Family duty counsel (family lawyers)

Effective October 3, 2022, family duty counsel lawyers will be available primarily in person, with phone-only services available at specific locations. For contact information and hours, see Duty counsel lawyers for family law matters on the Legal Aid BC website.

Family duty counsel (FDC) are lawyers paid by Legal Aid BC to help people with low incomes deal with their family law issues, including child protection issues. If you have a family law issue, you might qualify for help from family duty counsel in Provincial or Supreme Court even if you don't qualify for a legal aid lawyer.

If you're already working with a lawyer, you can't work with an FDC.

Everything you tell family duty counsel is privileged (they won't tell anyone else without your permission), so you can tell them things about your issue that you don't want to tell anyone else. And they can't work with the other person in your case once they start to work with you.

If you want help from a family duty counsel lawyer, it's a good idea to contact them as early as possible. Call your local Legal Aid BC office to find out when the service is available.

Family duty counsel can:

  • help you with your family law issues, for example:
  • help you try to sort out your family law issues outside of court
  • help you prepare your court documents
  • give you advice on how to prepare an urgent court application
  • come with you to a family settlement conference (FSC), family management conference (FMC), or hearing
  • speak for you in court if you want an adjournment (a delay), a consent order, or an emergency protection order

They can't:

  • become your lawyer while they’re acting as duty counsel
  • give you written advice or act as your lawyer
  • sign or draft an order for you
  • prepare, serve, or accept other court documents for you

Duty counsel might be able to help you even if you're not financially eligible. (See Do I qualify financially for legal advice?)

Duty counsel are available by appointment or on a walk-in basis in various locations. For more information, and a list of locations and hours, see Duty counsel lawyers for family law matters on the Legal Aid BC website.

If you're working with an FDC and you decide you want to hire a lawyer, the FDC can refer to you someone who might be able to help.

If you're a person with a low income going through a separation or divorce, you may be eligible for up to three hours of free legal advice from Supreme Court family duty counsel.

Duty counsel are family law lawyers who can provide advice about:

  • parenting,
  • child support,
  • property (limited),
  • tentative settlement agreements, and
  • court procedures.

Duty counsel can also:

  • assist you in Chambers if the matter is:
    • simple,
    • unopposed, or
    • by consent.
  • attend Judicial Case Conferences at some courts.

Duty counsel may be able to help you even if you're not financially eligible. See Do I qualify for legal advice? on the Legal Aid BC website.

Duty counsel are available by appointment or on a drop-in basis in various locations. For more information, and a list of locations and hours, see Duty counsel lawyers for family law matters on the Legal Aid BC website.

Before you meet with family duty counsel

To find out more about working with family duty counsel,