QMUNITY's Legal Roadshow: An Interview with Nancy Brar, Staff Lawyer

At QMUNITY, our Legal Clinic serves queer, trans, and Two-Spirit people across British Columbia. While we provide services province-wide, our in-person Trans ID and fingerprinting clinics are currently based in Vancouver, creating barriers for community members living outside the Lower Mainland.

The Legal Roadshow Program was created to help close that gap. Through in-person visits, relationship-building, and skills-sharing, we aim to expand access to affirming legal support and help communities build sustainable, local capacity. We spoke with our Staff Lawyer and Manager of the Legal Roadshow, Nancy Brar, about the vision behind this initiative and the impact it will have across B.C.

"The Legal Roadshow Program’s creation was inspired by a desire to increase access to justice and build capacity for legal professionals to assist queer, trans and Two-Spirit folks across B.C." - Nancy Brar

Nancy Brar, QMUNITY Staff Lawyer & Manager of Legal Roadshow Program

What is the Legal Roadshow Program, and what inspired its creation? 

The Legal Roadshow Program’s creation was inspired by a desire to increase access to justice and build capacity for legal professionals to assist queer, trans and Two-Spirit folks across B.C. We recognize the challenges faced by folks outside of the Lower Mainland in accessing safe, inclusive and culturally competent legal services, and we aim to do the work of creating those integral networks and contacts in partnership with local community organizations. We will be attending in person to foster these connections and to provide legal education where it is needed about trauma-informed, culturally competent legal service.

We also intend to empower local organizations and legal professionals with the tools necessary to independently run their own trans ID clinics based on the needs of their local community members. We are aware that it is cost-prohibitive for most folks to travel to the Lower Mainland to access assistance and support for name and gender marker change applications. We also know that it can be quite daunting and intimidating for folks to try to complete those applications on their own in their communities. 

The application process involves filling out lengthy forms, having documents notarized and commissioned, and contacting police services for fingerprinting. There is added complexity for individuals whose circumstances do not fit the standard format of the forms.

Why is it important for QMUNITY to provide legal services outside of the Greater Vancouver Area? What are the gaps we see in legal services across the province? 

We are aware that rural communities in B.C. face significant barriers to accessing legal services, such as smaller groups of local lawyers available to take on files, long travel distances to courts, limited infrastructure, and limited legal aid. This reality is intensified for queer, trans and two-spirit folks residing in these rural communities who are more vulnerable to systemic access to justice issues. 

QMUNITY’s legal clinic’s mandate is to provide legal services for all queer, trans and two-spirit folks residing in British Columbia, so it is especially important to us that we honour that commitment and ensure no one is left behind.

What communities are you hoping to impact with this Legal Roadshow? And what do you expect the impact to look like?

We are hoping to positively impact rural communities outside of the Lower Mainland, which are often underserved. We expect that successful outcomes will look like: local organizations setting up their own trans ID clinics based on our blueprint and the needs of their community members, strong partnerships with local lawyers to provide pro bono legal services in tandem with our clinic, and increasing our capacity to serve rural community members across B.C. 

We hope to decrease barriers for access to justice for trans, queer and two-spirit community folks all across B.C.

What will a typical Legal Roadshow visit/stop look like?

We will be attending local 2SLGBTQIA+ events as well as partnering with local organizations to provide legal education and trans ID clinic services in-person. 

What role will local communities play in hosting the Legal Roadshow in their area? 

Local communities will be at the centre of our program as we respect the important work that local organizations are already doing for 2SLGBTQIA+ folks. We want to work collaboratively with and support local communities, not override existing efforts.

What message would you want to share with local organizations or communities who are considering partnering with QMUNTIY for the Legal Roadshow?

We want to hear from you what your community’s needs are, and we aim to provide the tools to help you succeed.

Please reach out to us, and we will arrange to come to you in-person, collaborate with respect to providing legal education at events, make connections with legal professionals in your community, and provide you with the training and tools you need to provide trans ID clinic services to the folks in your community.

You can contact me at nancy@qmunitylegalclinic.ca to get involved. 

Has anything surprised you or moved you in developing this program?

I am deeply moved by local community members who have already reached out to us and who are eager for us to begin this initiative. The excitement we’re hearing signals how essential this work really is and the difference we can make to the lives of 2SLGBTQIA+ folks all over B.C.

I am really looking forward to getting this show on the road!

“The excitement we’re hearing signals how essential this work really is and the difference we can make to the lives of 2SLGBTQIA+ folks all over B.C.” - Nancy Brar

The Legal Roadshow is about more than travel: it’s about connection, collaboration, and ensuring that geography does not determine access to services. By working alongside local organizations and legal professionals, we hope to support communities in developing their own Trans ID clinics and strengthening affirming legal networks across the province.

If your organization or community is interested in partnering with us, reach out to Nancy at nancy@qmunitylegalclinic.ca. We’re excited to build these connections and expand access to justice for 2SLGBTQIA+ people throughout B.C.

To find out more about QMUNITY's Legal Clinic and services visit our Legal Clinic web page.