Community Legal Assistance Society, previously Vancouver Community Legal Assistance Society,[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, CLAS is often referred to as Canada's first community law office.[1] CLAS operates a BC Human Rights Clinic, a Mental Health Law Program, and a poverty law-focused Community Law Program.[2]
History
editCLAS 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.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Mike Harcourt". The Canadian Encyclopedia. March 4, 2015. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
- ^ "Programs - CLAS". CLAS. Community Legal Assistance Society.
- ^ Diack, George (July 6, 1971). "Gallery: Vancouverites in the 1970s". Vancouver Sun. Postmedia. Retrieved November 12, 2016.