Poverty Law

The oldest part of the CLAS’s Community Law Program is its poverty law component, which has operated since 1971. The program consists of a blend of services cases, Charter and test cases, law reform, legal supervision of legal advocacy groups, public legal education, and legal support to community groups. 

Test cases are undertaken which advance the goal of alleviating the poverty of disadvantaged persons in British Columbia, including challenges under the Charter.

The legal support to community groups and law reform initiatives are primarily carried out through participation in the Front Line Advocacy Workers (FLAW) monthly meetings, held at CLAS, and participation in the activities of the federated anti-poverty groups of BC (fapg). 

CLAS also provides ongoing training for paralegals and workshops for various community groups and lay advocates throughout the province relating to poverty law issues.