The First Nations Legal Clinic is designed to engage law students in the issues that arise in providing legal services to disadvantaged members of the First Nations community. In requiring a practice component that includes real clients, lectures which focus both on substantive and professional issues and completion of a major term paper, students have a unique opportunity to gain practical experience in this area and to reflect on such experience.

First Nations clients include individuals, Band Councils, Aboriginal societies, organizations and groups. The Clinic focuses on legal matters confronting these parties. The students work part of the week at the First Nations Legal Clinic, situated at 50 Powell Street (in the Native Courtworkers office), and for the balance of the week attend classes at the university. The Clinic classes include direct instruction in the "lawyering process", such as interviewing skills, case evaluation and management, investigation, trial work, general advocacy, ethics and substantive law issues.

The British Columbia Public Interest Advocacy Centre (BCPIAC) is a non-profit, public interest law office. Its creation in 1981 reflected the fundamental belief that it should not only be the rich and powerful that are represented before our courts and regulators. For those bodies to function as they should, they must hear from all of those affected by their decisions. Our task is to provide representation to groups that would not otherwise have the resources to effectively assert their interests.

Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS) Society is a multi-faceted agency that develops innovative programs and creates strong partnerships with other organizations. PICS now provides employment services, health education, counselling programs, youth programs, English language, immigration/settlement services, drug/alcohol counselling, volunteer program, agricultural workers programs and seniors housing. A Seniors Assisted Living Facility is now open and we're also proud to provide services at our Seniors Day Centre for FREE! PICS will continue to be a strong advocate for the multicultural and immigrant community, particularly the South Asian community.