Legal assistance

Last updated on April 23, 2026

Legal services and resources are available to help you through the criminal justice system. This section guides you to some of them.

Lawyers

To find a lawyer or speak to someone to determine whether you need a lawyer, contact the Legal Referral Service.

Legal aid

To find out if you qualify for free legal advice or representation, visit Legal Aid BC.

Crown counsel and defence counsel

Defence counsel is a lawyer who represents a person charged with committing a crime.

Crown counsel is a lawyer who presents the case against the person charged. Crown counsel are public servants. They do not represent the police or victim, but represent the community as a whole.

Justice of the peace

A justice of the peace (JP) is a judicial officer appointed to keep the peace. JPs can perform specific court duties, such as conducting trials, issuing court warrants and many other services. JPs do not require formal legal education. For more information, visit Justices of the Peace (Courthouse Libraries BC).

Youth legal resources

For legal services and resources for youth, see Youth services.

Indigenous legal resources

For legal resources for Indigenous people, see Indigenous services.

Clicklaw

Visit Clicklaw for resources and to find free and low-cost legal services in your community.

Did you find what you were looking for?

The B.C. Public Service acknowledges the territories of First Nations around B.C. and is grateful to carry out our work on these lands. We acknowledge the rights, interests, priorities, and concerns of all Indigenous Peoples - First Nations, Métis, and Inuit - respecting and acknowledging their distinct cultures, histories, rights, laws, and governments.

More topics