Community Legal Assistance Society

Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS), which previously went by the name Vancouver Community Legal Assistance Society (V-CLAS),[1] is a is a non-governmental organization in British Columbia, Canada which provides legal services to low- and moderate-income persons in the areas of mental health law, human rights law, and poverty law. Founded in 1971,[2] CLAS is often referred to as Canada's first community law office.[1] CLAS operates a BC Human Rights Clinic,[3] a Mental Health Law Program,[4] and a poverty law-focused Community Law Program.

History

CLAS was founded by future British Columbia premier Mike Harcourt.[1] In the summer of 1971, it opened its first office at 527 East Broadway in Vancouver.[5] Its staff have been considered leaders in the field of disability and human rights law[6][7] and the Supreme Court of Canada has noted how frequently CLAS represents accused persons with mental health issues.[8] CLAS is billed as seeking to advance access to justice through the use of innovative legal tools.[9] For instance, when a lawyer at CLAS, former MLA, Ian Waddell launched the first successful consumer class action in Canada.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Mike Harcourt". The Canadian Encyclopedia. March 4, 2015. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Community Legal Assistance Society". Linkedin. 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  3. ↑ "BC Human Rights Clinic". 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Patient Rights & Advocacy". BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services. 2015. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  5. ↑ Diack, George (July 6, 1971). "Gallery: Vancouverites in the 1970s". Vancouver Sun. Postmedia. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Pearson Residents' Website". George Pearson Centre Residents. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Outstanding Lawyers Honoured With Bar Awards". Nasdaq, Inc. Market Wired. June 24, 2014. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Mazzei v. British Columbia (Director of Adult Forensic Psychiatric Services)". Lexum. 2006-03-16. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Advocacy Programs". Access Pro Bono Society of British Columbia. Retrieved 2016-11-12.
  10. ↑ Mulgrew, Ian. "Ian Mulgrew: Lawyer's BC Hydro fight was class-action genesis". www.vancouversun.com. Retrieved 2016-10-14.

See also


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