Terms of use

Below are the terms of use (the “terms of use”) for peopleslawschool.ca, as well as our sister sites, Dial-A-Law and Unbundled Legal Services (each being a "website"). Please read them carefully. 

At this point, you might be asking: Wait, what are “terms of use”? Good question. The terms of use are a set of rules for using the website. They make sure our users understand the scope of the information we provide. 

We also have a privacy policy. Where the terms of use protect us, the privacy policy protects you. It explains how we store and use your personal information. You should read it. The terms of use and the privacy policy are a package deal.

At People’s, we pride ourselves on explaining everyday legal concepts in language everyone can understand — not just lawyers! No “thereunto”s and “notwithstanding”s here.

That said, some of the legal concepts below are complicated. And sometimes we have to go into the legal weeds, well … for legal reasons. But whenever we do that, we first offer a plain language summary of the legal terms that follow. We hope it helps. 

Use of this website is governed by the laws that apply in the province of British Columbia.

We may update these terms of use at any time, without advance notice. Any changes or amendments become effective when we post the revised terms on this page. You can see when the terms were last revised by looking at the “last updated” section at the top. It’s up to you to review these terms periodically for changes. Your continued use of our website after any changes or amendments to the terms means you’ve accepted the new terms.

People’s Law School encourages and appreciates comments to our website and our accounts on Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms that contribute to thoughtful, constructive, and respectful discussion. Comments may or may not be published to our website or other platforms. Comments reflect the views and opinions of the user that posted them. 

We reserve the right to review, monitor, and prohibit comments, without notice, for any reason. But we might not catch all the ones that don’t belong. (We’re a non-profit, after all, and so our resources are limited!) We assume no responsibility for users’ comments. Nor do we assume any obligation to monitor, modify, or remove any inappropriate comments. We reserve the right to edit or delete any comment we feel is contrary to our best interests and reputation.

When you submit a question to People’s Law School using the website, you agree not to include any personal information that could identify you, other than your first name and email address. How we use and store your information is governed by our privacy policy.

It’s very important that you understand that we aren’t acting as your lawyer. Using the website, submitting a question to the website, or emailing our staff is not intended to create a solicitor-client relationship. 

When you submit a question to People’s Law School, you agree that the question and any response may be published on the site. People’s Law School reserves the right to edit your question before publishing it. We also reserve the right not to publish your question.

When you submit a question to us, you agree that we can follow up with other free legal information. (We offer an unsubscribe option so you can stop getting these updates if you don't find them helpful.)

At People’s Law School, we believe accurate, plain English information can help people take action to work out their legal problems.

Our information is not intended as legal advice

The information on this website explains in a general way the law that applies in British Columbia. 

Similarly, information provided in any email or response from staff or volunteers associated with People’s Law School explains in a general way the law that applies in British Columbia. 

Templates provided on this website are samples only. They are not intended as legal advice.

What’s the difference between legal information and legal advice?

Legal information explains the law in general terms. It can discuss options and possible next steps. Legal advice applies the law to a client’s unique situation. It includes recommending a particular option or next step, or assuring a client that, indeed, this information applies to them. 

We recommend that you consult a legal professional in British Columbia if you want recommendations on what steps to take next, or assurance that certain information is appropriate to your circumstances.

The scenarios we refer to reflect real experiences, but names and images have been changed to protect people's privacy. The user stories are included to help you think about how to deal with your own situation.

The inclusion of a link to another site should not be taken as an endorsement by People’s Law School of that other site. Nor should it be taken as establishing any association with the operators of that other site. People’s Law School has no control over the availability of the linked pages.

Where another website has embedded content from this website, People’s Law School assumes no responsibility for any other content on that website. The inclusion of People’s Law School content on another site should not be taken as an endorsement by People’s Law School of that other site. Nor should it be taken as establishing any association with the operators of that other site.

Availability of our website 24/7 can’t be guaranteed. Downtime happens, so don’t rely on us as your sole source of legal information.

We cannot guarantee that our website remains available at all times. And sometimes, laws change. We update our information continuously, but there may be instances where People’s content is out of date. We disclaim any liability for damages resulting from such problems. 

The website may be available through certain mobile devices. You acknowledge and agree that we are not responsible for ensuring that your mobile device’s software is compatible for you to access the website through your mobile device. 

We may immediately terminate your ability to access the website at any time, for any reason, with or without notice.

Here’s a broad disclaimer our lawyers make us include. Basically: you use this website at your own risk. We can’t guarantee it will be free from viruses, nor can we guarantee that the information will always be 100% accurate. (We certainly aim for that, but the laws that we break down for you do change, and it takes time to update things.)

We, our affiliates, subsidiaries, directors, officers, employees, advisors and agents make no representations or warranties of any kind that access to the website will be uninterrupted, without delay or failure, or the accuracy or the completeness of the data provided. To the fullest extent permitted by law, all warranties of any type, express or implied, are expressly disclaimed. Any information or material accessed or otherwise obtained through the use of the website or services by any means of access whatsoever is at your own discretion and risk and you will be solely responsible for any damage to your computer system, loss of data, failure to transmit data or any other loss that results from accessing, using or relying on any such material. We do not warrant that the website is free of contaminating or other harmful components.

We do not warrant, endorse, guarantee, provide any conditions or representations, or assume any responsibility for any product or service advertised or offered by linked sites and we will not be a party to any transaction that you may enter into with any such third party.

This next paragraph deals with limitation of liability. More fifty-dollar words. This follows on the last section, and confirms that you won’t hold us liable for any problems that result from your use of the website.

You expressly agree that your use of the website or services is at your sole risk. We are not liable under contract law, tort law, or otherwise, for any damages of any kind arising from your use of this website or any information on the website. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in no event will we be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, consequential, exemplary, or other damages (including damages for loss of data or profit, or any other pecuniary loss, arising out of the use, or inability to use, the website). These limitations will apply even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages. These limitations will apply to the fullest extent permitted by law.

In this next bit, you’re agreeing to cover any costs we incur as a result of your wrongful use of the website. (For example, if you try to infect our server with a virus. But who would want to do such a thing?) 

You will indemnify and hold People’s, its affiliates and each of their officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any and all claims, threats, actions, proceedings, demands, damages, losses, obligations, costs, and expenses including reasonable lawyers' fees, made by any third party due to any violation by you of these terms, or any violation by you of any rights of another (including all intellectual property rights and rights of publicity, personality or privacy).

You expressly acknowledge that we’re making this website available to you in reliance upon the limitations and exclusions of liability and the disclaimers in these terms of use and that the same form an essential basis of these terms of use. You expressly agree that these limitations, exclusions of liability, and disclaimers will survive and continue to apply in the case of a fundamental breach or breaches of, the failure of essential purpose of contract, the failure of any exclusive remedy or the termination or suspension by us of your use of, or access to, the website.

The content on the People’s Law School website, except for the images and videos, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International Licence (“CC BY-NC-SA 4.0”).

CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 is an open licence — an alternative to traditional copyright that enables and encourages sharing of intellectual property. Except for the images, you are free to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format, and to adapt, remix, and build upon the material under the following terms:

• Attribution. You must give credit to People’s Law School. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests People’s Law School endorses you or your use.

• Non-commercial. You may not use the material for commercial purposes.

• ShareAlike. If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your work under the same CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.

The images and video on the People’s Law School website, including the photographs and design elements such as logos and icons, are not covered by the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence. Nothing in these terms of use should be interpreted as giving direct or indirect permission to use images from this website. The sole exception is that use of the images is permitted as part of embedding content from the People’s Law School website on your own website using the embed builder on our site.

People’s Law School is pleased to be part of a global movement of public institutions, governments, and not-for-profit organizations who have chosen to adopt open licensing policies. Open licences provide a standard way for content creators to grant someone else permission to use their work. In doing so, we believe we are demonstrating our commitment to information sharing and building capacity for social innovation in the community.

The People’s Law School open licensing approach is adapted from the Hewlett Foundation Open Licensing Toolkit for Staff from the Hewlett Foundation and the Vancouver Foundation Open Licensing Policy from the Vancouver Foundation.

The permission to embed People’s Law School content on your website is based on the following terms:

• You will not alter the appearance of any logos or taglines in the embedded content without written authorization from People’s Law School.

• You will not use the People’s Law School name, logo, or link in a way that implies sponsorship or endorsement by People’s Law School.

• You will not make negative or disparaging references to People’s Law School.

• You agree that your website will not contain material that:

  • is obscene, libelous, or defamatory,

  • infringes any other entity's intellectual property rights,

  • infringes upon or violates any applicable law, or

  • in any manner is determined by People’s Law School, in its sole discretion, to be contrary to its best interests and reputation.

• People’s Law School may terminate your rights to participate in content embedding at any time, for any reason, by written notice, to take effect as soon as you receive it.

• People’s Law School will not be liable to you for any damages or other losses of any type arising from embedding its content, including indirect, consequential, or punitive damages.

• Participating in content embedding does not create a relationship of agency, partnership, or joint venture between you and People’s Law School, and neither party will be entitled to bind or represent the other party.