Summary Advice Service
Through our summary legal advice service, self-represented clients receive free legal advice from the lawyers we work with. Lawyers who provide this service are not able to represent in the family law matter.
Clients must meet Rise’s financial eligibility criteria to be able to speak to the lawyer.
Summary advice appointment coordination - What to expect?
If a referral is made for summary advice at Rise, the program assistant will get in touch with you or the support worker/Community Partner to schedule the appointment with the lawyer.
Next relevant documents will be collected for the lawyer review. If there are no documents to collect, we request a piece of picture identification and send the summary advice agreement for the client’s review and signature. At this stage, let the program assistant know if there are additional needs, such as interpretation or accessibility needs. We are able to organize interpretation for clients.
After document collection, we send our for the lawyer availability through email. Once the time is confirmed, a zoom link will be sent to the client or to the support worker/community partner for the summary advice appointment by the program assistant. A phone appointment can be requested through the program assistants.
Next, there is summary advice appointment with the lawyer. Summary advice appointments are usually one-hour long, and are booked through the two clinics at Rise. Longer appointments are available where interpretation is needed. We ask questions are prepared in advance to make most of the one-hour appointment. After the appointment, a summary advice memo will be sent directly to the client or though the support worker/Community Partner.
The lawyer will let you know next steps at the summary advice appointment Depending on what is needed for the client, a follow-up appointment can be booked through the program assistant, or the file can be closed.
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Questions?
Clients and support workers in the Lower Mainland, email clc@womenslegalentre.ca
Clients, support workers and Community Partners outside the Lower Mainland, email vlc@womenslegalcentre.ca
Frequently asked questions
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Unfortunately, we are not available to provide summary advice appointments outside our business hours or over the weekends. Our business hours are Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm. We are closed on Saturday, Sunday and on British Columbia’s statutory holidays
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Usually the links for the virtual appointments are sent at least a week before the appointment. Some times our emails can end up in your spam or junk email.
Clients in the Lower Mainland can reach out clc@womenslegalcentre.ca
Clients or community partners outside the Lower Mainland can reach out vlc@womenslegalcentre.ca
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We understand that due to unforeseen circumstances, you may need to cancel or reschedule your appointments. You can cancel the appointment in your appointment confirmation email. To reschedule, reach out the program assistants that have been coordinating the appointment with you.
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Our lawyers are cautious of providing legal advice with others present or clients using public spaces. If you do not have a private, let the program assistant coordinating the appointment and they can inform the lawyer ahead of time. We may send you recommendations for some safe resources, where you can attend the appointment.