WEBVTT

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Court soon in British Columbia,

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and you cannot afford a

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criminal lawyer.

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Contact your courthouse about

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Criminal Duty counsel now.

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Apply to Legal Aid BC if you

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need a lawyer for the case.

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Keep your court date.

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Immediate courtroom help,

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emergency telephone advice and

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ongoing representation are

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different services, with

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different limits.

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Ask the court registry when

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duty counsel is available and

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confirm how you must attend.

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Have your court notice, release

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conditions and disclosure

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ready.

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Disclosure is the prosecution

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material for your case.

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Ask about language or

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accessibility needs.

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If you need more time to get

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advice, explain that to the

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court.

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An adjournment is a court

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decision.

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You do not have to meet a

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financial test for BC Criminal

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Duty counsel.

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They can explain charges,

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rights and procedures,

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represent you at a bail hearing

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and, if time permits, help with

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a guilty plea.

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This is limited assistance.

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Do not assume the same lawyer

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will prepare and conduct your

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trial.

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Confirm what help is available

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for your appearance.

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Contact a legal aid location or

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the call centre or start the

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online application process.

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Explain your court date and

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provide the requested case and

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financial records.

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If homelessness or another

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serious barrier makes proof

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difficult, tell Intake Now.

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Coverage and household income

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and assets matter.

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Early resolution help may be

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available without trial

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representation.

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Confirm the work approved and

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who will act.

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The Brydges line provides free

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emergency telephone advice

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throughout BC, 24 hours a day.

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It is for people arrested or

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detained, and people under

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active criminal investigation

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who are not yet charged and

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need emergency legal services.

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If police have detained you,

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ask to speak with a lawyer.

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A call for urgent advice does

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not itself arrange ongoing

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court representation.

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Read your refusal form

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immediately, it says whether

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review is available.

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A review request must be in

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writing, explain why you

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disagree and include supporting

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documents.

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Legal Aid BC will not consider

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a request received more than 30

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days after the intake decision.

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Keep proof of sending it and

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the outcome.

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A pending review does not

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cancel your court date.

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If legal aid is refused, you

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cannot afford counsel and a

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lawyer is essential to a fair

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trial, ask about a court

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application for publicly funded

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counsel.

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The court considers the

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seriousness and complexity of

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the case and your ability to

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defend it.

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The possible remedy is a stay

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until counsel is funded.

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This is an exceptional remedy

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requiring evidence, not

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automatic appointment.

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Keep legal aid decisions and

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available review results.

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Document your finances and

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reasonable efforts to pay for

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counsel from when you knew you

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needed a criminal lawyer.

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Today's empty bank balance

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alone is not enough.

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Get help with the application,

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affidavit, filing, and service

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on the required government

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parties.

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Constitutional notice normally

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requires 14 days before

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argument, unless the court

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permits less.

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An amicus is a lawyer appointed

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to assist the court, sometimes

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by testing the prosecution's

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case.

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They do not become your

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personal defence lawyer.

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Ask about their mandate and how

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communications are protected.

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Keep every required court

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appearance and tell the court

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what help you need.

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The judge can explain

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procedure, but cannot give

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defence strategy or guarantee

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more time.

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For free general legal

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information, Legal Hotline's

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Canada number is on your screen

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now.

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Legal Hotline is not a law

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firm.

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Its information line uses AI.

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Lawyer matching is a separate

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service, subject to

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availability and acceptance.

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For advice on your own

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situation, speak with a lawyer

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in your province.

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In immediate danger, contact

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emergency services.