Primary Law Sources
Canadian Legal Information Institute (CanLII) – CanLII is a non-profit organization managed by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. The CanLII website provides access to court judgments, tribunal decisions, statutes and regulations from all Canadian jurisdictions.
BC Laws – BC Laws provides free public access to the early unofficial consolidation of British Columbia laws. BC Laws is published by the Queen’s Printer for British Columbia in partnership with the Ministry of Justice and the Law Clerk of the Legislative Assembly.
British Columbia Superior Courts Judgments Search – Search judgments released by the British Columbia Supreme Court and the British Columbia Court of Appeal.
British Columbia Provincial Courts Judgments Search – Search judgments released by the British Columbia Provincial Court.
Canadian Bar Association – British Columbia Branch Okanagan Subsections
The BC Branch of the Canadian Bar Association (CBABC) offers a full range of Sections as an entry point for members to become active in the CBA. Sections are practice-focused groups organized by substantive areas of law while Forums are organized by interest areas. Sections and Forums are are designed to meet the educational, advocacy and professional needs of lawyers.
CBABC Civil Litigation Okanagan Subsection
CBABC Commercial & Real Estate Okanagan Subsection
CBABC Young Lawyers Okanagan Subsection
CBABC Wills & Trusts Okanagan Subsection
Legal Information Resources
Courthouse Libraries British Columbia – Courthouse Libraries British Columbia is a non-profit organization providing legal information services to the legal community and the public of BC. In Kelowna, it operates the Kelowna Law Library, which provides services to the bar and public from its branch in the Kelowna Law Courts.
Clicklaw – Clicklaw is a website aimed at enhancing access to justice in British Columbia. It features legal information and education, but it is not a site of laws. Instead, Clicklaw features legal information and education designed for the public from over 25 contributor organizations, as well as selected others.
CBA BC Branch Dial-A-Law – Dial-A-Law is a library of legal information prepared by lawyers. It offers general information on a variety of topics on law in British Columbia. Dial-A-Law is a free service that is available in English, Chinese and Punjabi by telephone and on the Internet. Dial-A-Law is funded by the Law Foundation of British Columbia and is operated by the Canadian Bar Association British Columbia Branch (CBABC).
Justice Education Society – The Justice Education Society creates innovative programs and resources that improve access to British Columbia’s justice system. The Society’s programs and resources help individuals better understand how our justice system works and how to resolve their legal matters.
People’s Law School – The People’s Law School is a non-profit charitable society providing public legal education and information to British Columbians since 1972. Among other things, it produces public legal education and information publications in booklets, e-books and fact sheet formats.
Legal Assistance Resources
CBABC Lawyer Referral Service – The CBABC Lawyer Referral Service enables members of the public to consult with a lawyer for up to 30 minutes for a fee of $25. After the consultation, the fees to be charged are strictly between the lawyer and the client. The lawyer is not obliged to accept the applicant’s case and the applicant is under no obligation to retain the lawyer.
Access Pro Bono – The mission of Access Pro Bono (APB) is to promote access to justice in British Columbia by providing and fostering quality pro bono legal services for people and non-profit organizations of limited means. APB operates an extensive network of summary legal advice clinics throughout the province, including in Kelowna. APB’s volunteer lawyers provide up to a half-hour of free, summary legal advice to low- and modest-income individuals on a wide range of legal issues, including family, immigration, criminal, and civil law (such as debt, employment, welfare, and housing).
Legal Services Society – The Legal Services Society (LSS) is the organization that provides legal aid in BC. If you have a legal problem and can’t afford a lawyer, LSS can help. Follow the link to its website to use the self-help information on its excellent Family Law in BCwebsite or who read its other free legal information publications. You can also find out if you qualify for some legal advice from a lawyer or even for a lawyer to take your case.
Community Legal Assistance Society – The Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS) provides free legal assistance to disadvantaged people throughout BC, specializing in the areas of poverty, disability, workers’ compensation, employment insurance, mental health, human rights and equality law. Their activities include test case and Charter litigation; service case work and law reform; liaison and consultation with community groups; legal supervision of advocacy groups and law students; publication of legal materials designed to assist self-represented litigants; and legal training and support to lay advocates, community groups, law students, and lawyers doing pro bono work.