CLAS Programs

CLAS currently has over 35 staff members operating five programs:

Community and Disability Law Programs: CLAS has operated its Community Law Program since 1971, and its Disability Law Program since 1987. We currently have six lawyers practising in these areas, and we assist clients with issues relating to housing, income security, debt, accessibility for people with disabilities, WCB, and EI.

Mental Health Law Program: This program was created in 1977 to provide much needed legal services to persons with a mental disorder receiving regulated secured treatment in BC.  It is the only program of its kind in the province, and has become a model for the rest of Canada in the provision of these types of services.

BC Human Rights Clinic: We provide free legal representation for people throughout the province who have an upcoming human rights hearing before the the BC Human Rights Tribunal.  We also offer free weekly informational clinics for those who do not qualify for our representation or who otherwise want to represent themselves at hearing.

Community Advocate Support Line (CASL): CASL is a dedicated telephone support line exclusively for advocates and community workers in BC. It is staffed by a lawyer who can give advocates brief legal information and legal advice about family law and poverty law topics to support advocates' work on behalf of clients. Help is offered primarily for matters involving income assistance, residential tenancy and housing issues (including foreclosure), family law, employment insurance, the Canada Pension Plan (including disability benefits), debt collection and bankruptcy, consumer contracts and judicial reviews.

CLAS also supervises the Law Students’ Legal Advice Program, which provides legal assistance to low income individuals on a variety of legal matters. The LSLAP office can be reached at 604-822-5791.