Battered Women's Support Services

Legal Advocacy Program

The Legal Advocacy Program at BWSS provides support, advocacy, information and accompaniment to women who have experienced violence and who are involved in the legal system. We also provide advocacy with other systems, including social assistance and child protection. The BWSS Legal Advocate is not a lawyer and does not give legal advice.

For more information or to make an appointment, call 604-687-1867 (we accept collect calls) or email legaladvocacy@bwss.org.

Please note that we only answer calls and emails during office hours. If you need support or information outside of BWSS office hours, call WAVAW at 604-255-6344 or toll-free 1-877-392-7583 or Victims Link Helpline at 1-800-563-0808. See Links page for services outside the Lower Mainland.

General services

• Legal information and support over the telephone or in person
• Court accompaniments in Vancouver and North Vancouver
• Information and help with complaints related to the legal system
• Workshops for women who are representing themselves in court
• Referrals to volunteer lawyers who provide legal advice on a limited basis

Criminal law services

• Assistance with police reports
• Preparation and accompaniment for criminal court
• Advocacy with police, Crown or other members of the criminal justice system
• Help with legal forms, including Crime Victim Assistance applications and victim impact statements

Civil law services

• Information, support and advocacy with civil law issues including family law
• Referrals to lawyers
• Preparation and accompaniment for civil court
• Advocacy with lawyers or other members of the civil legal system
• Help with forms, including Criminal Injury Compensation

Advocacy with other systems

• Information and support related to child protection issues
• Information and support related to social assistance and/or disability benefits issues
• Referrals to appropriate services and agencies

Training for service providers

• Workshops on legal advocacy skills and emerging issues in the field

Goals of the Legal Advocacy Program

• To ensure that the issue of violence against women is taken into consideration throughout the entire legal process
• To work towards ensuring that the legal system is accountable to women, by advocating with police, lawyers and others who work within the legal system
• To improve legal responses to women who have experienced abuse in intimate relationships
• To lobby for the right of women to have accessible legal representation throughout their legal proceedings
• To lobby for the right of women to have adequate and secure social assistance

BWSS is grateful to the Law Foundation of BC for providing funding for the Legal Advocacy Program.

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