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 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. "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. Archived from the original on 2016-11-13. 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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