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We provide family law services to women and gender diverse people in BC

We can help you if:

  • You have a family law issue

  • Your matter is in British Columbia

  • You identify as a woman or gender diverse person

  • You meet our financial eligibility requirements

  • Your matter is not urgent

Request help

  • We provide the following free family law services to our clients:

    • legal navigation

    • summary legal advice and unbundled legal services

    • support from family law advocates funded by the Law Foundation of BC

    • some limited court appearances on simple matters through our student clinic.

    Though the bulk of our services are family law, our Student Advocacy Clinic also provides other services such as referrals for non-family law issues, assistance with police complaints, name and gender marker changes, CVAP applications, ATIP requests, BC housing applications, and help accessing other community resources.

  • We do not provide full representation.

    We do not provide lawyer referrals if you are seeking to retain a lawyer or need a recommendation for a legal aid lawyer. If you are looking for a paid lawyer, or if you have been approved for legal aid and are looking for a lawyer to take on the matter, you can reach out to Access Probono Lawyer Referral Service. Lawyers are also able to help you with only parts of your legal issues, often called unbundled services. You can see a list of lawyers, who provide unbundled services here. If you would like to know how to choose a family lawyer, you can read our guide here.

    We cannot provide our services if your family law matter is outside British Columbia. Our lawyers are not licensed to practice outside of BC, and it is against Law Society rules for any lawyer to offer advice or assistance on a file that’s being heard outside the jurisdiction in which that lawyer is licensed.

  • Rise is not an emergency service. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

    We don’t provide services for urgent legal issues or for upcoming hearings. If you need urgent support, contact the Family Law Line or Family Duty counsel.

    If your family law matter has crucial time limits, please seek advice from a lawyer as soon as possible.

  • Our next drop in will be scheduled for July 16th 2026 at 1pm - 4pm, at our office in Vancouver:

    Suite #820, 510 Burrard St.
    Vancouver, BC V6C 3A8


    We will not be having any drop-ins during the month of August 2026.

    We are unable to assist walk-ins outside of these dates and times. Drop-in staff are not lawyers.

    If you have a question about drop-ins, please email clc@womenslegalcentre.ca

  • If you need assistance with our form or have other questions for us, we can help you through our voicemail service. You can leave a voicemail for us at: 236-317-9000. Please leave instructions for the safest way for us to reach you, like a specific time to call you back.

    You can also email us:

    If you leave a voicemail or send an email, you still need to fill out our appointment request form to access all our services.

How our services work

Step 1

Complete and submit our appointment request form.

Step 2

You can expect to receive an email or phone call from a staff member within the next 3-5 business days with next steps. Depending on our assessment of your form, next steps could include a referral to an internal Rise program, or to external resources.

Learn more

Tech Safety

As most of our services are provided via email, telephone, and virtually, we take your online your safety and security very seriously.

If you have concerns that your email is being monitored or checked by the other party/parties, we ask that you fill our safe contact form. When you fill the safe contact form, you will not get an automatic email from us to book an appointment, instead you will be able to let us know of a safe time we can get in touch with you via phone.

All client information is confidential and protected. 

Tech Safety Resources

  • If you need assistance with our form or have other questions for us, we can help you through our voicemail service. You can leave a voicemail for us at: 236-317-9000. Please leave instructions for the safest way for us to reach you, like a specific time to call you back.

    You can also email us:

    If you leave a voicemail or send an email, you still need to fill out our appointment request form to access all our services.

Resources for clients

Rise creates guides to help clients and support workers better navigate the family law system in BC. You can find all our guides here.

Popular guides for clients:

Time Limits in BC Family Law Matters

How Do I Choose a Family Lawyer

How Do I Organize Information for my Family Law Case?

AI for Unrepresented Parties: Minimizing Risk

Other frequently asked questions:

  • Research shows that when a domestic relationship breaks down, women and other marginalized genders are significantly less likely to be able to afford private counsel, creating a disproportionate gap in access to family justice. Our clinic was developed to try to bridge that gap.

    Rise has been approved as a special program by the BC Office of the Human Rights Commissioner, meaning that by limiting our services to self-identified women and gender diverse people, we are “improving conditions for an individual or group that has faced disadvantage.”

  • We do not charge for Rise services; however, if an advocate or student is supporting you in court, there may be costs attached to court fees and court documents payable to the courts. This will be communicated with you when your matter is taken on by Rise.

  • As a legal clinic, we ask all incoming clients fill out the confidential appointment request form, which includes the information of the other party/parties. We are required by Law Society to ensure we have no conflict to provide you with service.

  • Yes! We serve the entirety of BC. Our services for clients outside the Lower Mainland are delivered completely virtually.

  • Rise is an independently operated community legal centre and we are not connected with Legal Aid BC. Please see Legal Aid’s website if you are looking to apply for legal aid.

  • Children are welcome at Rise. We have a relaxing space with toys and books for children who come to our office.

  • Yes, the office is accessible for wheelchairs. There are accessible elevators in the building. Additionally, there are wide spaces in the office to accommodate wheelchairs.