Community Legal Assistance Society

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

CLAS 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]