Law Society of British Columbia
The motto emblazoned on the crest of the Law Society's common seal is Lex Liberorum Rex, meaning "The Law is King of Free Men" or, in more modern language, "Law is the Ruler of Free People."
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| Formation | 1869 |
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| Type | Law Society |
| Legal status | active |
| Purpose | regulatory body, advocate and public voice, educator and network |
| Headquarters | British Columbia |
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Region served
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British Columbia Canada |
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Official language
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English French |
| Website | www |
The Law Society of British Columbia is the regulatory body for lawyers in British Columbia, Canada.
The society's primary mandate under the Legal Profession Act is to uphold and protect the public interest in the administration of justice by preserving and protecting the rights and freedoms of all persons, ensuring the independence, integrity, honour and competence of lawyers, establishing standards and programs for the education, professional responsibility and establishing standards for the education, professional responsibility and competence of BC lawyers.
The Law Society is overseen by a board of governors known as Benchers, composed of 25 lawyers elected by the registrants of the Law Society, up to six Benchers who are not lawyers and who are appointed by the government, and the attorney general of BC. The attorney general is typically represented in this role by the deputy attorney general. The Benchers are responsible for governing and administering the affairs of the Law Society including setting standards for admission, conduct and competence. These are established through the Law Society Rules. The Law Society is a member of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada, the national coordinating body of Canada’s 14 law societies.
With the exception of the president, first vice-president and second vice-president, all elected Benchers, as well as all members of Bencher committees, subcommittees and task forces, are volunteers to the Law Society. Benchers serve two-year terms up to a maximum of four terms and can be re-elected. The senior Bencher is the president, who serves a one-year term in that position.
The executive director, or chief executive officer, of the Law Society directs the Society’s operations.
The roots of the Law Society trace back to England. Motivated in part by the new-found wealth of the gold rush, Queen Victoria dispatched an experienced English lawyer, Matthew Baillie Begbie, to establish and protect the lands to which her country laid claim.
Begbie crossed the Atlantic Ocean, bringing with him official documents establishing the Colony of British Columbia. Those papers were signed by Governor James Douglas on November 18, 1858 at Fort Langley. The following day, Begbie was sworn into office as high court judge of the colonies of British Columbia and Vancouver Island.
On December 24, 1858, Justice Begbie published an Order of the Court which gave the first official recognition to barristers and solicitors in the colonies. The Order noted that only one lawyer was qualified to act as a barrister in a court of law — Henry Pering Pellew Crease.
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