Library service models are changing and adapting under the current circumstances. Things are changing fast, and available services vary from location to location. Courthouse Libraries are no exception – while the Courthouse Libraries physical locations are closed, we are here to support you via email and telephone. You may need to leave a message – we will get back to you!
So what does this mean for public librarians and front line library staff? Perhaps you are offering library services electronically or by phone – please know that you can continue to use the Courthouse Libraries as a resource.
If you get a legal question and aren’t sure where to turn, contact us:
Voice message: Toll-free 1-800-665-2570 or 604.660.2841
Email: librarian@courthouselibrary.ca
We have created a COVID-19 Resources for British Columbians Clicklaw Wikibook as a tool for front line service providers. In it you will find links to reliable sources of information on COVID-19 related legal issues, including court and tribunal closures, legal processes, employment law, family law, tenancy, and much more.
We are updating it regularly to ensure you have access to the most current information in plain language. Please share widely in your organizations if you are still providing remote reference, and if you are not working, we hope you can use it to find answers that address your questions and concerns.
Other Online sources
The new COVID-19 Resources for British Columbians Wikibook links to these resources as well, but for ease of reference, here are two other key reliable sources for plain language, relevant and current information about how this crisis is affecting British Columbians and legal support services.
Coronavirus: Your Legal Questions Answered: This resource page is provided by The People’s Law School and covers common legal questions on work, housing, money, consumer, business, and courts. A few examples of the types of questions they address are:
- My workplace cut my salary in half. Can they do this?
- I won’t be able to make my next rent. Now what?
- I’ve heard there are scams related to COVID-19. Is this true?
Povnet's COVID-19 Special Resources: A list of resources covering legal topics such as employment, financial assistance resources, health information, and housing
Povnet's COVID-19 Service Changes: A list of links to advocacy programs throughout BC and their changing services during the pandemic. Here’s a quick rundown:
- Access Pro Bono is currently providing services over the phone. Low-income individuals can contact them at 1-800-762-6664.
- The Lawyer Referral Service is also continuing to provide phone service for individuals of all income levels. They can be contacted at 1-800-663-1919.
- Legal Aid BC is also providing phone services. Individuals can contact their call centre at 1-866-577-2525. A full list of their service changes for family and criminal legal assistance can be found on their webiste here: https://legalaid.bc.ca/communications/news/legal-aid-service-updates
For more advanced legal research, or other legal questions that may come up, we may be able to help using our remote access to subscription databases.
Our Specialized Subscriptions
Not only are our librarians knowledgeable about the ins and outs of legal research, they also have access to legal information from the following subscription databases!
- CLE Online: This resource provides practice-oriented content, including precedents, on a variety of legal subjects including strata, family, and wills & estates.
- HeinOnline: We can access legal journal articles and historical legislation! HeinOnline also includes access to The Advocate as well as the comprehensive English Reports series.
- Irwin Law: We have digital access to a suite of legal books by Irwin law. While these can be a little theoretical at times, they also provide in-depth overviews of many different legal topics.
- Quicklaw Advance: Access to Canadian and international legal decisions, McLachlin & Taylor BC Court Forms and BC Practice, Canadian Forms & Precedents, Halsbury’s Laws of Canada, current and historical legislation, Conflict of Laws, as well as other select digital titles.
- Westlaw Next: Canadian and international judgments and other legal research materials including CriminalSource, legal journal articles, the Canadian Encyclopedic Digest, Canadian Abridgment Digests, and Words & Phrases.
- ICLR: Extensive digital collection of UK case law with downloadable PDFs that display decisions as they were originally published.
- Rangefindr: A tool to find criminal sentencing ranges quickly and efficiently by Criminal Code offense!
- Canadian Newsstream: Access to full-text articles from over 190 Canadian newspapers, current and historical. Excludes the Globe & Mail.
Online Tribunal: Option for Dispute Resolution
Finally, while the vast majority of courts and tribunals have temporarily suspended in-person hearings, Canada’s first online tribunal is operating business as usual.
Civil Resolution Tribunal
The British Columbia Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT) is Canada’s first online tribunal. The CRT remains open and fully operational.
The CRT resolves:
- Motor vehicle injury disputes up to $50,000
- Small claims disputes up to $5,000
- Strata property (condominium) disputes of any amount
- Societies and cooperative associations disputes of any amount
The CRT also provides handy Solution Explorer pages on all of the above topics. These interactive explorations help a user discover relevant legal information by following a ‘path’ based on their own circumstances.
We hope this helps, and that you are all doing as well as can be expected under these distressing circumstances. We send all our best to you and yours!
As always, please let us know if you have any questions at lawmatters@courthouselibrary.ca.