I have a legal problem. Where do I start?

Start with Ask JES, which is a free service available on this website. You can call, chat live or text your question using the information in the green column on the right. Each year, Ask JES provides free answers to thousands of legal questions. Ask JES provides legal help information and referrals which can help you take the next step to move forward with your legal issue.

In BC, many government departments and non-profit organizations provide free legal help information online. To start, it is important to understand what kind of legal issue you have.

Family Law: Issues related to separation, divorce, protection orders and adoption. See Family Law (opens in a new tab) in BC (opens in a new tab) or HowToSeparate.ca. (opens in a new tab)

Civil Law: Issues related to agreements between people and organizations. This includes issues related to employment, housing, lawsuits, and other legal disputes. For disputes less than $5000, see the Civil Resolution Tribunal (opens in a new tab). For claims between $5001 and $35,000 see SmallClaimsBC.ca (opens in a new tab). For claims over $35,000 see SupremeCourtBC.ca (opens in a new tab). For disputes related to employment, housing and other government regulated issues, see AdminLawBC.ca (opens in a new tab).

Criminal Law: Issues related to crime, as described in the Canadian Criminal Code (opens in a new tab). See Legal Aid BC (opens in a new tab).

If you are searching for legal help online, be specific about your legal issue and be sure to include “BC” in your keyword search. A great online resource for all legal issues is Clicklaw BC. (opens in a new tab)

If you have a legal problem, it is a good idea to talk to a lawyer to get legal advice. Even if you are going to handle your own case, a lawyer can help you at every step in the legal process. See the Legal Help section to view the answer for “How can I get free legal aid in BC?” to learn about services provided by Legal Aid BC (opens in a new tab), Access Pro Bono (opens in a new tab) and BC Advocates. (opens in a new tab)