Governance Reform of the Law Society of Upper Canada

For Immediate Release

September 16, 2009

Governance Reform of the Law Society of Upper Canada

Toronto - The County and District Law Presidents’ Association (CDLPA) has unveiled twelve proposed recommendations to reform the Law Society of Upper Canada’s Governance Structure. The proposed recommendations would enhance accountability, transparency, responsible representation and efficiency and are being put forth for discussion purposes and would require input from other stakeholders.

“This is a comprehensive report that we are putting forth to help elucidate governance of the Law Society of Upper Canada. We feel our recommendations, once implemented, will help increase participation by lawyers and other stakeholders in the self-regulation of legal service providers and is in the public’s interest,” said Randall Bocock, Chair of the County and District Law Presidents’ Association.

The proposed amendments are summarized below. For a complete copy of the report and recommendations, click here.

1. All Benchers (governors of the law society) in Convocation should be streamed into a Governing Council or Discipline Bench.

2. All Benchers would be elected or appointed to Convocation as at present, but Convocation would choose a sufficient number to populate the Governing Council or Discipline Bench (presently 50 Benchers sit in Convocation).

3. Ex-officio members of Convocation would be reduced and the Government of Ontario would appoint two more lay Benchers (presently all past Attorneys-General, past Treasurers and Benchers serving for terms serve for their natural lives) without further election.

4. Two further appointed Benchers would be reserved for appointment by Convocation in order to address representational deficiencies which may be apparent after a post-election assessment of the composition of Convocation.

5. Each present life Bencher would be allowed one final four year term after which he or she would leave Convocation (presently they serve for the balance of their natural lives).

6. Only the Treasurer and immediate Past-Treasurer would have a vote in Convocation (presently all living past Treasurers vote).

7. Only the current Attorney-General would sit in Convocation (presently all living past Attorneys-General vote).

8. The position of Deputy Treasurer would be created and the position filled by the Treasurer. The Deputy Treasurer’s role would be to serve as chair of the Discipline Bench.

9. The number of committees would be reduced to more closely reflect core roles and functions ascribed to the Law Society.

10. Recommendations are made within the Report regarding the selection process of chairs, vice-chairs and members of the Law Society committees.

11. Non-Benchers from stakeholder groups would be afforded seats on committees and working groups of Convocations (presently only Benchers sit and attend Committee meeting).

12. Each elected Bencher would have terms limited to three and four ear terms and thereafter become a Bencher Emeritus (presently there are no term limits).


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For more information
Nancy Daigneault
705-220-0016