A Lay Person's Introduction to BC Legal Information Sources and Lawyers' Web Sites

Legislative Assembly of BC

"B.C. Hansard Transcripts From 1970 to 2013 Available On-line
... - the transcripts of legislative debates from 1970 to 2013 .... [as of Nov. 2013] all existing Hansard transcripts are now available on-line via the Assembly website." [go to www.leg.bc.ca/hansard/8-8.htm ]

Reference Information on BC Law

  • BC "Click Law" Library
    www.clicklaw.bc.ca "... a website aimed at enhancing access to justice in British Columbia. It features legal information and education, but it is not a site of laws.  Instead, Clicklaw features legal information and education designed for the public." Clicklaw is operated by www.courthouselibrary.ca and funded by the Law Foundation of BC [2010.09].

Tribunal Decisions

Legal Representation & Legal Aid in BC

When do you need to consult or retain a lawyer?  
How do you select a lawyer?   What questions to ask when interviewing a lawyer (its a two way selection process).  These are some questions we hope to help you with.

Resources and Organizations

  • Legal Services Society [LSS] of BC https://lss.bc.ca/legal_aid The LSS website includes:
    • information about legal aid in BC,
    • information about the Legal Services Society (LSS) and its services,
    • legal information, including LSS publications, LSS LINK, and Law Line.
    • billing and other information for legal aid lawyers, and
    • links to other sites about the law in BC.
      [quoted fr. website 2004/01/01
  • Canadian Bar Association BC Chapter

Downtown Vancouver Law Courts


Canada Immigration Lawyers in BC


Province of BC Government Web Info

Province of BC

BC Provincial Courts

Map of Metro Vancouver Region

The Metro Vancouver map produced by cartographer Weller Cartographic Services Ltd. shows the cities and municipalities that make up the Metro Vancouver Region , formerly known as the Greater Vancouver Regional District, a metropolitan area which is home to well over 1/2 of BC's population.

The map shows the locations of West Vancouver, North Vancouver Distric, North Vancouver City, the City of Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Delta, White Rock, New Westminster, Surrey, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, City of Langley, Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge. Note some of the municipalities are not included on this map. see www.MapMatrix.com for free pdf maps by Angus Weller.


This site was developed by a group of people who have served as "expert witnesses" and information consultants for law firms in litigation involving personal injury cases, labor law, wills variation and breach of trust cases as well as class action suits.

It is our hope that you will find this site useful in your decision making as to consulting or selecting a lawyer for your needs.

This site is not endorsed by web sites to which it provides links to, unless otherwise noted, where a particular lawyer has volunteered to become a content contributor.



 

BC Lawyers & Related Legal Services


CLICK FOR DETAILED STREET MAP FOR DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER COURTS

Sources of Public Free Legal Information · Free Pro Bono Legal Advice · Legal Aid Services

  • People's Law School of B.C. www.publiclegaled.bc.ca
    Publications in English, French, Spanish, Chinese and Punjabi Languages.
    "the People's Law School of British Columbia, Canada. ... exist(s) to help you learn about your rights and responsibilities under the law.  We are a registered non-profit Society.
    Since 1972, we have provided free and impartial public legal education to many thousands of British Columbians in all walks of life.  We make special efforts to serve people who may have particular legal education needs, including seniors, workers, students, immigrants, parents and poor people." [quote 2010.04.18]

    The People's Law School
    150-900 Howe Street
    Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2M4
    CANADA
    Tel: 604-331-5400    www.publiclegaled.bc.ca
  • Access Pro Bono Society of British Columbia www.accessprobono.ca
    " On April 1, 2010, the Western Canada Society to Access Justice www.accessjustice.ca merged with Pro Bono Law of British Columbia probononet.bc.ca to become the Access Pro Bono Society of British Columbia ( www.accessprobono.ca).

    Access Pro Bono's mission is to promote access to justice in British Columbia by providing and fostering quality pro bono legal services for people and non-profit organizations of limited means. "
    [quote 2010.04.18

    Access Justice has moved to a new office since Friday November 27, 2009 at
    106 - 873 Beatty Street,
    Vancouver BC V6B 2M6.

    Need legal advice?
    Call  604-878-7400 / 1-877-762-6664

  • Legal Services Society [Legal Aid] British Columbia www.lss.bc.ca "We're the Legal Services Society (LSS), the organization that provides legal aid in BC. Legal aid includes representation by a lawyer, legal advice, and legal information. We give priority to people with low incomes, but many of our services are available to all British Columbians. Find out more about us. "

    "Every year the Legal Services Society (LSS) helps tens of thousands of British Columbians with serious family, child protection, immigration, and criminal law issues." We do this by providing a range of legal information, advice, and representation services that help people resolve their legal problems." These services include booklets about the law and referrals to other agencies, or a lawyer to represent someone in court." [quote 2010.04.18 website www.lss.bc.ca/about/Whoweare.asp]

    Legal Aid Offices in B.C. Directory www.lss.bc.ca/legal_aid/legalAidOffices.asp


Wills and Estates Planning

Personal Injury · Civil Litigation · Trial Lawyers


Class Action · Professional Negligence-Malpractice · Product Liability Lawyers

  • Reference article: Class Actions in BC a lay persons introduction to what is a class action suit and how to select a lawyer or become a member of the class
  • Vancouver BC Class Action & Health Law Lawyers listings
  • Exemplar profile of lawyer acting as co-counsel in Canada's largest class action settlement in 2000
  • see also on-line copy of BC Class Actions Legislation-Act Class Proceeding Act RSBC 1996 from Copyright © 2003: Queen's Printer, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Employment Law · Wrongful Dismissal · Labor Labor Law

Vancouver Wrongful Dismissal lawyers

Personal Injury / Employment Law - Wrongful Dismissal



ROSE KEITH, K.C. Experienced employment law lawyer representing both employers and employees on a variety of issues including wrongful dismissal, constructive dismissal and harassment.  Representation at British Columbia Supreme Court, British Columbia Court of Appeal and Human Rights Tribunal.
Web profile: www.harpergrey.com/lawyer/rose-keith


SANDRA BANISTER, Queens Counsel KC, over 30 years experience in  BC personal injury  ICBC disputes-settlements and  employment-labour law - click for more info


Sandra Banister, KC Senior counsel Labor law, Employement Law & Personal injury cases
Banister & Company web site: BanisterLaw.com





Lawyer Exemplars of Practice Profiles

BC Class Actions / Product Liability / Professional Negligence Lawyer Bruce Lemer  in Vancouver


Bruce W. Lemer, barrister & solicitor, Vancouver, BC

Bruce Lemer was called to the bar in 1982.

He was plaintiff's co-counsel in Endean vs. Canadian Red Cross and others, ... a class action on behalf of individuals infected with hepatitis C through blood transfusions, which resulted in the largest class action settlement in Canadian history. [over $1.5 Billion Cdn.]

He has extensive experience in complex litigation, having acted for numerous individuals in products liability and professional negligence claims against governments, blood products manufacturers and the Canadian Red Cross for infection with HIV and hepatitis C through blood transfusions and blood products.

He has successfully represented plaintiffs in negligence claims against stockbrokers and brokerage firms, physicians and highway maintenance bodies (for accidents caused by inadequate winter maintenance procedures).

He has appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada and on numerous occasions in the British Columbia Supreme Court, the BC Court of Appeal, and courts in Alberta and Ontario.

In 2003-2010 he was plaintiffs' counsel in:

  • a proposed class action against brokerage firms with respect to allegedly improper charges made to clients for currency exchange transactions;
  • a proposed class action against a drug manufacturer with respect to allegedly inappropriate actions taken to raise the price of a drug;
  • a proposed class action against a individuals and a financial institution for involvement in an alleged scheme to defraud hundreds of investors in real estate developments.

Mr. Lemer has also successfully represented plaintiffs and defendants in a wide range of personal injury cases, including those dealing with quadriplegia, brain injuries, serious orthopedic injuries and death claims.

Publications and Articles by Mr. Lemer include:

  • He was the yearly update author of the chapter on I.C.B.C. (Insurance Corp. of BC) no-fault benefits in the Motor Vehicle Claims Manual ( a publication of the Continuing Legal Education Society of BC, 1999-2003 )
  • Strict Products Liability:  The problem of improperly designed products ( Osgoode Hall Law Journal, 1982 )
  • Dealing With Claimants and Insureds ( in Insurance Law, CLE, 1989 )
  • Practice Points for a Personal Injury Discovery ( in Personal Injury Trials: Techniques and Tactics, CLE, 1989 )
  • Pollution Coverage Under C.G.L. and Automobile Policies ( in Pollution and Contamination Insurance Claims, CLE, 1990 )

Some Supreme Court of BC reference information from BC government courts judgements data base 1997

  • Original decision granting certification as a class proceeding of ENDEAN v CANADIAN RED CROSS
    Date: 19970522 | Docket: C965349 | Registry: Vancouver
    REASONS FOR JUDGMENT
    OF THE
    HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K. SMITH
    www.courts.gov.bc.ca/jdb-txt/sc/97/07/s97-0758.txt

LEMER and COMPANY,
301 - 1075 West Pender
Vancouver BC
Canada, V6E 2M6

Phone:  778-383-7277
Website: www.BruceLemer.com

CALL FOR FREE CONSULTATION

See info. on:  brucelemer.com/icbc-motor-vechicle-accidents
Lawyers-bc.com profile:   BC Class Actions Lawyers