NCJ Number
81487
Date Published
Unknown
Length
35 pages
Annotation
The 1976-1977 annual report is presented for the Legal Services Commission of British Columbia.
Abstract
The Legal Services Commission provides legal services to the disadvantaged and legal education, advice, and information to the public. The Legal Services Commission Act mandates that the Commission plan for legal services, consult interested persons, provide funds for organizations that give legal services to the disadvantaged, conduct research, promote experimental programs, cooperate with educational institutions in training persons who provide Legal services, and inform the public as to the availability of legal services. The Legal Aid Society is the primary organization funded by the Commission. The Legal Aid Society operates 14 full-time offices around the Province, which provide legal aid to eligible persons in both criminal and civil cases. Other organizations receiving Commission funding are (1) community law offices, which provide local people with legal services; (2) the Elizabeth Fry Society, which operates courtworker services for women; (3) the Native Courtworker and Counseling Association of British Columbia, which assists Native persons involved with the criminal justice system; (4) Native Legal Services, which provides community-based legal services appropriate for Natives; and (5) programs which use law students to provide legal aid services. Activities of each of these organizations during the year are described. Indirect legal services are supported by the Commission in the areas of public legal education, legal information services, training, and the public schools legal education project. The year's activities in these areas are described. The Commission's budgets for 1977 and 1976 are presented.