This section attempts to put the current situation of legal aid in British Columbia in a historical context. There are many more reports that provide an overview of the history but these are some that provide the necessary scope.

The Beveridge Report
Anne Beveridge wrote a comprehensive summary of the history of legal aid in BC for the Public Coalition on Legal Aid, in December, 2009.

Moving Forward on Legal Aid
Melina Buckley notes in her paper for the Canadian Bar Association that organized pro bono services grew significantly in Canada in the 1950s and 1960s. Ontario was the first to create a legal aid program in 1951. British Columbia followed in 1970.

The SPARC Report
This report focuses on the effects of legal aid cutbacks on poverty law services,. While it was written in 2004, the SPARC report remains relevant today.