Rise is a community legal centre that helps women and gender diverse people navigate family law in British Columbia and advocates to transform the legal system.
We provide family law services to economically disadvantaged clients who are self-representing in their family law matters in BC, and work towards increasing access to justice across the province. Learn more
Rise Women’s Legal Centre was founded in 2016 to improve access to family law services in British Columbia.
Our clients are women and gender diverse people who would not otherwise be able to afford legal services, including members of marginalized groups, and people seeking protection from family violence.
We envision a future where all women and gender diverse people have access to a safe, just, and equal legal system.
Central to our work is the knowledge that women, and all people of marginalized genders, are disproportionately impacted by systems of oppression, including gender-based violence.
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Our work
We provide compassionate legal services to our clients
We teach law and social work students
We provide training on family law and family violence for lawyers and support workers
We conduct research with the goal of seeking to improve the experience of survivors of family violence
Training
We don’t provide any training for clients. Our training opportunities are for lawyers, support workers, family law advocates, and community partners.
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Rise Professional Legal Education (RPLE) is a social enterprise of Rise and provides a variety of CPD accredited trainings for lawyers. To learn more, visit the RPLE website.
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You are able to access all of Rise training open to support workers as well as offerings from the Family Advocate Educator. You can view the basic information on training here. Accessing the training page requires a password. For access, email education@womenslegalcentre.ca
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Community partners are able to attend all training provided for support workers. You can view the basic information on training here.
In addition, separate communication will be sent by the Virtual Legal Clinic about monthly meetings. Questions - email smelnyk@womenslegalcentre.ca
Latest publications
Territorial
acknowledgement
Rise works on the lands commonly known as British Columbia which includes nearly 200 Indigenous Nations, with diverse traditions and histories. Our main office is located on the ancestral and unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
We are grateful to Indigenous Peoples for their enduring stewardship over their lands since time immemorial. We recognize Indigenous communities for their resistance, resilience and resurgence and their enduring care of the land against colonial legal systems and practices. We acknowledge that as a predominantly settler organization, we share an obligation to work in solidarity with Indigenous peoples and that we have a responsibility to learn and implement decolonizing legal practices.
The Steller's Jay has been British Columbia’s official bird since December 17, 1987. It was adopted in our logo to mark Rise’s work across the province.
Accessibility & Comfort at Rise
Rise strives to be inclusive and accessible for our clients and visitors. Our entry, reception area, and meeting rooms are wheelchair accessible. If you have any requests that would make your visit to Rise easier or more comfortable, please let us know and we will do our very best to accommodate you. If you have questions regarding accessibility, email info@womenslegalcentre.ca
Dogs at Rise
Occasionally our staff may bring their small dogs to work. Dogs stay in their owners’ individual offices except when being walked. If you have severe allergies or other concerns, please let us know 24 hours before attending our office so that we may accommodate you. Email info@womenslegalcentre.ca to inform us about your visit.
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