You or the young person can call us by phone at 778-657-5544 or toll free at 1-877-462-0037

Send us an email at [email protected]

Send mail to the office 102 – 1678 W. Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6J 1X6

We don’t have a minimum age for our services; however, clients do need to be able to consistently express their views to our staff. The Child and Youth Legal Centre can help children and youth up to 19 years old. If they are able to form and express their views on matters that affect them, they may be eligible for our services. Even if the youth is older than 19, if the legal problem started before they turned 19, we may be able to help.

The Child and Youth legal Centre provides legal help for young people who are experiencing problems relating to family law, child protection, a breach of your human rights and many other legal issues. Our experienced team provides a range of services for children and youth from confidential summary legal advice through to full legal representation at court.

Staff can provide legal advice, information, and representation for children and youth in a number of areas including child protection, family law, and human rights. Where we do not provide full services, we may be able to provide some legal advice or a referral to an agency who can help. If you’re not sure if that includes the problem you are concerned about, call us and find out. We can help you figure out what you need. If we can’t help you with that issue, we can help direct you to someone who can.

We don’t provide legal assistance in financial matters (these are otherwise covered by the Public Guardian and Trustee), in Youth Criminal Justice matters (free legal representation is available through the Legal Services Society), or in immigration and refugee matters. We don’t provide legal advice to adults.

Our intake worker will ask you a few questions. Depending on what the child or youth needs, they may be referred to a lawyer or advocate for an appointment. Even if we aren’t able to help, we can provide the young person with other resources to help them solve the problem.

Yes, we only assist young people who want our services. If the court has ordered that the young person can have a lawyer, we may be able to connect directly with the young person. In all other circumstances, the young person must want to speak with our staff and be able to form and express their views.

It is the right of a child or a youth to have access to justice and to receive legal advice. When adults are making decisions that affect young people, the children have the right to say what they think should happen and to have those opinions considered in coming to a final decision.

A member of our team will have a confidential consultation with the young person and will explain the legal process and relevant law. A lawyer may represent the child or youth in court and for any negotiated settlements. Throughout the process, our staff will ensure that the young person’s views and interests are put forward and will explain the final outcome.

Yes. The Centre invites the young person to bring a support person with them to the meeting if they wish, but the appointment will be with our staff and the young person only. If there are any concerns about this, the concerns should be brought up prior to the appointment.

Not necessarily. Most adults will naturally give the views of teenagers greater weight than those of a preschooler, as a child’s ability to form and express their opinions will develop with age. Regardless of the age of the child, however, the Judge will make an order that the Judge believes is in the young person’s best interest. In making that order, the Judge must take into account the views of the child or young person regardless of their age.

Not always. The Centre must prioritize the provision of legal services. Priority will be given to the most vulnerable children and youth and those with multiple overlapping legal issues.

The services are free to the child or the youth. The Child and Youth Legal Centre reserves the right to apply for reimbursement of legal services against another party to the proceeding where that party is not a young person.

Yes, in some circumstances. The Centre should be notified prior to any Order being made concerning the Centre.

Yes, we can help young people anywhere in BC. If our intake worker makes you an appointment, we can meet with you on the phone or over video, instead of in the office.

Contact us and be sure to have your court order ready. Our intake person will ask you for a copy of the order if you have it and will need other basic information.