Benchers

The work of the Law Society is overseen by a volunteer board of governors called Benchers.

Benchers establish the Law Society Rules, the Code of Professional Conduct for British Columbia and board policies, including governance policies. The Benchers also oversee the implementation and administration of programs carried out by the Law Society staff.

The president is the chief elected official of the Law Society, and serves a one-year term in that position. With the exception of the president and vice-presidents, all Benchers volunteer their time to the Law Society, which is a considerable commitment given the frequent meetings and committee responsibilities.

There are two types of Benchers:

  • Elected Benchers: 25 lawyers who are elected by other lawyers in nine regions across BC. Benchers serve minimum two-year terms and can be re-elected.
  • Appointed Benchers: up to six non-lawyers who are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

The Attorney General of BC is also a Bencher although, in practice, the Deputy Attorney General attends Bencher meetings on the Attorney General's behalf.

Bencher meeting agendas and minutes

Bencher meeting dates

Bencher elections

Presidents and Treasurers, 1869 to present

Elected Benchers

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Vancouver County
Jeevyn Dhaliwal, KC
President
Larlee, Rosenberg, Barristers & Solicitors
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Vancouver County
Brook Greenberg, KC
First Vice-President
Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
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Victoria County
Lindsay R. LeBlanc, KC
Second Vice-President
Cox Taylor
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Vancouver County
Aleem Bharmal, KC
Community Legal Assistance Society
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Vancouver County
Tanya Chamberlain
Tanya Chamberlain Family Law
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Vancouver County
Nikki L. Charlton
Farris LLP
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Vancouver County
Jennifer Chow, KC
Department of Justice Canada
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Vancouver County
Christina J. Cook
BC First Nations Justice Council
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Vancouver County
Cheryl D'Sa, KC
Narwal Litigation LLP
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Vancouver County
Tim Delaney
Lindsay Kenney LLP
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Nanaimo County
Brian Dybwad
Parents Legal Centre
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Vancouver County
Ravi R. Hira, KC
Hira Rowan LLP
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Victoria County
James A.S. Legh
Stevenson Luchies & Legh
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Cariboo County
Benjamin D. Levine
Levine & Company
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Westminster County
Jaspreet Singh Malik
South Fraser Law Group
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Kamloops District
Jay Michi
James Michi Law Corporation
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Cariboo County
Georges Rivard
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Westminster County
Gurminder Sandhu, KC
Hamilton Duncan Law Corporation
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Westminster County
Thomas L. Spraggs
Spraggs & Co. Law Corporation
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Kootenay County
Barbara Stanley, KC
Stanley Law
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Vancouver County
James Struthers
macushlaw
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Okanagan District
Michael F. Welsh, KC
Michael F. Welsh Law Corporation
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Vancouver County
Kevin B. Westell
Pender Litigation
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Vancouver County
Gaynor C. Yeung
Whitelaw Twining
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Prince Rupert County
Jonathan Yuen
Yuen Westwood Law Corporation

Appointed Benchers

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Simran Bains
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Paul Barnett
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Sasha Hobbs
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Dr. Jan Lindsay
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Michèle Ross
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Natasha Tony

Life Benchers

Any Bencher who has served for four terms or who has served as President of the Law Society is recognized for life with the honorary title of “Life Bencher.” Listed below are the Life Benchers, including dates of service as Benchers.

The Honourable Mary F. Southin, KC (1971-1980)

The Honourable Bruce I. Cohen, KC (1978-1986)

Marvin R.V. Storrow, KC (1980-1987)

R. Paul Beckmann, KC (1980-1989)

Robert M. Dick, KC (1983-1991)

The Honourable Peter Leask, KC (1984-1992)

John M. Hogg, KC (1984-1993)

The Honourable Robert T.C. Johnston, KC (1986-1994)

The Honourable Grant D. Burnyeat, KC (1988-1995)

James M. MacIntyre, KC (1986-1995)

Karen F. Nordlinger, KC (1988-1996)

Richard C.C. Peck, KC (1988-1997)

Leonard T. Doust, KC (1990-1997)

William M. Trotter, KC (1990-1997)

Trudi L. Brown, KC (1992-1998)

Warren T. Wilson, KC (1991-1999)

The Honourable Ujjal Dosanjh, KC (1995-2000)

Richard S. Margetts, KC (1995-2001)

Jane S. Shackell, KC (1994-2001)

Ann Howard (1992-2002)

Richard C. Gibbs, KC (1996-2002)

Howard R. Berge, KC (1992-2003)

Russell S. Tretiak, KC (1992-2003)

Robert D. Diebolt, KC (1996-2003)

Gerald J. Kambeitz, KC (1996-2003)

William J. Sullivan, KC (1997-2003)

Peter J. Keighley, KC (1996-2004)

William M. Everett, KC (1998-2004)

Patricia L. Schmit, KC (1998-2005)

Robert W. McDiarmid, KC (1998-2006)

Anna K. Fung, KC (1998-2007)

Ian Donaldson, KC (2000-2007)

June Preston, MSW (2001-2008)

The Honourable John J.L. Hunter, KC (2002-2008)

Terence E. La Liberté, KC (2000-2001, 2004-2009)

James D. Vilvang, KC (2002-2009)

David A. Zacks, KC (2002-2009)

The Honourable Judge William F.M. Jackson (2003-2009)

Patrick Kelly (2002-2010)

G. Glen Ridgway, KC (2002-2010)

Gavin Hume, KC (2004-2011)

Joost Blom, KC (2004-2011)

Carol W. Hickman, KC (2004-2011)

Bruce A. LeRose, KC (2004-2012)

Art Vertlieb, KC (2004-2013)

Kathryn Berge, KC (2006-2013)

Thelma O'Grady (2006-2013)

David Renwick, KC (2006-2013)

Rita C. Andreone, KC (2006-2013)

Richard Stewart, KC (2006-2013)

Jan Lindsay, KC (2006-2014)

Kenneth M. Walker, KC (2007-2015)

David W. Mossop, KC (2008-2015)

Haydn Acheson (2008-2015)

The Honourable Mr. Justice E. David Crossin (2010-2016)

Herman Van Ommen, KC (2009-2017)

C.E. Lee Ongman, KC (2010-2017)

Thomas P. Fellhauer, KC (2010-2017)

Gregory A. Petrisor, KC (2010-2017)

Satwinder Bains (2010-2017)

Claude H. Richmond (2010-2018)

Miriam Kresivo, KC (2012-2018)

Nancy G. Merrill, KC (2011-2019)

Philip A. Riddell, KC (2012-2019)

Tony Wilson, KC (2012-2019)

Craig A.B. Ferris, KC (2014-2020)

Pinder K. Cheema, KC (2014-2021)

Martin Finch, KC (2014-2021)

Dean P.J. Lawton, KC (2014-2021)

Jamie Maclaren, KC (2014-2021)

Elizabeth J. Rowbotham, KC (2014-2021)

The Honourable Madam Justice Lisa Hamilton (2016-2022)

Christopher A. McPherson, KC (2016-2023)

Steven McKoen, KC (2016-2023)

Sarah Westwood, KC (2014-2019, 2022-2023)