Legal Aid BC is governed by a nine-member board of directors. The board is governed by policies and bylaws that reflect established best practices. Under its bylaws, the board's role is to "ensure the effective governance of the organization through setting direction, monitoring performance, and hiring and supporting the executive director."
Of our nine board members:
- five are appointed by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council on the recommendation of the Attorney General, and
- four are appointed by the Law Society of BC after consultation with the executive of the BC Branch of the Canadian Bar Association.
The Legal Services Society Act outlines the need for the board as a whole to have a range of knowledge, skills, and experience in such areas as:
- business management and the financial affairs of public and private sector organizations;
- law and the operation of courts, tribunals, and alternative dispute resolution processes;
- the provision of legal aid;
- BC’s cultural and geographic diversity; and
- the social and economic circumstances associated with the special legal needs of people with low incomes.
The board establishes three committees to help it carry out its responsibilities:
- The Executive Committee, which is headed by the board chair and consists of at least three other board directors, and holds all the powers of the board between meetings.
- The Finance Committee, which makes recommendations on Legal Aid BC's finances, funding, fiscal allocations, and risk management.
- The Stakeholder Engagement Committee, which recommends ways to strengthen the organization's relationship with key stakeholders in the justice system.
The chair, in consultation with our chief executive officer, appoints the members of these committees, unless the board directs otherwise. Specific inquiries should be directed to the corporate secretary.
Board governance practices
Legal Aid BC is committed to strong corporate governance practices that enable public accountability and transparency. We adhere to the governance principles established by the Crown Agencies and Board Resourcing Office (CABRO) and are in full compliance with its guidelines.
To maintain excellence in board governance, we review our governance framework regularly to ensure it meets Legal Aid BC's ongoing business needs while being consistent with recognized best practices.
The following board practices documents are in PDF.
- Board Governance Bylaws
- Board Governance Policy
- Appendix A: Conflicts of Interest — Disclosure of Relationships
- Appendix C: Board Performance Objectives
- Appendix D1: Board Performance Assessment
- Appendix D2: Board Individual and Peer Assessment
- Board Competency Criteria
Compensation disclosure statements
As required by the Financial Administration Act, under a Treasury Board Directive, Legal Aid BC discloses board remuneration annually: 2022/23 Board Remuneration Disclosure Statement.