Q: Are there good legal publications out there?
A: One of the many programs we run here at the Resource Centre – our legal information program – aims to connect people with legal information and resources that can help their particular situation. In this column, I want to highlight a couple of places on the internet where lots of the information lives, because if you know it’s there, I guarantee it will help you or someone you know, now or in the future.
WHAT RESOURCES EXIST?
The online location for a lot of legal information we have on hand in-office can be found on Legal Aid BC’s website as well as on the BC Government’s “Crown Publications” website. Legal topics covered range from “How to Make A Will,” to Aboriginal legal rights, to information on separation and divorce as well as criminal matters, immigrations matters and many more topics.
On the “Crown Publications” website, go to: www.crownpub.bc.ca. Once there, on the left hand side of the page under “Quick Links” there is a category called “BC Public Legal Education & Information.”
Once you’re in there, there are a handful of legal categories you can click though.
On the Legal Aid BC website, go to: legalaid.bc.ca/publications. Once here, you can go through the publications by subject, by language or by title. If you use the subject category, you can search categories like “Abuse & family violence,” “Refugees & immigrants,” “Crimes & offenses” and many more.
I DON’T HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET – WHAT NOW?
If you’d like to browse these resources, but don’t have access to a computer or need help using one, you can book an appointment with us, and we can go through these with you. As well, if you’d prefer to have a hard copy of these pamphlets or booklets in hand, connect with our office and we may already have a hard copy at the office, or we can print one out for you.
The resources I mentioned are of course, just a couple places to find legal publications online. There are so many. If you don’t know where to start to find the information you need, please do call, email or drop-by and we will do our best to find some information, resources or advice services (when applicable) that can help.
Angie Theilmann is an information and referral specialist at the Sunshine Coast Resource Centre, your community information hub at 107A – 5710 Teredo. The Resource Centre is open Monday to Thursday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Appointments are recommended to be sure we are available to help you. Note: on some days, we can book clients after 2 p.m. Contact us: help@resourcecentre.ca or 604-885-4088. Search our online directory at www.resourcecentre.ca