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. CLAS believes that these legal objectives can best be met by working together under an umbrella organization in order to share the limited resources available.

CLAS, which has a 36 member staff operating five programs from three different locations in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, works together in consultation and cooperation with the community.