Elections will be held on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 for Benchers of the Law Society of British Columbia in all districts for a two-year term beginning January 1, 2024 and ending December 31, 2025.
Voting will take place from Wednesday, November 1 to 5:00 pm on Tuesday, November 14, and votes will be counted on Wednesday, November 15, 2023.
The 2023 Bencher elections will be conducted in accordance with the Legal Profession Act, Law Society Rules 1-20 to 1-44, and the Code of Professional Conduct for British Columbia.
Candidate eligibility and nominations
Law Society Rules 1-22 and 1-23 outline the qualifications required of a candidate for election as a Bencher and the nomination process.
Nominations of candidates for election must be received by 5:00 pm on Monday, October 16, 2023. To submit a nomination, please complete the application form and the nomination and consent form, which must be signed by two nominators (who are eligible to vote in the district in which the nominee seeks to be a candidate, and who are members in good standing) and must contain the nominee’s consent to the nomination.
Benchers encourage diversity in candidates seeking office
The Benchers believe that the Law Society's mandate to protect the public interest in the administration of justice is best served by leadership from diverse backgrounds and experience. Diversity that brings the skill and richness of talent reflected in the peoples of British Columbia strengthens our legal community and the community at large. All lawyers who meet the qualifications for Bencher and want to contribute to the governance of the profession are encouraged to stand for election. We particularly encourage Indigenous lawyers, racialized lawyers, 2SLGBTQ+ lawyers, lawyers with disabilities, young lawyers, and those practising predominantly in solicitors' fields to stand for election, as these groups continue to be underrepresented among elected Benchers. Although the Law Society has achieved, and been enriched by, gender parity among its elected Benchers, it continues to encourage women to stand for election as part of its commitment to achieve leadership that is reflective of the talents and strengths of all British Columbians.
Electoral districts and process
Law Society Rule 1-21(1) lists the nine Bencher electoral districts into which the province is divided. Elections will be held for Benchers in all nine districts.
Pursuant to Rule 1-21(2), the number of Benchers to be elected from each district must be reduced by one for each Bencher from that district who holds office as First Vice-President, Second Vice-President or Second Vice-President-elect.
For the two-year term beginning January 1, 2024 and ending December 31, 2025, the number of Benchers to be elected from the County of Vancouver (District No. 1) has been reduced from thirteen to eleven, because First Vice-President Jeevyn Dhaliwal, KC and Second Vice-President Brook Greenberg, KC are from Vancouver County. The number of Benchers to be elected from the County of Victoria (District No. 2) has been reduced from two to one, because Second Vice-President-elect Lindsay R. LeBlanc is from Victoria County. Under Rule 1-5(4), these three individuals automatically continue as Benchers until they complete their terms as President.
Rule 1-24 provides that, if the number of candidates nominated does not exceed the number to be elected in a district, the Executive Director must declare that those nominated are elected as Benchers for that district. Notice of any Benchers declared elected by acclamation will be provided to all members after the close of nominations on October 16, 2023 and before online voting commences on November 1, 2023.
Voting
The Law Society will use a third-party company, Simply Voting, to provide online voting for the 2023 Bencher election, and the election will be conducted entirely electronically.
An email communication will be sent to all eligible voters on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, which will include voting instructions, a randomly generated password, and a link to the voting site.
Candidates’ biographies and election statements
Candidates’ biographical summaries and election statements will be available on the Bencher election page of the Law Society website and on the Simply Voting site after the close of nominations on October 16, 2023 and by the start of voting on November 1, 2023.
Roles and duties of the Benchers
The Benchers are the Law Society’s volunteer board of governors. They govern and administer the affairs of the Law Society in accordance with the Legal Profession Act, set and enforce standards of professional responsibility for lawyers, and preside at discipline and credentials hearings.
Benchers can expect their duties to consume approximately seven or eight hours per week, four or five full days a month, or 200 hours per year. This is made up of preparation for and attendance at Bencher meetings, committee, task force or working group meetings, and sitting on hearing panels.
For information about the roles and duties of Benchers, please see the Bencher Code of Conduct and the Law Society website.
Further information
For information on the election of Benchers, see Rules 1-20 through 1-44.
If you have questions about the election process, please contact Avalon Bourne, Manager of Governance & Board Relations, at 604.443.5706 (toll-free 1.800.903.5300) or ABourne@lsbc.org.
