Who we are
The Legal Services Society (LSS) provides legal aid in British Columbia. Created by the Legal Services Society Act in 1979, LSS is a non-profit organization governed by a nine-member board of directors.
- Legal aid services: Our services include legal information, advice, and representation. We work with our partners in the justice system to provide people with low incomes with the type of services that are most likely to resolve their legal problems.
- Funding: While the provincial government provides most of the society’s funding, LSS remains independent of government. The society reports its activities to the provincial government through the Attorney General, and determines the range of services it will provide within the framework of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) negotiated with the Attorney General every three years.
- Management: LSS is organized into four divisions reporting to an executive director. LSS senior management is located in the Vancouver Regional Centre.
- Privacy: LSS is subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Our mission
To assist low income individuals to resolve their legal problems by providing a spectrum of services that promotes their effective participation in the justice system.
Our vision
An innovative, collaborative legal aid system responding to the needs of low income people throughout BC.
Our values
Making a difference through leadership, respect, and working with others.
Our mandate
Under section 9 of the LSS Act, the society’s mandate is to:
- help low income people resolve their legal problems and facilitate access to justice for them,
- establish and administer an effective and efficient system for providing legal aid to low income people in BC, and
- provide advice to the Attorney General about legal aid.
