How To Use The Map
ProBonoMap.bc.ca is designed to provide a simple, user-friendly way of locating pro bono (free) legal services in various British Columbia communities. You may search for services, locations and times through either the Quick Search panel or the Advanced Search panel.Quick Search
1. As an option, you may enter any keyword into the 'Keyword Search' field, such as a particular service (e.g. advice, representation), a particular area of law (e.g. family, criminal) or a particular type of clientele (e.g. women, students).
2. You must choose a location from the drop-down menu. Each city or town that offers pro bono legal services is included in the menu.
3. You must choose one or more types of service. To learn more about what each service includes, click on the information circle directly to the right of each service type, or scroll through the 'Service Types' page accessible from the 'About the Map' drop-down menu.
4. Click on the 'Search' button.
5. In the 'Search Results' panel, you will see an alphabetical list of the pro bono service providers and sites which match your search criteria. In the map panel to the right, you will see the geographic location of each site. 10 sites are included per page, so you may need to click on several pages to see the full range of providers and sites. You should read the provider descriptions in order to understand how each provider delivers its services.
6. Once you have located a particular service site of interest, you should click on either the corresponding coloured pin in the 'Search Results' panel or the corresponding coloured pin in the map panel. An information bubble will then appear in the map panel.
7. Each information bubble features three tabs: 'Main', 'Services' and 'Times'. You should click on 'Main' to see the contact information for the service site, the provider's website address, and how to get printable directions from your address to the site (enter your postal code and click on the 'Submit' button). You should click on the 'Services' tab to see the type of services provided, the languages offered, the clientele accepted and any service restrictions. Finally, you should click on 'Times' to see when the site is open, and whether appointments are drop-in or made over the telephone by calling the number provided.
8. To change your search at any time, you should click on 'Modify Search' located in the top left-hand panel. This will route you back to the original search panels.
Advanced Search
1. You must enter your postal code in the 'Your Location' field. If you do not know a postal code from your location, then you can search by city or town in the 'Quick Search' panel instead.
2. You must choose one or more types of service. To learn more about what each service includes, click on the information circle directly to the right of each service type, or scroll through the 'Service Types' page accessible from the 'About the Map' drop-down menu.
3. As an option, you may also search according to 'Area(s) of Law'. You may choose as many or as few areas of law as you prefer. Your search will be limited to only those areas of law that you selected. If you do not choose any areas of law, then ProBonoMap.bc.ca will automatically list all areas of law that match your other search criteria.
4. As a further option, you may search according to 'Clientele'. You may choose as many or as few types of clientele as you prefer. Your search will be limited to only those types of clientele that you selected. If you do not choose any types of clientele, then ProBonoMap.bc.ca will automatically list all types of clientele that match your other search criteria.
5. As a final option, you may search according to 'Language(s)'. English is set as the default language, but you may choose as many or as few languages as you prefer. Your search will be limited to only those languages that you selected. If you do not choose any types of languages, then ProBonoMap.bc.ca will automatically list all languages that match your other search criteria.
6. Once you have selected your search criteria, you should click on the 'Search' button.
7. In the 'Search Results' panel, you will see an alphabetical list of the pro bono service providers and sites which match your search criteria. In the map panel to the right, you will see the geographic location of each site. 10 sites are included per page, so you may need to click on several pages to see the full range of providers and sites. You should read the provider descriptions in order to understand how each provider delivers their services.
8. Once you have located a particular service site of interest, you should click on either the corresponding coloured pin in the 'Search Results' panel or the corresponding coloured pin in the map panel. An information bubble will then appear in the map panel.
9. Each information bubble features three tabs: 'Main', 'Services' and 'Times'. You should click on 'Main' to see the contact information for the service site, the provider's website address, and how to get printable directions from your address to the site (click on 'Get Directions'). You should click on the 'Services' tab to see the type of services provided, the languages offered, the clientele accepted and any service restrictions. Finally, you should click on 'Times' to see when the site is open, and whether appointments are drop-in or made over the telephone by calling the number provided.
10. To change your search at any time, you should click on 'Modify Search' located in the top left-hand panel. This will route you back to the original search panels.