Rise is a community legal centre providing accessible legal services to self-identified women and gender diverse people in British Columbia since 2016.

Our programs and services are aimed at providing limited legal services to economically disadvantaged clients, who are self-representing in their family law matters in BC. Learn more

We at Rise Women’s Legal Centre are committed to improving access to justice in British Columbia.

Founded in 2016, Rise Women’s Legal Centre is a registered charity. 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. Approximately 80% of our clients have experienced family violence.

We work from a client centred perspective that emphasizes the agency of our clients and treats them as the experts in their own lives. We envision a future where all self-identified women and gender diverse people in BC have access to a just and equal legal system. 

Read our story

What we do?

We believe that our work is strengthened through collaboration. We are client-centered and inclusive. Learn more about 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 do not provide any training for clients. Most of our training is for organizations and stakeholders we collaborate with. For this reason, our training page is password protected. For access, email education@womenslegalcentre.ca. We are only able to provide access with an organizational email.

  • There are no upcoming training opportunities. View recordings of past training here. Interested in hearing about upcoming training, sign up here.

  • Rise offers monthly training for all support workers. You can view the basic information on training here. Accessing the training page requires a password. For access, email education@womenslegalcentre.ca

    We also send a monthly announcement for upcoming training, you can sign up here.

  • 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

    We also send a monthly announcement with upcoming training for the next month.

  • Community partners are able to attend all training provided for support workers. You can view the basic information on training here. Accessing the training page requires a password. For access, email education@womenslegalcentre.ca

    In addition, separate communication will be sent by the Virtual Legal Clinic about monthly meetings. Questions - email smelnyk@womenslegalcentre.ca

    If you are also a family law advocate, see section for family law advocates in the point above.

Latest publications

Featured
Protection Orders in BC and the Urgent Need for a Specialized Process and Coordinated Reform
#report
Protection Orders in BC and the Urgent Need for a Specialized Process and Coordinated Reform
#report

The report takes an in-depth look at protection orders in BC and finds that, despite updates and changes to the Family Law Act, survivors of gender-based violence are still in danger. The report highlights the challenges and makes recommendations.

Read More →
#report
Building Inclusive and Accessible Family Justice: Practical Approaches to Innovate Family Law Systems in BC’s Rural and Remote Communities
#report
Building Inclusive and Accessible Family Justice: Practical Approaches to Innovate Family Law Systems in BC’s Rural and Remote Communities
#report

The report identifies opportunities to improve family law for women and gender diverse people located outside of the Lower Mainland, and calls for the government, the courts, Legal Aid BC, the Law Society of BC, lawyers, and support workers to collaborate to close gaps in access to justice.  

Read More →
#report

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 land 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, meeting rooms and restroom are fully 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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