October / November 2008

Justice Access Centre opens in Nanaimo

On October 30, 2008, a Justice Access Centre opened in Nanaimo. Building on the success of the former Nanaimo Family Justice Services Centre, the expanded centre now offers both family and civil law services.

The focus of the centre, operated by LSS and the Ministry of Attorney General, is on helping people find early solutions not only for legal problems, but also social issues. For example, a woman facing a custody issue could receive help with her related housing needs. To achieve this, the centre is building a network with community agencies to support two-way referrals for clients.

The centre brings together many services from the wider justice community. Clients can access online or printed self-help materials, or get help from legal information outreach workers and the civil resource counsellor. Family clients can work with family justice counsellors or the child support officer. Those who qualify financially can receive legal advice at the centre from either a paralegal or civil and family advice lawyers. A soon-to-be-hired Aboriginal legal community worker will be trained to offer information and advice about issues unique to Aboriginal clients. Financially eligible clients who qualify for legal representation for serious family matters can apply for legal aid right at the centre.

In future, the centre plans to have representatives of community agencies working on site and to offer courses, workshops, and community presentations for the public. For more information, see the new Justice Access Centre website.