Reading Room
Plain-language guides to everyday BC legal problems, including work, money, consumer issues, wills, and planning. A useful place to understand your options before going deeper.
People’s Law School · Public legal education
Explore the guidesNew tabShort introductions to common legal questions in British Columbia. Useful when you want a quick overview of a topic and its key terms.
People’s Law School · Plain-language explainers
Browse legal topicsNew tabA librarian-curated starting point for BC legal questions. Find topic guides and resources from government, legal organizations, and public education providers.
Courthouse Libraries BC · Curated legal information
Explore ClicklawNew tabThe Residential Tenancy Branch’s information for landlords and tenants. Find tenancy rules, forms, and explanations of the dispute-resolution process.
Province of British Columbia · Official guidance
Visit the RTBNew tabTRAC’s guides explain renting from the tenant’s perspective, from starting a tenancy to repairs, moving out, and disputes. Useful alongside the RTB’s official material.
Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre · Tenant education
Read TRAC’s guidesNew tabAn introduction to strata ownership, common property, and the roles of owners and strata councils. Start here to understand how a strata is organized.
Province of British Columbia · Official guidance
Read the strata guideNew tabGuides to separation, parenting, support, and the BC family justice system. Includes practical steps and information about court forms.
Legal Aid BC · Practical guides
Explore family law guidesNew tabA detailed guide to BC family law, written and maintained by legal contributors. Useful for a closer look at agreements, court processes, parenting, and financial issues.
Clicklaw Wikibooks · Detailed reference
Read the wikibookNew tabThe court’s guide to small claims proceedings, with information on starting or responding to a case and what to expect as it progresses.
Provincial Court of BC · Official court guide
Read the court guideNew tabThe court’s starting point for people without a lawyer. Find procedural information, self-help materials, and links for legal research.
Supreme Court of BC · Official court resources
View court resourcesNew tabAn overview of making or responding to a CRT claim, negotiation, facilitation, and a tribunal decision. Useful for understanding the stages before taking action.
Civil Resolution Tribunal · Official process guide
Explore the CRT processNew tabThe provincial legislation website. Look up BC statutes and regulations, and check the version and currency information when researching a particular provision.
Province of British Columbia · Legislation
Search BC legislationNew tabFree access to Canadian decisions and legislation. Useful for searching a case or legal issue; read the underlying judgment and check later treatment when relying on a decision.
Canadian Legal Information Institute · Legal research database
Search CanLIINew tabA broad BC reference compiled by law students and volunteer lawyers. Chapters cover common legal issues and services; check the edition date before relying on a chapter.
Law Students’ Legal Advice Program · BC legal reference
Browse the manualNew tabAccessible summaries of Supreme Court of Canada decisions. A useful introduction to what a case decided and why; follow through to the full judgment for the court’s reasons.
Supreme Court of Canada · Court-written summaries
Read Case in BriefNew tabRecently posted reasons from BC’s Court of Appeal. This is full legal material rather than a beginner’s guide, useful for following developments in the law.
Court of Appeal for BC · Published judgments
Browse recent judgmentsNew tabSearch the CRT’s published decisions to see how earlier disputes were considered. Outcomes turn on the evidence and law in each case.
Civil Resolution Tribunal · Published decisions
Search CRT decisionsNew tabA service connecting BC residents with legal professionals for an initial consultation. Review the current booking terms; a booking fee may apply and further work may involve fees.
Access Pro Bono · Referral service
View the referral serviceNew tabFind information about legal advice, representation, and other supports. Eligibility and coverage vary by service and situation; the site explains how to find out what may be available.
Legal Aid BC · Legal help
Explore legal aid servicesNew tabClicklaw’s directory of organizations offering legal help, including free and low-cost services. Use it to find a service suited to your issue and location, then check its intake requirements.
Courthouse Libraries BC · Service directory
Find a legal serviceNew tabPeople’s Law School: Plain-language guides to everyday BC legal problems, including work, money, consumer issues, wills, and planning. A useful place to understand your options before going deeper.
Selected BC and Canadian resources. General information; each situation is different.