Legal Aid BC (“LABC”) is well known for helping people with representation for criminal charges; what’s not well known is that LABC helps more than one million people each year through legal assistance programs. While tens of thousands are assisted in-person by legal information specialists, Indigenous paralegals, the Family LawLine and a network of local agents and community partners, it is through technology that LABC supports the most people when they need it. More than 2000 people each day visit the Family Law in BC site to research the law, find forms and use self-help guides on court processes. Recognizing the demand and the potential to increase access to justice for low-income people, LABC considered how to leverage technology to go beyond information and provide actual solutions to legal problems. The Family Resolution Centre is the next step in the journey of technology driven legal assistance, and introduces free, online mediation to the MyLawBC platform.

MyLawBC empowers people to achieve resolutions for everyday legal problems. It identifies issues, educates and provides options for solutions. Users actively engage, working through a series of questions and answers about their situation. They are guided along a path that culminates in a customized action plan that suggests next steps and options for low cost, unbundled or free legal and mediation services. The new Family Resolution Centre (“FRC”) makes mediation available at the user’s fingertips. The FRC is a secured site within MyLawBC focused on parenting conflicts. Before registering to access it, users self-assess to see if online dispute resolution is the right tool for them. A guided pathway explores whether power balances or abuse issues exist such that online dispute resolution is not appropriate. Once in the FRC, the format is similar to the Dialogue Tool, MyLawBC’s secured site to negotiate comprehensive separation agreements. The FRC encourages parents to consider what may be best for their children, exchange proposals, and chat about options. If they reach a consensus, the system generates a plan that can be made into a formal agreement or consent order. If the parents reach an impasse, a mediator can help. After screening for violence, the mediator provides up to five hours of online mediation to assist in reaching an agreement. Mediations are text based, include online breakout rooms and there is the opportunity for in-person conversation if the parties desire. Parents who are uncertain about online dispute resolution (“ODR”), mediation or the process can request a coach to give them information before they start. A guide with more information is available online.

ODR is an important adjunct to existing family services. It offers accessible, early intervention to prevent family disputes from escalating. It is available to anyone, anywhere, with Internet access. The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted how important online services are to access to justice. The FRC provides a new means to cost effective, timely and lasting solutions for families experiencing conflict. Parents who can resolve their issues with online support are triaged away from higher cost justice services, leaving greater capacity in the system for more complex matters. Parents who are supported to resolve issues online are benefiting not only themselves, but legal aid and the justice system as a whole. Those of modest means can help make the most of their budget for legal services and deepen their understanding of their legal situations by using resources like MyLawBC. Funding from the Notaries Foundation, the Law Foundation, and the Province of BC enable LABC to provide innovative legal assistance programs that improve British Columbians’ access to justice.