Rise is a community legal centre providing accessible legal services that are responsive to the unique needs of self-identifying women. Rise clients are often caught in the gap between being ineligible for legal services yet unable to afford legal representation. Rise offers unbundled legal services in the area of family law, and can also assist with some immigration matters.

Rise came into being as the result of a partnership between the Peter A. Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia and West Coast Legal Education and Action Fund. Many of the services offered at Rise are provided by upper-year law students from the Allard School of Law, under the close supervision of practising lawyers. Rise also offers legal support to family law advocates, transition house workers, and settlement workers. Rise services include:

Summary Advice – whereby a student or a volunteer lawyer can provide general and basic information about a person’s legal rights, duties and options.

Unbundled Legal Services – whereby lawyers take only certain parts of a client’s legal matter.  Students can assist with discrete legal tasks such as drafting court documents or separation agreements, conducting legal research, and providing written legal opinions or mediation briefs. Rise can provide unbundled services for matters relevant to both Provincial and Supreme Court, but do not generally attend Supreme Court.

Preparing for Court - A Rise student may be able to help clients prepare for your court appearance so that  they will have a better understanding of what to expect in court.

Referrals - If Rise is unable to assist with a specific legal matter, they may be able to refer clients to other appropriate services and organizations. Rise may also be able to help people apply for legal aid coverage if they are eligible.