Culturally-appropriate information, advice, support, and representation for Indigenous people.
All Indigenous Peoples throughout BC, regardless of whether they qualify for legal aid, can access free legal (advice and representation) and outreach services if they are facing a criminal or child protection issue (family law) services. IJCs also offer additional services based on community and cultural needs. Get free help at one of our Indigenous Justice Centres in Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, Surrey, Kelowna, Prince George, Merritt, Prince Rupert, Chilliwack or through our Virtual Indigenous Justice Centre.
To make a booking with a free lawyer, callers must meet the following criteria:
- Be Indigenous or self-identify as Indigenous
- Have a legal issue that falls under either a “criminal matter” or a “child protection” law type.
- Have been declined by Legal Aid BC and, to the best of their ability, exhausted all other options for retaining a lawyer
- Have access to a phone or be prepared to call in to speak with a lawyer at a preset agreed-upon time
How does it work?
- Contact or attend at your local IJC (see below for current locations), where staff will work to help navigate the appropriate services
- If you are in a more remote community, or if the Virtual Indigenous Justice Centre (VIJC) would better suit your needs, please call (1-866-786-0081) or email to discuss options - do not share detailed information about your legal case via email.
778-940-1520
Toll Free: 1-877-602-4858
Public email:
info@bcfnjc.com
Website:
https://bcfnjc.com/
778-704-1355 (Chilliwack)
Website:
https://bcfnjc.com/chilliwack...
#201, 46140 Yale Road, Chilliwack, British Columbia, V2P 0J6
Hours of Operation are Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
236-763-6881 (Kelowna)
Public email:
kelownainfo@bcfnjc.com
Website:
https://bcfnjc.com/kelowna-indigenous...
275 Lawrence Avenue, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1Y 6L2
Hours of Operation: Coming Soon
236-575-3004 (Merritt)
Public email:
merrittinfo@bcfnjc.com
Website:
https://bcfnjc.com/merritt-indigenous...
1999 Voght Street, PO Box 2310, Merritt, British Columbia, V1K 1B8
Hours of Operation are Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
778-762-4031 (Nanaimo)
Public email:
nanaimoinfo@bcfnjc.com
Website:
https://bcfnjc.com/nanaimo-indigenous...
#A, 17 Church Street, Nanaimo, British Columbia, V9R 5H5
Hours of Operation are Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
250-645-5519 (Prince George)
Public email:
pginfo@bcfnjc.com
Website:
https://bcfnjc.com/prince-george...
511 George Street, Prince George, British Columbia, V2L 1R8
Hours of Operation are Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
778-622-3563 (Prince Rupert)
Public email:
prinfo@bcfnjc.com
Website:
https://bcfnjc.com/prince-rupert...
#200, 515 3rd Avenue W, Prince Rupert, British Columbia, V8J 1L9
Hours of Operation are Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
236-947-6777 (Surrey)
Public email:
surreyinfo@bcfnjc.com
Website:
https://bcfnjc.com/surrey-indigenous...
Station Tower -
#1001, 13401 108th Avenue, Surrey, British Columbia, V3T 5T4
Hours of Operation: Coming Soon
236-455-6565 (Vancouver)
Public email:
vancouverinfo@bcfnjc.com
Website:
https://bcfnjc.com/vancouver...
510 Beatty Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 2L3
Hours of Operation are Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
250-419-9665 (Victoria)
Public email:
victoriainfo@bcfnjc.com
Website:
https://bcfnjc.com/victoria...
794 Yates Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8W 1L4
Hours of Operation are Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Toll Free: 1-866-786-0081 (Virtual)
Public email:
virtual@bcfnjc.com
Website:
https://bcfnjc.com/virtual-indigenous...
Hours of Operation are Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, and is free to call from anywhere in BC.
Service is available in
English.
Cost:
No cost
Availability
Service area:
Province-wide
+ show cities
Service area cities:
100 Mile House, Abbotsford, Agassiz, Aldergrove, Alert Bay, Alexis Creek, Anahim Lake, Anmore, Armstrong, Ashcroft, Atlin, Bamfield, Banff, Barriere, Bella Bella, Bella Coola, Black Creek, Blue River, Boston Bar, Bowen Island, Brentwood Bay, Burnaby, Burns Lake, Cache Creek, Calgary, Campbell River, Canmore, Castlegar, Cathedral Grove, Cawston, Chase, Chemainus, Chetwynd, Chilliwack, Christina Lake, Clearwater, Clinton, Cobble Hill, Comox, Coombs, Coquitlam, Cortes Island, Courtenay, Cranbrook, Crawford Bay, Creston, Cumberland, Daajing Giids, Dawson Creek, Dease Lake, Deep Bay, Delta, Denman Island, Duncan, Edgewood, Elkford, Enderby, Fanny Bay, Fernie, Fort Langley, Fort Nelson, Fort St. James, Fort St. John, Fraser Lake, Fruitvale, Gabriola Island, Galiano Island, Gibsons, Golden, Gold River, Grand Forks, Greenwood, Hanceville, Hazelton, Hope, Hornby Island, Horne Lake, Houston, Hudson's Hope, Invermere, Kamloops, Kaslo, Kelowna, Keremeos, Kimberley, Kitimat, Kyuquot, Ladner, Ladysmith, Lake Country, Lake Cowichan, Langford, Langley, Lantzville, Lethbridge, Lillooet, Lions Bay, Logan Lake, Long Beach, Lumby, Lytton, Mackenzie, Maple Ridge, Masset, Mayne Island, McBride, Merritt, Merville, Midway, Mill Bay, Mission, Nakusp, Nanaimo, Nanoose Bay, Nelson, New Aiyansh, New Denver, New Westminster, Nitinaht, North Delta, North Saanich, North Vancouver, Okanagan Falls, Oliver, Osoyoos, Oyama, Parksville, Peachland, Pemberton, Pender Harbour, Pender Island, Penelakut Island, Penticton, Pitt Meadows, Port Alberni, Port Alice, Port Coquitlam, Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Port Moody, Powell River, Prince George, Prince Rupert, Princeton, Quadra Island, Qualicum Beach, Quathiaski Cove, Quesnel, Revelstoke, Richmond, Riske Creek, Rock Creek, Rossland, Saanich, Saanichton, Salmo, Salmon Arm, Salt Spring Island, Sardis, Saturna Island, Sayward, Scotch Creek, Sechelt, Shawnigan Lake, Sicamous, Sidney, Skidegate, Slocan, Smithers, Sointula, Sooke, Sorrento, South Surrey, Sparwood, Spences Bridge, Squamish, Stewart, Summerland, Sun Peaks, Surrey, Tahsis, Tatla Lake, Telkwa, Terrace, Tofino, Trail, Tsawwassen, Tumbler Ridge, Ucluelet, Valemount, Vancouver, Vanderhoof, Vernon, Victoria, West Kelowna, West Vancouver, Whistler, White Rock, Williams Lake, Winlaw, Witset, and Yale