2023 Bencher Elections
An election 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.
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 nomination and consent form. Law Society Rules 1-22 and 1-23 outline the qualifications required of a candidate for election as a Bencher and the nomination process.
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.
How does voting work?
The Law Society uses a third-party company, Simply Voting, to provide online voting services, and Bencher elections are conducted entirely electronically.
Once voting opens on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, an email communication will be sent to all eligible voters, which will include voting instructions, a randomly generated password, and a link to the voting site.
Candidates’ biographical summaries and election statements will be available on this web page and on the Simply Voting website after the close of nominations on October 16, 2023 and by the start of voting on November 1, 2023.
What are the role and duties of 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.
There are usually eight Bencher meetings each year. Meetings take place either in hybrid format in Vancouver with both in-person and virtual attendance, or entirely virtually via Zoom, with the exception of one meeting each year, which is held in conjunction with a weekend retreat. Bencher meetings are held on Fridays and generally run from 9:00 am to around midday. Benchers are expected to attend all meetings and to communicate with the Chair if they are unable to do so.
In addition to Bencher meetings, all Benchers generally serve on at least two Bencher committees, task forces or working groups. Most committees and task forces meet monthly for 1.5 to 2 hours (generally the day before the Bencher meeting).
At the first Bencher meeting after being elected as a Bencher, the Bencher must take an oath of office in the required form set out in Rule 1-3.
For information about committees, task forces and working groups, see Committees, Task Forces and Working Groups.
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.
For information on the election of Benchers, see Rules 1-20 through 1-44.
The results of elections can be viewed here once they are available.
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.