The resignations of James Struthers and Michael F. Welsh, KC have created vacancies for the positions of Bencher in the County of Vancouver (District No. 1) and the District of the Okanagan (District No. 6). Accordingly, pursuant to Rule 1-38 (1), by-elections will be held to fill the vacancies. Online voting (if required) will take place from Tuesday, September 8 to 4:30pm on Tuesday, September 15, and votes will be counted on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
The term of the successful candidates will begin immediately upon election and will end on December 31, 2027.
The by-election 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 and the anticipated time commitment, please see the Bencher elections 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 Monday, August 17, 2026. To submit a nomination, please complete the Candidate’s Information form and the Nomination and Consent form, which must be signed by two nominators (who are eligible to vote in the respective district of the candidate they are nominating [District No. 1 for Vancouver County and District No. 6 for the District of Okanagan] 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, 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.
Voting (if required)
In accordance with Rule 1-27 (0.1), Bencher elections are to be held by electronic means, and the Law Society will use a third-party company, Simply Voting, to provide online voting for the 2026 Bencher By-Elections.
If voting is required, online voting will take place from Tuesday, September 8 to 4:30 pm on Tuesday, September 15, and votes will be counted on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. An email will be sent to all eligible voters on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, which will include voting instructions, a randomly generated password, and a link to the voting site.
Candidates’ biographies and election statements (if required)
Candidates’ biographical summaries and election statements will be available on the Bencher elections page of the Law Society website and on the Simply Voting site after the close of nominations on Monday, August 17, 2026, and by the start of voting on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
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 Elections@lsbc.org
