New from Legal Services: Booklet on Surviving Relationship Violence and New Fact Sheet for Aboriginal People

New on Clicklaw

Among the new resources on Clicklaw are two new publications from Legal Services Society, as well as updates of two of their more popular titles.

  • Surviving Relationship Violence and Abuse
    Surviving Relationship Violence and Abuse

    This new booklet, which replaces the booklet Speaking of Abuse: Violence Against Women in Relationships, is written for advocates, support workers and others who support women who are being abused. It outlines what abuse is from a legal perspective and what a woman’s legal rights are if she is in an abusive relationship. It explains what women can do to protect themselves and their children, and the kind of help they can get.

  • Are You Aboriginal? Do You Have a Bail Hearing? Are You Being Sentenced for a Crime? Do You Know About First Nations Court?
    This new fact sheet provides an overview of Gladue rights, which are rights under the Criminal Code that apply to anyone who self-identifies as Aboriginal. The fact sheet explains what these rights mean for Aboriginal people who have a bail hearing or are being sentenced for a crime. The fact sheet also provides information about the First Nations court in New Westminster. 

As well, two of our favourite publications have been updated:

  • Consumer Law and Credit/Debt Law
    Consumer Law and Credit/Debt Law

    A manual for paralegals, legal information counsellors, and lawyers that covers 45 topics, including consumer contracts, bankruptcy, creditors, debtors, fraud, leases, mortgages and foreclosure, prepayment rights, recovery of goods, and torts of assault and trespass. Also provides consumer and debtor resources. This 200 page manual takes a problem solving approach, identifying potential client problems and summarizing the applicable law and options available for the client.

  • Your Welfare Rights: A Guide to BC Employment and Assistance  
    Explains who is eligible for welfare, how to apply for welfare, what benefits are available, your responsibilities while on welfare, how to appeal a decision about your benefits, and how to get more information or help.

BC Library Conference: Clicklaw Featured in Another Puzzle

Spreading the word about Clicklaw

Last week Clicklaw was featured in a jigsaw puzzle as part of the launch of our LawStartBC campaign.

LawStartBC Crossword Puzzle

This week Clicklaw was featured in another puzzle: a crossword puzzle that highlighted our LawStartBC display table at the 2010 BC Library Conference. The conference, held in Penticton this year, brings together librarians from across BC, from all types of libraries — public libraries, academic and schoool libraries, and special libraries (such as ourselves at Courthouse Libraries BC, where we like to think it’s a good thing to be called “special”).

A highlight of the conference was an award presented to the Law Foundation of BC for its support of public legal information and in particular our LawMatters program at Courthouse Libraries BC. Nominated by Surrey Public Library, the Law Foundation won the Keith Sacré Library Champion Award, presented to an individual, organization or business that has a record of support of libraries, literacy, and public access to information.

Mary Mouat accepting the Library Champion Award on behalf of the Law Foundation of BC, with Drew and Janet of Courthouse Libraries BC

With our LawMatters program at Courthouse Libraries, we work with over 240 public libraries across BC to assist them in providing current legal information, including print versions of many of the plain language materials that are available through Clicklaw. We also provide training to public library staff to enhance their ability to answer legal reference questions from the public.

More photos from the BC Library Conference 2010: