What We Do

How CLASP Works – Osgoode Hall Law Students work, volunteer, and get academic credit for their involvement in the Program.    The students answer the phones, do intake interviews, research legal issues, prepare legal documents and represent clients in court and at tribunals.    Before any of the students' work leaves the office it is reviewed by one of the three staff lawyers.    This program has the two-fold benefit of providing students with practical legal experience and providing these services free of charge to people living in the areas we serve and the local community.

 

The Divisions - CLASP has students that work in four divisions which represent the areas of law practiced by the clinic – Community Support, Criminal Justice and Women’s, Youth and Education, and Immigration.  For more information on the specifics of what issues each division deals with, please click on the links below. 

  • Community Support - this division is dedicated to serving the varied legal needs of people who live with mental health difference.
  • Criminal Justice and Women’s - this division represents people charged with summary criminal offences, with an emphasis on the priority client groups of the clinic, and, in particular, women who have experienced domestic violence.
  • Immigration - this division helps people in Canada, particularly newcomers, who are trying to gain legal status here. 
  • Youth and Education - this division is dedicated to serving the varied legal needs of youth up to the age of 25. 

 

What CLASP Does – The work of CLASP can be broadly broken up into five categories –

Legal Representation – The Osgoode Hall law students who work at CLASP, under the supervision of lawyers, can represent clients in certain circumstances.  The legal issue must be a matter where students are permitted to appear before the court or tribunal and all clients must, at a minimum, meet the financial criteria set by Legal Aid Ontario and live within the city of Toronto. Other criteria may also apply to the selection of particular cases.

Legal Advice – Students can also research specific legal questions and provide 'summary advice', which has been reviewed by the supervising CLASP lawyers.  This service also requires clients, at a minimum, meet the financial criteria set by Legal Aid Ontario and live within the city of Toronto.    Other criteria may also apply to the selection of particular cases.

Public Legal Education – CLASP also works to educate community members and service providers on relevant legal issues.  This is done in a variety of ways: presentations to different community groups, walkabouts in the community, and the posting of useful information on this website.

Law Reform – When a systemic problem in the law is identified, either by one of our client communities or through the representation of specific clients, students and counsel work with community members to start initiatives to change the law so that it better serves the interests of justice and the needs of the community.  

Community Development - CLASP works with community agencies to help them develop infrastructure and deal with the legal and practical challenges of implementing community projects and initiatives.