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.