Elections will be held in November 2025 for Benchers of the Law Society of British Columbia in all districts where elections are required, for a two-year term beginning January 1, 2026 and ending December 31, 2027. Voting will take place from Monday, November 10 until 4:30pm on Monday, November 17, and votes will be counted, and the results published, on Tuesday, November 18, 2025.
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.
Bencher role
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.
For more information about the roles and duties of Benchers, the anticipated time commitment, and contact information for current Benchers who you can speak to about the role, please see the Bencher election page of the Law Society website.
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 4:30 pm on Wednesday, October 15, 2025. 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 women lawyers, Indigenous lawyers, racialized lawyers, 2SLGBTQI+ lawyers, lawyers with (dis)abilities, young lawyers, and those practising predominantly in solicitors' fields to stand for election, as these groups continue to be underrepresented among elected Benchers. As having a diverse pool of candidates enhances representation and contributes to further inclusion, all candidates are encouraged to stand for election.
Electoral districts and process
Law Society Rule 1-21(1) lists the nine Bencher electoral districts into which the province is divided. The following number of Benchers will be elected per district in the 2025 Bencher Election:
- 13 Benchers from District No. 1, the County of Vancouver;
- 2 Benchers from District No. 2, the County of Victoria;
- 1 Bencher from District No. 3, the County of Nanaimo;
- 2 Benchers from District No. 4, the County of Westminster;
- 1 Bencher from District No. 5, the County of Kootenay;
- 1 Bencher from District No. 6, Okanagan;
- 2 Benchers from District No. 7, the County of Cariboo;
- 1 Bencher from District No. 8, the County of Prince Rupert; and
- 1 Bencher from District No. 9, Kamloops.
In accordance with Rule 1-21(2), the number of Benchers to be elected has been reduced for District No. 4 (Westminster) as Thomas L. Spraggs, KC currently holds office as First Vice-President. Under Rule 1-5(4), Thomas L. Spraggs, KC automatically continues as Bencher until he completes his term as President.
If District No. 6 (Okanagan) Bencher, Michael F. Welsh, KC, and District No. 1 (Vancouver) Bencher, Katrina Harry, KC, the Benchers’ nominees for the offices of 2025 Second Vice-President and Second Vice-President-elect for 2026, respectively, are elected at the Annual General Meeting on October 7, 2025 the number of Benchers to be elected from each of those districts will be reduced by 1.
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 15, 2025 and before online voting commences on November 10, 2025.
Voting
The Law Society will use a third-party company, Simply Voting, to provide online voting for the 2025 Bencher election, and the election will be conducted entirely electronically.
Please note that following amendments to the Rules regarding electoral procedural approved by the Benchers at the July 5, 2024 Bencher meeting, the voting period will be one week in accordance with Rule 1.27 (0.3). Online voting will take place from Monday, November 10, 2025 to 4:30pm on Monday, November 17, and votes will be counted on Tuesday, November 18, 2025.
An email communication will be sent to all eligible voters on Monday, November 10, 2025, 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 15, 2025 and by the start of voting on November 10, 2025.
Further information
For information on the election of Benchers, or the role and duties of the Benchers, see Rules 1-20 through 1-44 and the Law Society website.
If you have questions about the election process, please contact Elections@lsbc.org.
