for Lawyers

Opportunities for lawyers

At Rise, there are many ways in which we collaborate with lawyers across the province. We are very grateful to lawyers who volunteer with us to provide summary advice to our clients, serve as conflict counsel, provide their expertise in legal matters, and partner with us through research and training.

Through our work, we have identified gaps in the family law system related to understanding abuse and screening for family violence. To address these gaps, we provide on-going training on family violence for lawyers.

Trainings ‍ ‍Volunteer

Online Training For Lawyers

Rise Professional Legal Education is a CPD-accredited training platform that provides practical training for lawyers. Because most of our clients are experiencing or have experienced family violence, our courses focus on understanding abuse, screening for family violence, and supporting clients through trauma-informed practice.

Developed with legal and community experts, our training combines essential theory and case law with clear, useful strategies lawyers can apply immediately. Our goal is to help lawyers navigate sensitive situations, strengthen their skills, and provide safer, more effective services.

View Courses

Volunteer With Us

As a community legal centre, we provide our self-representing clients (persons who identify as women or gender diverse) with free virtual summary advice service. Virtual services allow lawyers to provide legal advice from anywhere in the province, assisting clients in rural, remote and northern communities, where there is a significant lack of legal resources and lack of family lawyers.

Volunteer lawyers do not provide representation.

Requirements to volunteer

You are a practicing lawyer in British Columbia. Rise primarily assists clients in family law matters.
You can provide summary advice service to at least three clients a year with a minimum of 3 hours per client.
You complete the online volunteer lawyer training course prior to working with clients, for which you can avail 3.5 CPD credits.

Volunteer Application Process

Step 1: Fill out the volunteer application form

Step 2: Once you submit the application form and your resume, we will reach out to you if we determine you are a suitable applicant for our client needs.

Step 3: If your application is accepted, you will be directed to book an appointment with the Virtual Legal Clinic lawyer for a quick online meeting.

Step 4: After the initial meeting with the lawyer, you will receive a link to complete an online training course.

Step 5: Once you complete the course, you can start receiving client files.

See FAQs for answers on the process and expectations for volunteer lawyers.

If you have any questions, email vlc@womenslegalcentre.ca

“I have volunteered with the VLC program for some years now and continue to take great satisfaction from it. I know accessing legal services in remote communities is difficult at best and the need is so great, and in particular for women facing financial challenges. The VLC staff and client advocates do all of the leg work and provide the necessary background so I can focus on giving advice. It is a very efficient process, and a great use of a lawyer’s skill set, and I would recommend it to anyone looking to do effective and meaningful pro bono work.”

— Patrick Grayer, volunteer lawyer since 2019