
May 19, 2009
Clicklaw — Your reliable resource for all things legal in British Columbia The Internet is a wealth of information — if you know where to look. But for many of our clients, the sheer amount of information can be overwhelming at best. Enter Clicklaw, a new website operated by Courthouse Libraries BC. It touts itself as being “better than Googling — for law-related info, that is,” and so far it has been well-received in the legal information world. Clicklaw was specifically developed to be more than a site of laws. Instead, it features legal information and education designed for the public. Its mission is to provide equitable access to quality legal information, education, and help for British Columbians. Launched in April, Clicklaw was developed with a project grant from the Law Foundation. The Legal Services Society (LSS) is one of the founding contributor organizations and has played a large part in providing information for the site, with over 120 LSS publications and informational videos included on the Clicklaw database. Sue Moor, a librarian at Vancouver Public Library, recently conducted Clicklaw training sessions with the public and says the feedback was great. "Everyone loved the website," she says. "The participants were so relieved to discover that such easily accessible legal information was available to them." The Clicklaw site is organised by broad subject headings such as Your Money, Your Family, and Your Community, and includes a list of common problems as a starting point for helping people find answers to their legal questions. Clicklaw uses tags, which allow you to drill into more specific information with one or two clicks. For example, under the topic "Family law," click on the tags "child support" and "enforcement of support" to get a quick list of all resources that deal with enforcement of child support. Although it is still in its infancy, there are many more features planned for the near future. These include FAQs, entry sites in languages other than English, a HelpMap, and a 'what’s new' feature. LawLINK is a website maintained by LSS as a set of links to legal resources. Within the next six months, LSS will phase out LawLINK and rely on Clicklaw. After that, visitors to LawLINK will be automatically re-directed to Clicklaw. Clicklaw is still in the test (beta) stages, so you might still find some rough edges. They're looking for user testers, to test features of the site in a one-on-one testing session that takes one hour. Testers are paid $50, and testers from outside the Lower Mainland are welcome (the testing can be done remotely over the Internet). If you’re interested, e-mail testing@clicklaw.bc.ca. Your Guide to the Refugee Claim Process now available in Spanish and simplified Chinese Following closely on the heels of the new (and popular) LSS publication Your Guide to the Refugee Claim Process are two translated versions. This month, LSS is releasing the guide in Spanish and simplified Chinese, with a French translation (for online distribution only) still to come. These booklets combine and replace the Refugee Fact Sheet Series, previously available in English, Spanish, and traditional Chinese. The choice of simplified Chinese this time around reflects that Chinese refugee claimants are now arriving predominantly from mainland China, rather than from Hong Kong. Your Guide to the Refugee Claim Process explains the process of seeking refugee protection in Canada and where to get legal and other help. Both the Spanish and simplified Chinese versions of the guide have a companion piece: a translation of the Immigration and Refugee Board’s Personal Information Form (PIF). These translated forms are designed to help refugee claimants fill out their official English PIF document. A traditional Chinese version of the PIF (with instructions) is also still available. Multilingual publications from LSS If you’re helping clients whose first language is not English, remember that LSS has published a number of multilingual booklets, brochures, and fact sheets that might be helpful. You can find all of the following in the Publications section of the LSS website (and some of them in the Publications section of the Family Law in BC website), or order them from LSS (see the website for ordering information). Family violence For Your Protection: Peace Bonds and Restraining Orders (booklet co-produced with the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General in traditional Chinese, English, and Punjabi) Legal Information For Battered Women (fact sheet series in traditional Chinese, English, Farsi [Persian], Punjabi, and Spanish) Custody and Access If You Are an Immigrant Sponsored by Your Husband Peace Bonds, Restraining Orders, and No-Contact Orders Taking Legal Action Speaking of Abuse: Violence Against Women in Relationships (booklet in traditional Chinese, English [online only], Farsi [Persian], French, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese) Speaking of Abuse: Violence Against Aboriginal Women in Relationships Immigration and refugee How to Fill Out a Personal Information Form (fact sheet in traditional Chinese) and the Personal Information Form (immigration form in simplified and traditional Chinese, English, and Spanish) Sponsorship Breakdown (booklet about welfare and sponsorship breakdown in traditional Chinese, English [online only], Korean, Punjabi, Spanish, and Vietnamese) Your Guide to the Refugee Claim Process (booklet in English, simplified Chinese, and Spanish; see also "Your Guide to the Refugee Claim Process now available in Spanish and simplified Chinese"). Legal help Legal Aid Can Help You (brochure in Arabic, simplified and traditional Chinese, English, Farsi [Persian], French, Korean, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese) What You Should Expect from Your Legal Aid Lawyer (fact sheet available online only in traditional Chinese, English, Farsi [Persian], French, Punjabi, Spanish, and Vietnamese) Pensions and benefits Benefits and Services for Seniors (booklet in simplified and traditional Chinese, English, French, Punjabi, Spanish, and Tagalog) Coming soon Online-only French versions of: Living Together or Living Apart What to Do If You Are Charged with Assault What to Do If You Are Charged with Mischief What to Do If You Are Charged with Possession of An Illegal Drug What to Do If You Are Charged with Possession of Property Under $5,000 Obtained by Crime What to Do If You Are Charged with Theft Under $5,000 Your Guide to the Refugee Claim Process Introducing "Chuck it out" LSS often updates its publications and creates new ones, and we find that sometimes older versions of publications still remain on community organizations’ pamphlet racks and in their libraries. In some cases, keeping the older version is fine because the law has not changed significantly, and the publication is still current. But sometimes the revision or new publication exists because the law has changed so radically that the prior edition is no longer accurate (and might even be misleading). It’s important to make sure that any legal publications you have on your racks and give to your clients are up-to-date and accurate. To help you with this, we’re introducing a new feature called "Chuck it out," which will let you know when a publication should be recycled and replaced by a newer version. For example, the first edition of Living Together, Living Apart (blue booklet) is no longer legally accurate and should be replaced by the second edition (now a taupe colour and called Living Together or Living Apart). To find the most current edition of any of our publications, check out the Publications section of the LSS website. Look for "Chuck it out" in future issues of ELAN. June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day The third annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day — June 15 — has been declared internationally, here in BC and in other jurisdictions across Canada to shed light on a family violence issue that has remained in the closet for far too long. The BC Association of Community Response Networks and the Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse are both planning events to raise awareness about the neglect and abuse of aging adults. See their websites for more information about this day and events happening in your community on June 15. June 21 is National Aboriginal Awareness Day June 21 is National Aboriginal Day, a time for all Canadians to recognize the diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. Canadians from all walks of life are invited to participate in the many events that will be taking place. For more information about events and how to promote National Aboriginal Awareness Day, see the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development website or this PDF.

May 19, 2009

Clicklaw — Your reliable resource for all things legal in British Columbia

The Internet is a wealth of information — if you know where to look. But for many of our clients, the sheer amount of information can be overwhelming at best.

Enter Clicklaw, a new website operated by Courthouse Libraries BC. It touts itself as being “better than Googling — for law-related info, that is,” and so far it has been well-received in the legal information world.

Clicklaw was specifically developed to be more than a site of laws. Instead, it features legal information and education designed for the public. Its mission is to provide equitable access to quality legal information, education, and help for British Columbians. Launched in April, Clicklaw was developed with a project grant from the Law Foundation. The Legal Services Society (LSS) is one of the founding contributor organizations and has played a large part in providing information for the site, with over 120 LSS publications and informational videos included on the Clicklaw database.

Sue Moor, a librarian at Vancouver Public Library, recently conducted Clicklaw training sessions with the public and says the feedback was great. "Everyone loved the website," she says. "The participants were so relieved to discover that such easily accessible legal information was available to them."

The Clicklaw site is organised by broad subject headings such as Your Money, Your Family, and Your Community, and includes a list of common problems as a starting point for helping people find answers to their legal questions. Clicklaw uses tags, which allow you to drill into more specific information with one or two clicks. For example, under the topic "Family law," click on the tags "child support" and "enforcement of support" to get a quick list of all resources that deal with enforcement of child support.

Although it is still in its infancy, there are many more features planned for the near future. These include FAQs, entry sites in languages other than English, a HelpMap, and a 'what’s new' feature.

LawLINK is a website maintained by LSS as a set of links to legal resources. Within the next six months, LSS will phase out LawLINK and rely on Clicklaw. After that, visitors to LawLINK will be automatically re-directed to Clicklaw.

Clicklaw is still in the test (beta) stages, so you might still find some rough edges. They're looking for user testers, to test features of the site in a one-on-one testing session that takes one hour. Testers are paid $50, and testers from outside the Lower Mainland are welcome (the testing can be done remotely over the Internet). If you’re interested, e-mail testing@clicklaw.bc.ca.

Your Guide to the Refugee Claim Process now available in Spanish and simplified Chinese

Following closely on the heels of the new (and popular) LSS publication Your Guide to the Refugee Claim Process are two translated versions. This month, LSS is releasing the guide in Spanish and simplified Chinese, with a French translation (for online distribution only) still to come. These booklets combine and replace the Refugee Fact Sheet Series, previously available in English, Spanish, and traditional Chinese. The choice of simplified Chinese this time around reflects that Chinese refugee claimants are now arriving predominantly from mainland China, rather than from Hong Kong.

Your Guide to the Refugee Claim Process explains the process of seeking refugee protection in Canada and where to get legal and other help. Both the Spanish and simplified Chinese versions of the guide have a companion piece: a translation of the Immigration and Refugee Board’s Personal Information Form (PIF). These translated forms are designed to help refugee claimants fill out their official English PIF document. A traditional Chinese version of the PIF (with instructions) is also still available.

Multilingual publications from LSS

If you’re helping clients whose first language is not English, remember that LSS has published a number of multilingual booklets, brochures, and fact sheets that might be helpful. You can find all of the following in the Publications section of the LSS website (and some of them in the Publications section of the Family Law in BC website), or order them from LSS (see the website for ordering information).

Family violence

For Your Protection: Peace Bonds and Restraining Orders (booklet co-produced with the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General in traditional Chinese, English, and Punjabi)

Legal Information For Battered Women (fact sheet series in traditional Chinese, English, Farsi [Persian], Punjabi, and Spanish)

Custody and Access

If You Are an Immigrant Sponsored by Your Husband

Peace Bonds, Restraining Orders, and No-Contact Orders

Taking Legal Action

Speaking of Abuse: Violence Against Women in Relationships (booklet in traditional Chinese, English [online only], Farsi [Persian], French, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese)

Speaking of Abuse: Violence Against Aboriginal Women in Relationships

Immigration and refugee

How to Fill Out a Personal Information Form (fact sheet in traditional Chinese) and the Personal Information Form (immigration form in simplified and traditional Chinese, English, and Spanish)

Sponsorship Breakdown (booklet about welfare and sponsorship breakdown in traditional Chinese, English [online only], Korean, Punjabi, Spanish, and Vietnamese)

Your Guide to the Refugee Claim Process (booklet in English, simplified Chinese, and Spanish; see also "Your Guide to the Refugee Claim Process now available in Spanish and simplified Chinese").

Legal help

Legal Aid Can Help You (brochure in Arabic, simplified and traditional Chinese, English, Farsi [Persian], French, Korean, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese)

What You Should Expect from Your Legal Aid Lawyer (fact sheet available online only in traditional Chinese, English, Farsi [Persian], French, Punjabi, Spanish, and Vietnamese)

Pensions and benefits

Benefits and Services for Seniors (booklet in simplified and traditional Chinese, English, French, Punjabi, Spanish, and Tagalog)

Coming soon

Online-only French versions of:

Living Together or Living Apart
What to Do If You Are Charged with Assault
What to Do If You Are Charged with Mischief
What to Do If You Are Charged with Possession of An Illegal Drug
What to Do If You Are Charged with Possession of Property Under $5,000 Obtained by Crime
What to Do If You Are Charged with Theft Under $5,000
Your Guide to the Refugee Claim Process

Introducing "Chuck it out"

LSS often updates its publications and creates new ones, and we find that sometimes older versions of publications still remain on community organizations’ pamphlet racks and in their libraries. In some cases, keeping the older version is fine because the law has not changed significantly, and the publication is still current. But sometimes the revision or new publication exists because the law has changed so radically that the prior edition is no longer accurate (and might even be misleading). It’s important to make sure that any legal publications you have on your racks and give to your clients are up-to-date and accurate.

To help you with this, we’re introducing a new feature called "Chuck it out," which will let you know when a publication should be recycled and replaced by a newer version. For example, the first edition of Living Together, Living Apart (blue booklet) is no longer legally accurate and should be replaced by the second edition (now a taupe colour and called Living Together or Living Apart).

To find the most current edition of any of our publications, check out the Publications section of the LSS website.

Look for "Chuck it out" in future issues of ELAN.

June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

The third annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day — June 15 — has been declared internationally, here in BC and in other jurisdictions across Canada to shed light on a family violence issue that has remained in the closet for far too long.

The BC Association of Community Response Networks and the Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse are both planning events to raise awareness about the neglect and abuse of aging adults. See their websites for more information about this day and events happening in your community on June 15.

June 21 is National Aboriginal Awareness Day

June 21 is National Aboriginal Day, a time for all Canadians to recognize the diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. Canadians from all walks of life are invited to participate in the many events that will be taking place.

For more information about events and how to promote National Aboriginal Awareness Day, see the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development website or this PDF.