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

Jeevyn Dhaliwal, KC
Jeevyn Dhaliwal, KC
President

Vancouver County
Larlee, Rosenberg, Barristers & Solicitors
Vancouver, BC

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Brook Greenberg, KC
Brook Greenberg, KC
First Vice-President

Vancouver County
Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Vancouver, BC

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Lindsay R. LeBlanc, KC
Lindsay R. LeBlanc, KC
Second Vice-President

Victoria County
Cox Taylor
Victoria, BC

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Aleem Bharmal, KC
Aleem Bharmal, KC

Vancouver County
Community Legal Assistance Society
Vancouver, BC

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Tanya Chamberlain
Tanya Chamberlain

Vancouver County
Virgin Law Group
Vancouver, BC

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Nikki L. Charlton
Nikki L. Charlton

Vancouver County
Farris LLP
Vancouver, BC

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Jennifer Chow, KC
Jennifer Chow, KC

Vancouver County
Department of Justice Canada
Vancouver, BC

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Christina J. Cook
Christina J. Cook

Vancouver County
BC First Nations Justice Council
Vancouver, BC

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Cheryl D'Sa, KC
Cheryl D'Sa, KC

Vancouver County
Narwal Litigation LLP
Vancouver, BC

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Tim Delaney
Tim Delaney

Vancouver County
Lindsay Kenney LLP
Vancouver, BC

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Brian Dybwad
Brian Dybwad

Nanaimo County
Parents Legal Centre
Campbell River, BC

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Ravi R. Hira, KC
Ravi R. Hira, KC

Vancouver County
Hira Rowan LLP
Vancouver, BC

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James A.S. Legh
James A.S. Legh

Victoria County
Stevenson Luchies & Legh
Victoria, BC

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Benjamin D. Levine
Benjamin D. Levine

Cariboo County
Levine & Company
Prince George, BC

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Jaspreet Singh Malik
Jaspreet Singh Malik

Westminster County
South Fraser Law Group
Surrey, BC

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Jay Michi
Jay Michi

Kamloops District
James Michi Law Corporation
Kamloops, BC

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Georges Rivard
Georges Rivard

Cariboo County
Fort St. John, BC

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Gurminder Sandhu, KC
Gurminder Sandhu, KC

Westminster County
Hamilton Duncan Armstrong + Stewart
Surrey, BC

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Thomas L. Spraggs
Thomas L. Spraggs

Westminster County
Spraggs & Co. Law Corporation
Coquitlam

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Barbara Stanley, KC
Barbara Stanley, KC

Kootenay County
Stanley Law
Trail, BC

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James Struthers
James Struthers

Vancouver County
macushlaw
Vancouver, BC

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Michael F. Welsh, KC
Michael F. Welsh, KC

Okanagan District
Michael F. Welsh Law Corporation
Penticton, BC

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Kevin B. Westell
Kevin B. Westell

Vancouver County
Pender Litigation
Vancouver, BC

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Gaynor C. Yeung
Gaynor C. Yeung

Vancouver County
Whitelaw Twining
Vancouver, BC

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Jonathan Yuen
Jonathan Yuen

Prince Rupert County
Yuen Westwood Law Corporation
Smithers, BC

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Appointed Benchers

Simran Bains
Simran Bains

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Paul Barnett
Paul Barnett

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Sasha Hobbs
Sasha Hobbs

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Dr. Jan Lindsay
Dr. Jan Lindsay

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Michèle Ross
Michèle Ross

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Natasha Tony
Natasha Tony

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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)

P. Michael Bolton, KC (1985-1993)

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)

Rita C. Andreone, KC (2006-2013)

Gerald J. Kambeitz, KC (1996-2003)

William J. Sullivan, KC (1997-2003)

Master Peter J. Keighley (1996-2004)

William M. Everett, KC (1998-2004)

Ralston S. Alexander, KC (1999-2005)

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 Mr. Justice John J.L. Hunter (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)

Leon Getz, KC (2006-2013)

Kathryn Berge, KC (2006-2013)

Thelma O'Grady (2006-2013)

David Renwick, 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)

Lisa Hamilton, KC (2016-2022)

Christopher A. McPherson, KC (2016-2023)

Steven McKoen, KC (2016-2023)

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