There are free lawyers available in Fort St. John and no one is using them.

S.U.C.C.E.S.S., the Northern BC Newcomers Integration Service Centre, is providing pro bono lawyer service in Fort St. John, but so far there hasn't been that much of a local response in the five months it's been in operation.

Access Pro Bono is a legal advice clinic for anyone who needs a lawyer, not just immigrants, who are the usual demographic for S.U.C.C.E.S.S. The clinic operates an average of two or three times a month, but the appointment times aren’t nearly being filled.

“We have lawyers interested in providing the service and we feel bad when we have booked one appointment for them when we have had four appointments available,” said local S.U.C.C.E.S.S. settlement officer Susie Furman.

“They are really busy here and that’s the part we really appreciate because the lawyers know and they are making a little bit of space in their days...to be able to give that free service for some of the people that cannot afford them.”

There are almost 400 volunteer lawyers across the province providing service to Access Pro Bono in family, civil, criminal and immigration law.

“Mainly the lawyers are the ones keeping the service available to the people and without them, we wouldn’t exist.”

Qualification for the services is based on minimum income per month after taxes and according to family size.

Furman said she knows there are people in the Fort St. John community who are need of this kind of service, they’re just not taking advantage of the opportunity. If the need grows, they can increase the amount of services provided.

Access Pro Bono serves the region in Chetwynd and Hudson’s Hope, though Dawson Creek already has its own pro bono law program.

For more information, contact Furman at 250-785-5323 ext. 24 or call toll free at 1-877-762-6664 or check it out online at www.accessjustice.ca.