BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Information for Candidates
Qualifications
There are presently four openings on the Board of Directors. The Board is seeking to add to its competencies in the areas of business administration and management skills, finance, board governance in either the public or private sector, and law. Some knowledge about the justice system, legal aid or providing services to disadvantaged persons would be an asset.
Job Description
The Board is comprised of 11 volunteers and is responsible to supervise and direct the management of Legal Aid Alberta, which is incorporated as The Legal Aid Society of Alberta, in accordance with sound governance practices, and to establish whatever policies may be required to operate the Society.
Members of the Board of Directors accept the responsibility to:
· develop an overall awareness of Legal Aid’s current issues and priorities
· participate fully and knowledgeably in Board and committee meetings
· recognize and ensure fiduciary responsibility
· act as informed and engaged ambassadors to all Legal Aid Alberta’s stakeholders.
Time Commitment
The Board of Directors meets approximately every two months or at least five times throughout the year culminating in the Society’s Annual General Meeting in June of each year. It is anticipated that the new Board members will be appointed in early June 2011, and attend his or her first meeting on June 16, 2011.
Most of the Board meetings are held in Edmonton, with one or two per year held in Calgary. Board meetings normally last at least a half day on a week-day, starting in the morning and working through lunch. For the last year, meetings have been held on Tuesdays. The Annual Meeting has been scheduled for June 16and it will be followed by a Directors’ Development training on June 17, 2011.
In addition to the time for Board meetings, Board members will also need to devote time to Board committee work. Some committees meet regularly throughout the year, as often as every two weeks, at lunchtime, while others meet only as needed. Some committee meetings are conducted by conference call. For most committee work, as well as for Board meetings, there is material that must be reviewed by the individual members prior to the meetings. Monthly time estimates for committee work range from two to eight hours.
Directors serve for a term of one to three years, commencing from the Annual General Meeting held in June, and may serve a maximum of two terms.
Appointment Process
Pursuant to the Governance Agreement between the Society, the Law Society of Alberta and the Minister of Justice for Alberta, signed in 2011, the process for the appointment of the Board of Directors begins with the Nominating Committee. This committee, chaired by a member of the Board of Directors, comprises two representatives of the Law Society
and two of the Minister. After the closing date for applications, the committee will interview selected candidates. The committee will send the list of final nominations to the Law Society for the selection and appointment of the Board members by the Law Society Benchers at their June convocation.
Compensation
Directors are entitled to be compensated for attendance at meetings of the board or board committees. They may also choose not to submit a claim or otherwise waive their entitlement to any remuneration for their services. All Board members are entitled to be reimbursed for traveling and other reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as members.
Conflict of Interest
The Governance Agreement provides that of the six Directors who may be members of the Law Society, only three of them may be related. The Agreement defines an unrelated director as one who is independent of management and is free from any interest and any business or other relationship which could, or could reasonably be perceived to materially interfere with the director's ability to act with a view to the best interests of Legal Aid Alberta. A related director is defined as any director who is not unrelated.
Application
If you have an interest in ensuring access to the justice system for disadvantaged persons and would like apply as a candidate for the Board of Directors please contact Pat Bard at (780) 422-4403 or by email to for an application form and information package. Forms are also available at www.legalaid.ab.ca on the Home Page. The closing date for receipt of applications is April 15, 2011.
Completed applications should be submitted by e-mail to or
Attention: Pat Bard
Legal Aid Alberta
400, 10320-102 Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5J 4A1
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