Can Law Students Help With Family Law Problems in BC?

If money is tight, a law student clinic can sound like a good way to get help with a separation, parenting dispute or support problem. Clinics run by law students are one piece of a wider set of options in British Columbia, including LSLAP.

This article explains how to think about student clinics, what questions to ask, and which other free or lower-cost family services exist. It does not describe any one clinic's rules, because those can change and you should confirm them with the clinic itself.

This article covers the law of British Columbia.

What student clinics are

A student legal clinic is a service where law students help people who cannot easily afford a lawyer. The details, such as which problems the clinic takes, who qualifies, and how much help you can get, are set by each clinic and may differ by area of law.

Family law can be a difficult fit for any clinic, because cases often involve safety, children and property all at once. A clinic may be able to offer information, help with forms, or a referral, but whether it can do more depends on the clinic.

Questions to ask before you apply

• Does the clinic take family matters, and which kinds (parenting, support, property, divorce)?
• What income or other eligibility rules apply?
• Will it only give information, or can it help prepare documents?
• Can it go to court with you, or is that outside what it does?
• Is a lawyer overseeing the work, and who do you contact with questions?
• How long is the wait, and what happens if it cannot take your case?

If a clinic cannot take you, ask where it would send you. A good referral is still useful.

Other free family help in BC

Family Justice Centres offer free services to parents and other family members dealing with separation or divorce. Their services include a needs assessment, legal information with referrals for advice, referrals to community agencies, and a free Parenting After Separation course. Staff can also refer you to the BC Family Maintenance Agency if child support is not being received.

Family Justice Counsellors are accredited mediators who provide mediation, and child support disputes can use facilitated negotiation with a child support officer. Lawyer advice at a Family Justice Centre depends on your situation, and staff otherwise refer you elsewhere. At a Family Justice Centre, some referred services are based on financial need, so you may be asked about income, and if mediation is not suitable, staff help with next steps or referrals. You can call 1-844-747-3963, Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Family Justice Centre services are also available by telephone and video conference for families separated by distance.

Justice Access Centres also offer free family justice services. Mediation there is a neutral, informal setting where a trained mediator helps you discuss issues without giving legal advice. You may be referred to a private mediator if a counsellor is not trained to mediate your problem, or to child protection mediation or notice to mediate.

If family violence is part of the picture

Family Law Centres are law clinics funded by the Province and delivered by Legal Aid BC. They give free, trauma-informed legal help to family violence survivors who cannot afford a lawyer. To be eligible you must be experiencing family violence and have at least one additional eligible legal issue. Parenting arrangements, including getting or changing a parenting order, became an eligible issue as of June 22, 2026.

The centres prioritize survivors who have fled an abusive partner within the past six months, but that is a priority and not a general waiver of the other requirements. They have in-person offices in Surrey and Victoria, with virtual services in several other communities.

Separately, under the Family Law Act a court may make a protection order on application by a family member claiming to be at risk, by a person on that member's behalf, or on its own initiative. The order need not be made together with any other proceeding, and the test is that family violence is likely to occur and the other person is an at-risk family member. The court must consider risk factors, including history of family violence, whether it is repetitive or escalating, and recent separation or intention to separate. Unless the court orders otherwise, a protection order expires one year after the date it is made.

Getting some help from a lawyer, and next steps

Unbundling means a lawyer provides legal services for part of your matter, and you and the lawyer decide which tasks each will do. The Law Society of BC developed a Family Unbundled Legal Services toolkit with Mediate BC, including sample retainer agreements, available through Courthouse Libraries BC. This can be a way to get advice at key points while handling the rest yourself.

• Contact the student clinic and ask the questions above.
• Call the Family Justice Centre line while you wait.
• If family violence is involved, ask about a Family Law Centre.
• Ask a lawyer whether limited help suits your matter.

Frequently asked questions