2021 Annual General Meeting

The 2021 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Law Society of British Columbia was held virtually on Tuesday, October 5, 2021.

The business of the 2021 AGM included the following:

  • Vancouver County Bencher Jeevyn Dhaliwal, QC was acclaimed as the Law Society of BC’s Second Vice-President Election. She will serve as Second-Vice President in 2022, First Vice-President in 2023 and President in 2024.
  • Benchers’ report of proceedings since last meeting
  • Resolution 1: Member Resolution to solicit the membership's commitment to open debate on Practice Directive 59 and Notice to Profession 24 (re gender pronouns). The motion failed.

 

Advanced voting

In-meeting voting

Total votes

%

In favour

1368

47

1415

42.08%

Opposed

1869

79

1948

57.92%

Total votes

3237

126

3363

 

Total abstentions

334

10

344

 

Total participants

3571

136

  
 
  • Resolution 2: Member Resolution to implement changes to the Member Portal and Lawyer Directory regarding pronouns and forms of address. The motion passed.

 

Advanced voting

In-meeting voting

Total votes

%

In favour

2125

95

2220

69.07%

Opposed

977

17

994

30.93%

Total votes

3102

112

3214

 

Total abstentions

469

10

479

 

Total participants

3571

122

  
 
  • Resolution 3: Appointment of Law Society Auditors for 2021. The motion passed.

 

Advanced voting

In-meeting voting

Total votes

%

In favour

2768

85

2853

98.04%

Opposed

54

3

57

1.96%

Total votes

2822

88

2910

 

Total abstentions

749

8

757

 

Total participants

3571

96

  

 

  • Resolution 4: Benchers’ Resolution regarding authorizing Benchers to amend the Rules respecting general meetings to provide that in order to be considered at an annual general meeting, a resolution must be signed by at least 50 members of the Society in good standing at the time the request is received by the Executive Director. The motion failed. Note that section 12 of the Legal Profession Act requires the approval of two-thirds of members voting in a general meeting or referendum to permit the Benchers to make rule changes with respect to general meetings

 

Advanced voting

In-meeting voting

Total votes

%

In favour

1889

11

1900

59%

Opposed

1214

90

1304

41%

Total votes

3103

101

3204

 

Total abstentions

468

2

470

 

Total participants

3571

103

  
 
  • Resolution 5: Benchers’ Resolution regarding authorizing Benchers to amend the Rules respecting general meetings to provide the President as chair of the annual general meeting with the authority to determine in advance of any publication whether a member resolution submitted for consideration at the annual general meeting is in order, being reasonably related to the mandate or responsibilities of the Law Society or the Benchers, or to the regulation of the legal profession. The motion failed. Note that section 12 of the Legal Profession Act requires the approval of two-thirds of members voting in a general meeting or referendum to permit the Benchers to make rule changes with respect to general meetings.

 

Advanced voting

In-meeting voting

Total votes

%

In favour

1378

13

1391

46.11%

Opposed

1546

80

1626

53.89%

Total votes

2924

93

3017

 

Total abstentions

647

3

650

 

Total participants

3571

93

  

 

Email us at AGM@lsbc.org if you have any questions regarding the 2021 AGM.