You and Your Rights
Helping the Public Know the Law
What is the Public Legal Education and Information Service of New Brunswick?
Public Legal Education and Information Service of New Brunswick (PLEIS-NB) is a non-profit, charitable organization that was set up in 1989 to provide New Brunswickers with information on the law. Based in Fredericton, PLEIS-NB offers law information products and services to the entire province.
Why do I need information on the law?
Information about the law is important because it can help you to:
- Understand how the legal system works
- Increase awareness of how the law affects your everyday activities
- Learn about specific areas of the law so you can act on your rights and responsibilities
- Improve your ability to deal with legal problems.
How will learning about the law help me?
Knowing your legal rights and obligations can help you make decisions and take action on matters that affect you. This might include making a consumer complaint, requesting your share of the marital property, defending yourself in provincial court or deciding whether to countersign a loan. People often find themselves in a legal crisis before contacting a lawyer. Background information about the law can help you know when you might need a lawyer and what to expect when you do go.
Does PLEIS-NB provide individual legal advice?
No. PLEIS-NB provides general legal information only. Having legal information may help you prevent or avoid legal problems. When you need specific legal advice, however, you should consult a lawyer.
Who is public legal education and information intended for?
Everyone. The law affects our daily lives in many ways form the food we eat, to the air we breathe, to the cars we drive. Birth, marriage, divorce and death are a few examples of important events covered by the law. The purpose of public legal education is to produce clear, easily understood information about the law. Having access to information and knowing more about the law benefits everyone.
What law information services does PLEIS-NB provide?
PLEIS-NB offers the public the following services: Publication Program: We research and publish a wide variety of pamphlets and other educational materials on topics ranging from criminal law, family law, and consumer law, to family violence, planning for the future and wills and estate planning. We also convert some of our law information materials into “alternative” formats such as audio tapes, Braille, games and quizzes.
- Family Law Line - 1-888-236-2444: We operate a toll-free family law information line that can answer general questions about accessing the family law system.
- Family Law Workshops for Self-represented litigants: These workshops are held in various locations around the province each month. They cover topics such as doing your own divorce, changing child support, and going to family court. They explain the general requirements for starting a family law action, how to complete and file court forms, and so on. After taking the workshop, individuals should feel more confident about navigating the family justice system.
- Speakers’ Bureau: We work collaboratively with the Canadian Bar Association – NB Branch to provide the public with lawyers who are willing to talk to your group free of charge about particular topics so that you can learn about the law.
Are your law information resources available online?
Yes, they are all available online. Check out these websites:
- PLEIS-NB www.legal-info-legale.nb.ca - Our main website features access to nearly 200 plain language publications on a wide range of legal topics. Created as a responsive site, it works equally well on your mobile devices.
- Family Law NB www.familylawnb.ca - This site offers general information and an abundance of helpful resources about family law in New Brunswick.
- Youth Justice www.youthjusticenb.ca - This site gives children and youth in New Brunswick access to booklets, videos and games that explain youth rights. The site also offers youth justice resources and lesson plans for parents and teachers.
- The Healing Journey www.thehealingjourney.ca - This site offers resources for people who are working in the area of family violence prevention for Aboriginal communities - both on- and off-reserve.
How does PLEIS-NB decide what legal issues or topics to cover?
We conduct research and try to address the needs of people who face particular challenges in accessing information. We work in close collaboration with community groups and organizations across the province and with many government departments. Recently, we created family law resources for immigrants in several languages. We welcome your suggestions and will try to respond to your needs as our resources permit.
PLEIS-NB receives funding and in-kind support from the federal Department of Justice Canada, the New Brunswick Law Foundation and the New Brunswick Department of Justice and Consumer Affairs. Disclaimer: Please note that our publications and website contain general information about the law. This is not a complete statement of the law on particular topics. We try to update our publications often, but laws change frequently so it is important for you to check to make sure the information is up to date. The information in our publications is not a substitute for legal advice. To receive legal advice about your specific situation, you need to speak to a lawyer.
Public Legal Education and Information Service of New Brunswick
P.O. Box 6000
Fredericton, New Brunswick
E3B 5H1
Tel: (506) 453-5369
Fax: (506) 462-9163
E-mail: pleisnb@web.ca
www.legal-info-legale.nb.ca
Revised March 2017
ISBN: 978-55471-741-5
Disclaimer: Please note that our website contains general information about the law. This is not a complete statement of the law on particular topics. We try to update our publications often, but laws change frequently so it is important for you to check to make sure the information is up to date. The information in our publications is not a substitute for legal advice. To receive legal advice about your specific situation, you need to speak to a lawyer.
