About CLAS
Funders
The work of CLAS would not be possible without the generous support of our funders:
The Law Foundation of BC has been a major core funder of CLAS for over 30 years. They currently provide funding for our Community Law Program, Disability Law Program and the supervision of the Law Students’ Legal Advice Program.
The City of Vancouver Social Planning Department provides funding for the supervision of the Law Students’ Legal Advice Program.
The Department of Justice Canada is also providing funding for the supervision of a two-year Pilot Project carried out by the Law Students’ Legal Advice Program.
The Legal Services Society of BC has also been a major core funder of CLAS for over 30 years. They current provide funding for our Mental Health Law Program.
The BC Review Board, The BC Mental Health Society and The Forensic Psychiatric Services Commission have contributed to the funding of our Mental Health Law Program since September 2002.
The Ministry of the Attorney General of BC provides funding for our Human Rights Clinic, which commenced in July 2002.
CLAS also receives continued support, financial and otherwise, from a large number of individuals and groups. We thank each and every one of them for their generous support of CLAS!
HistoryCLAS’s roots go back to the late 1960's when a group of seminary students received government funding to facilitate community-based organizations in dealing with the social issues of the inner core of Vancouver. A law student group was part of this. The project was to last for only one summer, but it expanded into a fulltime program known as the Inner City Project and ran up until 1971. From the law student group the Vancouver Community Legal Assistance Society evolved and was incorporated as a Society in 1971. In 1988 we changed our name to the Community Legal Assistance Society to reflect the expansion our services to people throughout the province. Since its inception in 1971, CLAS has expanded from a staff of 5 to a staff of over 30, who operate five programs at four locations in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.
Programs
CLAS currently has a 33-member staff operating five programs from four different locations in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island:
- Community Law Program
- Disability Law Program
- Law Students’ Legal Advice Program
- Mental Health Law Program
- Human Rights Clinic
We have a 17 member Board of Directors made up of a unique mix of 7 lawyers, 7 community representatives, and 3 law students. The Board is responsible for the goal-setting and planning for our activities. Our Board also sponsors a number of committees comprised of community advocates, self-advocates, and representatives of community groups, the CLAS Board and CLAS staff. The Committees advise CLAS of the legal issues facing disadvantaged people in the province, make recommendations to our Board regarding litigation and law reform issues, and facilitate an ongoing interaction.
The current Board of Directors of CLAS is:
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Lawyers Bill Black |
Community Representatives Roberta Chapman
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Law Students Matthew DeBock |
Mission Statement and Philosophy
The purpose of the Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS) is to provide legal advice and assistance and to use and develop the law for the benefit of people who are physically, mentally, socially, economically or otherwise disadvantaged or whose human rights need protection.
Amended & Adopted by Board of Directors: March 7, 2005
The philosophy of CLAS is that disadvantaged individuals and groups can best achieve their legal objectives by working together under an "umbrella" organization and sharing the limited resources available. This is done by consultation, co-operation and compromise by the community, the CLAS Board and CLAS staff.