a detailed working knowledge of the use.

Here are some questions we might ask:

• Are you in a private space where it is safe to discuss your matter, and will you have access to a private space for your virtual appearance workshop?
• What is the preferred name you would like me to refer to today?
• Are you currently using a laptop, tablet, cell phone or another device? (If other, please specify)
• Is your upcoming appointment scheduled to take place via video or telephone? (Refer to their Notice of Scheduling document, if you have it.)
• Can you see my video clearly? Do you feel comfortable sharing your video in your upcoming appearance, or would you prefer telephone audio only?
• Can you hear me clearly?
• Is there any delay in the connection?

Preparing for your virtual appearance and how to conduct yourself

Key components of self-care and etiquette that Tech Check 2.0 will cover include (but certainly aren’t limited to):

1. Being well-rested/getting a good sleep the night before.
2. Ensuring you are in a private, non-distracting environment (choosing the best room/background in the house, ensuring your camera is at a good level).
3. Dressing presentable (it may be virtual from your home, but it’s still court!).
4. Having appropriate screen names and checking your screen name before entering the meeting.
   • Ensuring there are no filters on your video.
5. Eye contact.
   • The importance of eye contact in a court/tribunal setting and advising the court if you are not comfortable maintaining eye contact when speaking.
   • Advising the court if you will be reading notes and informing that the lack of eye contact is not meant to be shown as a symbol of disrespect.
6. Including an item nearby to ground your emotions.
   • E.g. a photograph, crystals, stuffed animal, etc.
7. How to request breaks from the court (water, bathroom, triggers, etc.).
   • NOTE: This tip can go a long way for victims of gendered violence and Indigenous clients.
8. How to request the attendance of a support person(s) at their virtual court/tribunal appearance.

How will it work?

Book your appointment using the AC Tech Check 2.0 online form. We will contact you within five business days to see if we can help you and when. If you have questions, please reach out the following ways:

• Call 778.522.2839, or
• Email legalformsbc [@] gmail.com.

About AC Friends of Court

The ability to independently access the legal system is a challenge for ordinary British Columbians. More and more people are trying to resolve legal matters on their own, and however, most are unfamiliar with properly preparing legal forms or preparing for a hearing.

Amici Curiae Friendship Society (AC) is a non-profit charity offering confidential legal assistance to individuals who require help drafting or filling out legal forms. AC provides services on the principle of equal access to justice, which means going beyond applying a simple financial eligibility test. Equal access to justice includes an assessment of an individual’s capacity to navigate what has become a complex and inaccessible legal system for many British Columbians. And this principle of equal access to justice has become even more relevant as we all deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.   

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By OmbudService for Life & Health Insurance

Did you know you can turn to the OmbudService for Life and Health Insurance (OLHI) for help if your insurer denies your life or health insurance claim?

No? You’re in good company. OLHI has been around for almost twenty years, but few Canadians know we exist. That’s why OLHI has launched a public education strategy to raise awareness with partners like the BC Care Providers Association.

Who can come to OLHI for help?

OLHI is Canada’s free, independent, and impartial alternative dispute resolution service for life and health insurance consumers, all 29 million of them. Our public service is available to any Canadian whose insurance company is an OLHI member – luckily, 99 per cent of life and health insurance providers are OLHI members.

Every year, OLHI helps thousands of life and health insurance consumers with complaints about many kinds of insurance.

We offer helpful information and guide consumers through the complaints process. If they have a complaint with their insurer, we have a team of experts who can review or investigate their complaints. If we think the complaint has merit, our team will make a non-binding settlement recommendation to the insurance company.

See OLHI’s alternative dispute resolution public service in action

Watch more case study videos on YouTube:

• Mortgage relief
• OLHI clarifies insurer’s position in disability complaint
• Fulfilling a policy
• Taking care of dad

I have a complaint. What should I do?

Suppose your insurance company denies a claim, and you don’t know why or disagree with the decision. In that case, your first step is to talk to your company.

Don’t know where to start? OLHI can help. All insurance companies have a process for resolving complaints directly with their customers. They also have staff responsible for handling consumer complaints. Our website explains the process and lists all of the complaints officers for insurance companies across the country.

If you complete this process, your insurance company will send you a final position letter explaining their decision. Once you receive this letter, you can submit a complaint right on our website.

OLHI can only review your complaint if you have received a final position letter.

Want more information?

Visit OLHI online or follow us to learn more.

Facebook (EN)

Facebook (FR)

Twitter

LinkedIn

OLHI also wants to partner with organizations that have frontline teams that support Canadians by sharing helpful resources. If you want to educate your employees about OLHI’s public service, contact us at info@olhi.ca. We can share our public education materials, host workshops and provide content for your publications.

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Find OLHI resources on Clicklaw

You can also find OLHI listings on Clicklaw.

Stay up to date with the latest in public legal education and information in British Columbia. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog.

Stay informed: