Human Rights - Who Can Help?
This website has information about human rights and the human rights complaint process. You can contact us for help on the phone.
The organizations listed below may be able to help with your human rights problem or case.
For each organization, the chart lists:
- the services – what the organization may be able to help with
- contact information and office location
- mandate – who the organization may be able to help
Most organizations help people with low incomes.
Look for organizations that help people in all parts of BC and those that help people in your local area.
Location:
- British Columbia – all parts
Specialized client group:
- Indigenous people in Kelowna
- Indigenous people in Smithers area
- Indigenous people in BC
- Migrant workers or newcomers who have experienced sexual harassment
- People with disabilities
- People experiencing sexual harassment
- Self-identified women living in the Downtown Eastside
- Self-identified trans, gender diverse, and non-binary folks
- Seniors, 55+
- Young people
British Columbia
Organization |
Services Provided |
Contact info |
Office Location |
Mandate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Access Pro Bono: Summary Advice Program |
30-minute summary advice appointment with a lawyer on BC and Canadian human rights complaints. |
Phone: (604) 878-7400 |
Summary advice is provided through various legal clinics across BC |
For low- and modest-income individuals across BC. |
Access Pro Bono: Roster Program |
A coordinating lawyer at Access Pro Bono (Heather Wojcik) matches complainants’ pro bono lawyers interested in helping with or taking on BC and Canadian human rights matters. A referral from an advocate or lawyer is helpful. |
Email: Web info: |
300 – 845 Cambie St |
For low- and modest-income individuals across BC. |
Access Pro Bono: Lawyer Referral Service |
Referrals to private lawyers to provide services for a fee. |
Phone: (604) 687-3221 |
|
For people seeking to hire a lawyer |
Amici Curiae Friendship Society |
Paralegal assistance with drafting BC and Canadian human rights complaints. No legal advice or representation provided. Virtual Meetings Available Wednesday & Thursday, 5:30-7:30 PM |
Phone: (778) 522-2839 Email: Web info: |
Hosted at various organizations across the lower mainland. |
Across the Province with new virtual sessions |
Summary legal advice, help with drafting BC and federal human rights complaints, and help at mediation at the BC Human Tribunal if capacity permits. Note: Legal intake closed until 2022 due to team capacity and current waitlist. |
Phone: (604) 442-4352 Email: Web info: |
Virtual via Zoom and phone |
All self-identified trans, gender diverse, and non-binary folks across BC. |
|
Answer questions about human rights problems. Encourage youth to call. Can also give referrals to appropriate service if can’t help. Free drop-in legal clinics. |
Phone: (778) 657-5544 Email: |
303-1720 Grant Street |
For young people or people whose human rights problem arose before they were of the age of majority. |
|
Summary advice related to sexual harassment cases. Up to 5 hours of free legal advice/assistance, including BC and Canadian human rights complaints, if applicable. |
Phone: (604) 673-3143 Email: Web info: |
300-1140 West Pender St |
Anyone who has experienced, or is experiencing, sexual harassment in their workplace in BC. |
|
Gives information about human rights problems. Can help with completing complaint forms. |
|
For persons with disabilities. |
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Human Rights Clinic (Community Legal Assistance Society – CLAS) |
Telephone Info Line provides information on human rights. Available Monday to Friday. Short Service Clinic provides half-hour appointments for information and summary advice, including assistance with complaint drafting (on Mondays and Wednesdays). May provide further legal assistance or representation once a complaint has been accepted by the BC Human Rights Tribunal. |
Phone: (604) 622-1100 Toll Free: 1-855-685-6222 or Email: Web info: |
300-1140 West Pender St |
All across BC, for complainants. Indigenous advocate available to assist Indigenous clients by request. |
Indigenous Community Legal Clinic |
Assistance with drafting BC human rights complaints, summary advice, and representation if capacity permits. |
Phone: (604) 684-7334 Toll-free 1-888-684-7874 |
148 Alexander St #101, Vancouver, BC. V6A 1B5 |
Self-identified Indigenous people, across BC. |
Law Centre |
Summary advice and assistance about human rights problems. Help filling out forms. Represent complainants and respondents in BC and Canadian human rights matters. Cannot attend in-person hearings outside the Victoria area. |
Phone: (250) 385-1221 Email: Web info: |
Suite 225 – 850 Burdett Ave, Victoria BC |
For clients who cannot afford a lawyer. For respondents province-wide. For complainants in:
|
Help with drafting BC human rights complaints for migrant workers. |
Phone: (604) 669-4482 Toll Free: 1-888-669-4882 Email: Web info: |
#302 - 119 W. Pender St Vancouver BC.
|
For migrant works or newcomers who have experienced sexual harassment. |
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May help with a human rights problem. |
Phone: (604) 336-5653 Information about Seniors Legal Clinics: http://seniorsfirstbc.ca/programs/legal-programs/seniors-legal-clinics |
150 -900 Howe St Vancouver BC |
In-person legal clinic locations in:
Phone consultations anywhere in BC. |
Kamloops area
Organization |
Services Provided |
Contact info |
Office Location |
Mandate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Elizabeth Fry Legal Clinic |
Answer questions about a person’s human rights problems. Can help fill out a complaint form. Free public legal education to organizations or groups. |
Phone: (250) 374-2119 Email: Website info: |
702-235 1st Avenue |
For low-income people in the Kamloops and district area. |
TRU Community Legal Clinic |
Can answers questions about human rights problems. May help fill out complaint form. |
Phone: (778) 471-8490 Web info: |
204-246 2nd Avenue |
Summary advice to all clients. Other services for low-income clients. |
Kelowna area
Name |
Services Provided |
Contact info |
Office Location |
Mandate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Assistance with drafting BC and Canadian human rights complaints, summary advice, and representation if capacity permits. |
Phone: (250) 763-4905 or Email: Web info: |
442 Leon Avenue, Kelowna, BC V1Y 6J3 |
Indigenous people in Kelowna. |
Prince George area
Organization |
Services Provided |
Contact info |
Office Location |
Mandate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sources Community Law Clinic |
Assistance with drafting BC and Canadian human rights complaints, summary advice, and representation if capacity permits. |
Phone: (604) 547-0111 Web info: |
Unit # 105 |
For individuals in need living in:
|
Prince Rupert area
Name |
Services Provided |
Contact info |
Office Location |
Mandate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Prince Rupert Unemployed Action Centre |
Assistance with |
Phone: (250) 627-8776 |
869 Fraser St |
For unemployed, underemployed, and other vulnerable groups in the Prince Rupert area. |
Smithers area
Organization |
Services Provided |
Contact info |
Office Location |
Mandate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Assistance with BC Human Rights Complaints. |
Phone: (250) 847-5211 ext. 200 Email: |
1188 Main Street |
Indigenous people in Smithers and neighboring communities. |
Surrey, White Rock, Delta, Langley areas
Organization |
Services Provided |
Contact info |
Office Location |
Mandate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sources Community Law Clinic |
Assistance with drafting BC and Canadian human rights complaints, summary advice, and representation if capacity permits. |
Phone: (604) 547-0111 Web info: |
Unit # 105 |
For individuals in need living in:
|
Vancouver area
Organization |
Services Provided |
Contact info |
Office Location |
Mandate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS) |
Telephone Info Line provides information on human rights. Available Monday to Friday. Short Service Clinic provides half-hour appointments for information and summary advice, including assistance with complaint drafting (on Mondays and Wednesdays). May provide further legal assistance or representation once a complaint has been accepted by the BC Human Rights Tribunal. Indigenous advocate available to assist Indigenous clients by request. |
Phone: (604) 622-1100 Toll Free: 1-855-685-6222 Email: Web info:
|
300-1140 West Pender St |
All across BC, for complainants. |
Law Students’ Legal Advice Program (LSLAP) |
Provides legal advice, and assistance with drafting BC human rights complaints. Full representation at the BC Human Rights Tribunal if capacity permits. Summary advice regarding Canadian human rights complaints. |
Phone 1: (604) 822-5791, or call (604) 684-1628 to set up a Chinese language appointment at our Chinatown clinic. Web info:
|
Legal clinics are provided throughout the lower mainland. |
For low-income earners who live in the Greater Vancouver Area. |
Assistance with drafting BC and Canadian human rights complaints, summary advice and representation if capacity permits. |
Phone: (604) 331-1407 x. 114 Email: Web info: |
101 E. Cordova St |
All self-identified women living in the Downtown Eastside, who cannot afford to pay for legal help. |
|
Can assist clients with their initial Human Rights Complaint by providing legal information and helping clients fill out the correct forms and draft their initial complaint. |
516 Richards St, with most services being held via Zoom |
For self-identifying women and gender-diverse people who are also low-income. Preference is given to clients living in the Downtown Eastside. |
Victoria, Vancouver Island, and Gulf Islands
Organization |
Services Provided |
Contact info |
Office Location |
Mandate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Law Centre |
Summary advice and assistance about human rights problems. Help filling out forms. Represent complainants and respondents in BC and Canadian human rights matters. |
Phone: (250) 385-1221 Email: Web info: |
Suite 225 – 850 Burdett Ave, Victoria BC |
For clients who cannot afford a lawyer.
|
Vancouver Island Human Rights Coalition |
Gives information about the Human Rights Code and process. Can help to draft and file complaints. Gives public presentations. |
Phone: (250) 382-3012 Email: Web info: |
#418-620 View Street Victoria, BC V8W1J6 |
For people on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands respondents. |