Innovative Legal Self-Assessment Tool Now Available to Non-Profits
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The non-profit sector in BC consists of more than 27,000 non-profits generating $11 billion in revenue annually. The sector provides services and programs that touch virtually every citizen of BC. The Non Profit and Charities Legal Outreach (NPCLO) was founded to enable the sector to better access legal information, education and advice.
This fall, the NPCLO introduced a free new legal self-assessment tool for the non-profit sector. Its aim is to help identify legal flashpoints early and therefore reduce risks associated with any issues that may be present in five areas of law:
- governance
- privacy
- leasing/contracts
- employment
- human rights, and
- CRA compliance
Users of the tool will be better able to identify any gaps in legal compliance and take steps to rectify issues that get flagged in the process. Access the tool at lawfornonprofits.ca.
The self-assessment tool builds upon the curriculum of the successful “Preventing Legal Pitfalls Bootcamp” developed by lawyer Martha Rans (Legal Director of the Artists' Legal Outreach/NPCLO) and consultant Alison Brewin. The tool development and initial pilot was funded by the City of Vancouver and the Vancity Community Foundation Social Innovation Fund.
The project is in the second phase in the development of an integrated strategy to improve the access of non-profits to legal information, education and advice. The project team, led by Martha Rans, includes Alison Brewin, Rob Gloor, Ingrid Liepa and Tracey Axelsson.
This December, the first in the NLPCO's Legal Pitfalls for Non Profits workshop series begins with Privacy 101, and will be followed in 2015 with Employment and Human Rights 101, Leasing 101 and Contracts 101.
