Need Help?
Need help in BC?
West Coast LEAF is not a legal clinic.
We do not offer legal advice, direct services, advocacy, or representation services for individuals. Below are a few referral, legal, and support resources in BC. Some direct services may have waitlists or wait times. While we do our best to update an organization’s information on this page, each organization’s contact info and services may change.
To learn more about how we choose which cases to be involved in through law reform and interventions, read about our case selection process.
This page was last updated July 30, 2024.
General resource directories and referral services
These are general referral services for community organizations that provide support, advocacy and legal support.
For the 24/7 phone line, text or call 2-1-1 (1-888-484-3211)
This is a 24/7 phone and text line that provides free, confidential and multilingual information and referrals to community resources and government programs including crisis advocacy and legal services. BC211 also has a free, online searchable database of community resources.
Email: help@bc211.ca
Live chat: bc.211.ca/chat
Online database: bc.211.ca/
Website: bc211.ca
For the 24/7 phone line, text or call 1-800-563-0808
VictimLinkBC is a toll-free, confidential, multilingual service available across B.C. and the Yukon. It provides information and referral services to all victims of crime and immediate crisis support to victims of family and sexual violence, including victims of human trafficking exploited for labour or sexual services.
Email: VictimLinkBC@bc211.ca
For the phone line, text or call 1-855-875-8867
This is a free phone and text line that answers legal questions, and provides information and referrals Monday – Friday 11am-2pm.
Live chat and website: legalhelpbc.ca/ask-jes
Resources for emotional support
Lower Mainland 24/7 Crisis Line: 604-255-6344
Salal provides free and confidential support services and referrals for people of marginalized genders (women, Two-Spirit, trans, and gender-diverse people) aged 14+ who have experienced any form of sexualized violence. Salal provides emergency crisis support, hospital accompaniment, criminal legal system support, individual counselling and support circles, and specialized services for Indigenous peoples and gender diverse peoples.
Toll-free 24/7 crisis line available across Canada: 1-877-392-7583
Monday-Friday 9am-5pm text line: 604-245-2425
Monday-Friday 9am-5pm live chat: salalsvsc.ca/connect/
Website: salalsvsc.ca/
Toll-free phone: 1-800-588-8717
24/7 crisis support and listening for Indigenous peoples in BC.
Toll-free phone: 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)
24/7 crisis support for people anywhere in BC, with interpretation available in more than 140 languages.
Here’s a selection of the educational materials that West Coast LEAF has developed on consent and sexual assault. They contain legal information, not legal advice:
We have a toolkit for complainant counsel in sexual assault cases.
We have infographics:
If you’d like to learn more about sexual assault, consent, and the law, we also have two FAQs:
Free or low cost legal help
Legal Aid BC is an independent organization that provides free lawyers for child protection, family law, criminal refugee/immigration matters for those who qualify. Call 1-888-522-2752 or visit their website for more information.
If you are a woman or a gender-diverse person looking for free or low-cost help with a family law matter, please contact Rise Women’s Legal Centre to request a non-emergency appointment.
You can reach Rise by filling out their intake form
If you are looking for other help in other areas of law, Access Pro Bono provides free legal services for people in BC who have low- and modest- income. Learn about the programs at Access Pro Bono.
Free legal and outreach services for all Indigenous peoples facing a criminal or child protection issue. Free help at Indigenous Justice Centres in Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, Surrey, Kelowna, Prince George, Merritt, Prince Rupert, and Chilliwack, or online through the Virtual Indigenous Justice Centre.