What is CLASP?

The Community Legal Advocate Supervision Program (CLASP) (currently a pilot program) provides free legal supervision for Community Law Advocates funded by the Law Foundation by lawyers experienced in community law.  

Areas of Law

CLASP’s four full-time lawyers provide supervision, mentorship and multi-faceted support in all areas of law within scope of Law Foundation funded Community Law Advocates including: 

  • Income assistance 
  • Tenancy Law – both RTA/MHPTA and non-RTA issues 
  • Debt and Consumer Law 
  • Employment Standards 
  • Aboriginal Law basics 
  • Civil Resolution Tribunal  

Wrap-Around Supervision

CLASP Advocates have access to supervision through: 

  • Weekly 1-on-1 meetings
    • Each advocate has a dedicated 1-hour weekly video call with a CLASP lawyer. During these meetings, the advocate and lawyer will review the advocate’s open full-representation file list, consult on summary advice files as needed, discuss general questions or client issues and close files.  
  • Office Hours
    • Each CLASP lawyer holds weekly office hours where any CLASP advocate is welcome to attend to talk about any issue.  
  • Email and Phone
    • CLASP lawyers are available by phone and email for follow-up questions or urgent matters. 

CLASP assigns two lawyers to each advocacy organization to ensure consistent access to legal supervision.  

Services

  • File Support 
    • CLASP provides individualized supervision of full-representation and summary advice files. Support may include assistance with issue spotting, document drafting, hearing preparation, and client management. CLASP also provides guidance on substantive legal issues and ethical questions. 
  • Mentorship 
    • CLASP supports the professional development of advocates by providing feedback, training, and resources.  
  • Systems Support 
    • CLASP supports the systems operations development of advocate organizations, including assistance with file management, client confidentiality and conflict check systems.  

Working with CLASP

If your organization has a Community Law Advocate funded by the Law Foundation, and you are interested in learning more about legal advocate supervision from CLASP, please email [email protected] for more information.