Vancouver – The Law Society of BC is pleased to announce three new appointments to the organization’s board of governors, known as the Benchers.
The provincial government has named Satwinder Bains, Benjimen Meisner and Claude H. Richmond as the latest appointed Benchers. Bains and Meisner’s appointments are effective immediately, while Richmond will begin his term on July 2, 2010.
Satwinder Bains is the Director of the Centre for Indo Canadian Studies at the University of the Fraser Valley, and an Instructor in the India Canada Studies Program. Benjimen Meisner is a well known journalist, writer and radio host in Prince George. Claude H. Richmond is the former MLA for the Kamloops riding and former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, as well as a business owner.
Appointed Benchers are selected by the provincial government to represent the public in the regulation of lawyers. They will join three other appointed Benchers (for a total of six non-lawyers) and 25 elected lawyer Benchers from around BC who together work to ensure the public is well served by a competent and honourable legal profession.
“Appointed Benchers play a vital role in the work of the Law Society,” said Law Society president, Glen Ridgway, QC. “They not only provide public input on policy, they bring a wide range of perspectives and experience to the work of committees, task forces, and discipline panels.”
Ridgway also extended a heartfelt thank-you to the three outgoing appointed Benchers – Patrick Kelly, Dr. Maelor Vallance and Barbara Levesque – for their dedication and contribution to the Law Society.
The Law Society of BC is the governing body of the legal profession in the province. Under the provisions of the Legal Profession Act, the Law Society is responsible for the licensing, professional conduct and discipline of the more than 10,000 lawyers in BC.
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For information, or to arrange an interview, contact:
Lesley Pritchard
Communications Officer
604-443-5708
lpritchard@lsbc.org
Robyn Crisanti
Manager, Communications and Public Affairs
604-697-5845
rcrisanti@lsbc.org