Center for Law and Social Policy
Encyclopedia
The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) is a Washington, D.C.
-based organization that advocates for policies aimed at improving the lives of low-income people.
and concerned that decision-making in government and traditional legal practice failed to consider important issues and constituencies. At the time, although public interest law existed as a concept, there was no legal organization entirely dedicated to it; the organization filled this void and quickly attracted legal professionals who wished to work in this area.
In its first few years, the organization began addressing women's rights
, mine health and safety, international affairs, including environmental issues and human rights
, and employment.
In 1982, under a new executive director, Alan W. Houseman, the organization shifted its focus from general public interest law to extensive anti-poverty policy, with particular emphasis on child and family poverty and civil legal assistance.
Today, the organization focuses on policy solutions in the areas of child care and early education, child welfare, postsecondary education, workforce development, disadvantaged youth, and civil legal assistance.
The organization employs several policy specialists, each of whom focuses on one of the organization’s issue areas. These experts publish research pieces and advocacy writing and testify before Congress and other government groups to promote its low-income policy.
In 2010, CLASP was selected by Philanthropedia as one of the leading nonprofits in the area of workforce development.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
-based organization that advocates for policies aimed at improving the lives of low-income people.
History and work
CLASP was founded in August 1969 by four lawyers energized by the success of the Civil Rights MovementCivil rights movement
The civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change by nonviolent forms of resistance. In some situations it was...
and concerned that decision-making in government and traditional legal practice failed to consider important issues and constituencies. At the time, although public interest law existed as a concept, there was no legal organization entirely dedicated to it; the organization filled this void and quickly attracted legal professionals who wished to work in this area.
In its first few years, the organization began addressing women's rights
Women's rights
Women's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
, mine health and safety, international affairs, including environmental issues and human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
, and employment.
In 1982, under a new executive director, Alan W. Houseman, the organization shifted its focus from general public interest law to extensive anti-poverty policy, with particular emphasis on child and family poverty and civil legal assistance.
Today, the organization focuses on policy solutions in the areas of child care and early education, child welfare, postsecondary education, workforce development, disadvantaged youth, and civil legal assistance.
The organization employs several policy specialists, each of whom focuses on one of the organization’s issue areas. These experts publish research pieces and advocacy writing and testify before Congress and other government groups to promote its low-income policy.
In 2010, CLASP was selected by Philanthropedia as one of the leading nonprofits in the area of workforce development.