Getting Help

How do I get help?

There are many ways to find out more about your legal problem, who can help you, and how a particular tribunal works. Some organizations provide advocacy services where a lawyer or a knowledgeable staff member can give you information and advice about how to handle your problem. Other organizations provide information and brochures that explain the area of law that you are interested in. You will find the following resources useful.

Start with an overview
The Administrative Justice Office (AJO), BC Ministry of the Attorney General, provides information about BC tribunals, statutory decision makers and others in BC’s administrative justice system, and how those entities work to provide an effective alternative to the courts to resolve disputes. The AJO website has an excellent self-help section, which explains many administrative law issues and provides a general overview of how tribunals conduct their work.  It also provides links to BC tribunals and other resources.

Look at tribunal websites
It is also helpful to have a look at the website for the tribunal you are interested in. Many websites provide self-help information for people who will be involved in a tribunal hearing. For example, the Residential Tenancy Office has a great deal of information to get you started on resolving your dispute.

Learn more about your administrative law problem

LawLINK
LawLINK is an online legal information service with text explaining many areas of law.

Dial a Law
Dial-A-Law is a library of scripts prepared by lawyers. It offers general information on a variety of administrative law topics on law in British Columbia, but not legal advice. Dial-A-Law is a free service that is available in English, Chinese, and Punjabi by telephone and on the Internet.

Electronic law library
The Electronic law library provides online information about most areas of law.

Peoples’ Law School
The Peoples’ Law School website offers publications in many areas of law.