Justice Access Centres Pilot Projects
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The Justice Access Centre pilot project in Nanaimo tests an integrated approach to helping clients reach early and affordable solutions to their justice problems, including debt, consumer problems, housing and other civil or family law matters.
The project was developed in response to recommendations made by the B.C. Civil Justice Reform Working Group and the B.C. Family Justice Reform Working Group, both of which recommended information and service "centres" or “hubs” be established. The working groups recognized that:
- the lack of services and the failure to co-ordinate existing services makes it difficult for people to use the justice system;
- providing information and services early is the best way to help people prevent legal problems from arising and to resolve problems quickly when they do occur.
The Nanaimo Justice Access Centre provides a location where people can benefit from a range of legal information, advice, mediation and other services that will help them resolve their justice problems. Rather than just looking to the court for an answer, there will be a focus on looking at problems more broadly and being open to a wider range of possible solutions.
The centre provides:
- self-help resources;
- family and civil client needs assessment and referrals to other agencies;
- family mediation and dispute resolution; and
- limited legal advice.
Services may be delivered by service providers located at the centre, or through referrals to providers in the community.
The Ministry of Attorney General and the Legal Services Society are partners in the Nanaimo Justice Access Centre pilot project. The pilot project brings together legal, pro bono, advocacy, community agency and government or government agency services and is funded, in part, through grants from the Law Foundation of BC.
The Nanaimo Justice Access Centre opened in late October 2008. More information about the Nanaimo centre is available on the Justice Access Centre website and in this news release.
A justice access centre will be opening in Vancouver in early 2009. More information will be available soon.
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