Pivot combines strategic litigation with high-impact public education and advocacy campaigns to achieve widespread social change in laws, policies, and practices to affirm human rights and inclusion.
Pivot is not a legal clinic or legal aid organization. We don't provide drop-in services or legal advice over the phone or by email. When you contact us for legal support or representation, we will try our best to refer you to an appropriate legal service.
If you need legal information, advocacy, or representation for a legal issue, we have compiled a list of the most commonly sought out services in BC below.
What do you need help with?
- General Help Lines
- Peer-Led Advocacy Organizations
- Tenancy & Housing
- Police Complaints
- Employment
- Criminal
- Human Rights
General Help Lines
Resource referrals for any legal issue
Legal Aid BC
Legal Information Outreach Workers
No Drop-ins | Multi-lingual
Legal referrals on employment, tenancy and housing, human rights, policing, immigration, wills and estates, seniors, and mental health supports.
Phone: 604-601-6166
Address: 500 Burrard Street, Vancouver
BC211
No Drop-ins | Multi-lingual
This is a 24/7phone line that provides free, confidential information and referrals to community resources including advocacy and legal help, and housing search assistance. Multi-lingual telephone assistance is available.
For the 24-hour phone line, dial 211
Phone: 604-875-6381, 604-875-0885
Text: 604-836-6381
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.bc211.ca
Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP)
By phone | Online Application | Multi-Lingual
Free: Medical/dental services, Prescription drug expenses, Counselling, Protective measures, Replacement of damaged/destroyed glasses, clothing and disability aids, Childcare/homemaker services, Disability aids, Support for child born of a crime, Vocational services, Income support, Transportation expenses, Crime scene cleaning.
Phone: Toll-free - 1 866 660-3888
Website: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/criminal-justice/bcs-criminal-justice-system/if-you-are-a-victim-of-a-crime/victim-of-crime/cvap-forms
Community Connections Society of Southeast BC
By phone | In-Person
Community partner of Legal Aid BC - Support for seniors & women, legal aid applications, family and poverty law advocates, homeless outreach and prevention.
Address: 209 – 16th Avenue N, Cranbrook
Phone: 250-464-0625
Website: https://www.ccscranbrook.ca/our-programs/
Trail Family and Individual Resource Centre Society (FAIR)
By phone | In-Person | Email
Community partner of Legal Aid BC - Legal aid applications, transition houses for women, crisis line and victim services, counselling, early childhood programming and parental support.
Address: 2079 Columbia Avenue, Trail
Phone: 250-364-2326 (ext. 234)
Website: https://www.trailfair.ca/crisis-legal-assistance-services/
ID Support Clinics
In-Person
Allard student volunteers assist marginally housed individuals apply for various forms of ID. Law students are supervised by lawyers in partnership with Pro Bono Students Canada. - Clinics do not run during student exams from Dec. 5- January 9, 2022.
Three weekly ID clinics, located at:
Lookout Society’s Powell Street Getaway, 450 East Hastings Street Wednesdays from 5:00-7:00pm
Connective Support Society (formerly John Howard Society), 3360 Fraser Street Mondays from 2:00-4:00pm
Portland Hotel Society (Osborn Location), 27 West Hastings Street Thursdays biweekly from 5:30-7:30pm Clinic dates: Nov. 3, Nov. 17, Dec. 1
Peer-Led Advocacy Organizations
Defund 604 Network
Virtual & In Person Meetings | Email | Facebook
Working to defund the police and investigate public safety to chart a path towards a future without the violence of policing | Monthly meetings
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
Website: https://www.facebook.com/defund604network/
Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU)
In Person Meetings
VANDU is a group of users and former users who work to improve the lives of people who use drugs through user-based peer support and education. Groups: EIDGE: Eastside Illicit Drinkers for Education | Education and Action Group | BCAPOM: BC Association of People on Methadone | WAHRS: Western Aboriginal Harm Reduction Society | SNAP: Salome/Naomi Association of Patients
Phone: 604-683-6061
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://vandureplace.wordpress.com/our-groups/
Our Homes Can't Wait
In Person Meetings Weekly
Collective of people living and working in the Downtown Eastside working to save Single-Resident Occupancy housing and to build more social housing.
Website: http://www.carnegieaction.org/ourhomescantwait/
Drug User Liberation Front (DULF)
Email
Runs episodic compassion clubs/one-off distribution events of tested Cocaine, Heroin and Methamphetamine with the goal of demonstrating that a regulated drug supply can save lives and reduce the risk of overdose deaths in communities.
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.dulf.ca/doa
Coalition of Peers Dismantling the Drug War (CPDDW)
Email
“We believe that the current rate of overdose death is solely caused by the ramifications of the regime of prohibition and the ongoing war on the poor. We are tired of people being stigmatized for using drugs and we have set out to destroy the idea that drug use is wrong, bad, or criminal.”
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.cpddw.ca/the-project
BC/Yukon Association of Drug War Survivors
Email | Facebook
BC/Yukon Association of Drug War Survivors is committed to increasing the capacity of people who use drugs to live healthy productive lives.
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.facebook.com/BCYADWS/
Megaphone Magazine - Speakers' Bureau
Email | Phone
Megaphone’s Speakers Bureau is a public awareness program connecting audiences with speakers who have lived experience of drug use and overdose prevention.
Phone: 604-255-9701
Address: 312 Main St. Vancouver, BC
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://speakersbureau.megaphonemagazine.com/about
Tenancy & Housing
Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre (TRAC)
No Drop-ins
Representation via the Housing Law Clinic and Residential Tenant Branch Dispute Resolution.
Tenant Info-line: 1-800-665-1185
Eligibility for representation: 604-255-3099 ext. 230
Web: https://tenants.bc.ca/get-help/legal-representation/
Access Pro Bono
Online Lawyer Referral Service
Not Free | No Drop-ins
30-minute free consultation. Lawyers charge for service after initial free consultation.
Phone: 1-800-663-1919
Website: https://www.accessprobono.ca/our-programs/lawyer-referral-service
First United Church Advocacy
Drop-in available
Legal advocacy for issues with tenancy and social assistance.
Phone: 604-251-3323
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://firstunited.ca/how-we-help/legal-advocacy
Address: 542 East Hastings Street
UBC Law Students’ Legal Advice Program
No Drop-ins
Services for low-income people regarding employment standards, residential tenancy, WCB, CPP and OAP, wills/estates, immigration/refugee cases.
Book an appointment: 604-822-5791
Website: https://www.lslap.bc.ca/services.html
Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS)
No Drop-ins
Assistance reviewing a decision of the Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) and other administrative tribunals, foreclosures, and co-op housing membership terminations
Phone: 1-855-685-6222
Intake: https://judicialreviewbc.ca/askaquestion
Website: https://clasbc.net/get-legal-help/losing-your-housing/
YWCA
No Drop-ins
Short-term and transitional housing, support for single moms, employment , women who have experienced intimate partner violence, Indigenous mentorship.
Phone: 604-895-5800
Several locations across Vancouver
Website: https://ywcavan.org/what-we-do/advocate-affordable-housing
St. Paul's Advocacy
Appointments only
Advocacy & information on landlord-tenant disputes, accommodation needs, health & disability issues, & access to social benefits & other government services
Phone: 604-683-4287
Address: 1130 Jervis Street, Vancouver
Hours: Mon, Weds, Thurs 10am-2pm
Website: https://www.stpaulsanglican.bc.ca/pages/advocacy-office
Police Complaints
Indigenous Community Legal Clinic
Drop-in available
Advice and representation for criminal matters, Aboriginal law/Indigenous legal issues, family law matters, child protection, human rights complaints, letters of administration, police complaints.
Phone: 1-888-684-7874
Email: [email protected]
Address: 148 Alexander Street, Vancouver
Website: https://allard.ubc.ca/community-clinics/indigenous-community-legal-clinic/information-clients
Rise Women’s Legal Centre
Legal Advocacy Clinic
Women only | Call or online only
Obtain/replace/correct government ID, notarize documents, draft human rights or police complaints.
Phone: 236-317-9000
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://womenslegalcentre.ca/request-an-appointment/
Support workers intake: https://bit.ly/2Xj5QDZ
Potential client intake: http://bit.ly/risecarf
Atira Women’s Resource Society
Legal Advocacy Clinic
Women only | Drop-ins available
Legal advocacy on a variety of issues for low-income women in the Downtown Eastside.
Phone: 604-331-1407 Ext 114
Email: [email protected]
Address: 101 East Cordova Street, Vancouver
Website: https://atira.bc.ca/what-we-do/program/legal-advocacy/
Filing a Police Complaint?
File a complaint about individual police officers by calling or filling out an online complaint application form with the relevant complaints body.
Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner
Phone: 250-356-7458 or 1-877-999-8707
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.opcc.bc.ca
Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP
Online complaint form: https://www.crcc-ccetp.gc.ca/en/make-complaint-form
Download and fax or mail the complaint form: https://www.crcc-ccetp.gc.ca/pdf/complaintplainte-en.pdf
Website: https://www.crcc-ccetp.gc.ca
BC Security Programs Division
Complaints form: https://bit.ly/3AYYNQt
Phone: Toll free 1-855-578-0185
Fax: 250-3874454
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://bit.ly/3J5KgWk
Employment
Access Pro Bono
Online Lawyer Referral Service
Not Free | No Drop-ins
30-minute free consultation. Lawyers charge for service after initial free consultation.
Phone: 1-800-663-1919
Website: https://www.accessprobono.ca/our-programs/lawyer-referral-service
Access Pro Bono
Employment Standards Program
No Drop-ins
Free legal assistance and representation to low-income employees or former employees contending with employment law issues and/or appearing before BC's Employment Standards Branch.
Phone: 604-482-3195 ext. 1500
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.accessprobono.ca/our-programs/employment-standards-program
UBC Law Students’ Legal Advice Program
No Drop-ins
Services for low-income people regarding employment standards, residential tenancy, WCB, CPP and OAP, wills/estates, immigration/refugee cases
Book an appointment: 604-822-5791
Website: https://www.lslap.bc.ca/services.html
Community Legal Assistance Society
No Drop-ins
Representation and advice accessing government benefits, WCAT, OAS, EI, CPP, employment standards tribunal appeals, sexual harassment in the workplace,
Phone: 604-673-3112
Toll free: 1-855-685-6222
Intake form: https://judicialreviewbc.ca/askaquestion
Criminal
Legal Aid BC
Phone only
Services: representation for youth and adults with criminal charges, criminal appeals.
Phone: 604-408-2172
Website: https://legalaid.bc.ca/
Address: 4th floor, 500 Burrard Street, Vancouver
Indigenous Justice Centre (Virtual)
Indigenous only
Information and referrals. Some representation to Indigenous people who have a criminal or child protection legal issue.
Phone: 1-866-786-0081
Hours: 9am–4pm, Mon-Fri
Website: https://bcfnjc.com/virtual-indigenous-justice-centre/
Indigenous Community Legal Clinic
Drop-in available
Advice and representation for criminal matters, Aboriginal law/Indigenous legal issues, family law matters, child protection, human rights complaints, letters of administration, police complaints.
Phone: 1-888-684-7874
Email: [email protected]
Address: 148 Alexander Street, Vancouver
Website: https://allard.ubc.ca/community-clinics/indigenous-community-legal-clinic/information-clients
Human Rights
Indigenous Community Legal Clinic
Drop-in available
Advice and representation for criminal matters, Aboriginal law/Indigenous legal issues, family law matters, child protection, human rights complaints, letters of administration, police complaints.
Phone: 1-888-684-7874
Email: [email protected]
Address: 148 Alexander Street, Vancouver
Website: https://allard.ubc.ca/community-clinics/indigenous-community-legal-clinic/information-clients
Rise Women’s Legal Centre
Legal Advocacy Clinic
Women only | Call or online only
Obtain/replace/correct government ID, notarize documents, draft human rights or police complaints.
Phone: 236-317-9000
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://womenslegalcentre.ca/request-an-appointment/
Support workers intake: https://bit.ly/2Xj5QDZ
Potential client intake: http://bit.ly/risecarf
Kettle Society
Drop-in available
Drop-in for food, mental health supports, advocacy, health clinic, ID bank.
Phone: 604-251-2854
Address: 1725 Venables Street, Vancouver
Website: https://www.thekettle.ca/community-services
Disability Alliance BC
No Drop-ins
Disability Law Clinic provides advice. Advocates help to apply for disability benefits, file income taxes, registered disability savings plan
Phone: 1-800-663-1278
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Website: https://disabilityalliancebc.org/direct-services/
Battered Women’s Support Services
Crisis Line
Women only | No Drop-ins
Access to a range of services for any woman who has experienced abuse in an intimate relationship, childhood sexual abuse or adult sexual assault; including counselling and support groups, legal advocacy, information and referrals, and volunteer training and opportunities.
Phone: 1-855.687-1868
Email: [email protected]
If you can’t speak safely, text: 604-652-1867
Website: https://www.bwss.org/support/
Legal Advocacy: 604-687-1868 ext. 307
BC Human Rights Clinic
No Drop-ins
- Short Service Clinic is open every Monday. Each appointment is 30 minutes with a human rights lawyer or legal advocate and can be booked online.
- Legal services provided at the Clinic may include summary advice, 1-2 hours of legal assistance and/or legal representation.
Info line: 1-888-685-6222
Intake: 604-685-3425
Email: [email protected]
Book a 30-minute appointment/consultation: https://bchrc.net/services/short-service-clinic/
Website: https://bchrc.net/services/
Atira Women’s Resource Society
Legal Advocacy Clinic
Women only | Drop-ins available
Legal advocacy on a variety of issues for low-income women in the Downtown Eastside.
Phone: 604-331-1407 Ext 114
Email: [email protected]
Address: 101 East Cordova Street, Vancouver
Website: https://atira.bc.ca/what-we-do/program/legal-advocacy/