OBA Governance Structure

  

Table Officers

Who are they?

·         President

·         Vice-President

·         Secretary

·         Treasurer

·         Chair of Professional Development

·         Immediate Past President

·         Executive Director (non-voting)

Except for President, Past-President and Executive Director, the Table Officers are elected by members of Council. The position of President is filled by automatic succession by the Vice-President. The Executive Director is a staff position.

Table Officers’ Role

Table Officers meet monthly to conduct the business of the corporation, review financial statements and are the signing officers of the corporation. They act as the Board of Directors.

Executive Committee

Who are they?

·         President

·         Vice-President

·         Secretary

·         Treasurer

·         Chair, Advocacy and Government Relations Committee

·         Chair, Student Division

·         Chair of Professional Development

·         Immediate Past President

·         Executive Director (non-voting)

·         Five Elected Executives at Large

·         Chair, Membership and Member Support Committee

·         Chair, Young Lawyers Division

The members of Council also elect Executives-at-Large. The Chairs of the Student and Young Lawyers Divisions are decided by their executive members, subject to approval of OBA’s Executive. Council appoints Committee Chairs under Executive recommendations.  Each County & District Law Association President selects a representative, who must be an OBA member.

Executive Committee’s Role

Executive Committee advises and assists the President and directs OBA’s affairs between Council meetings. It meets monthly to hear reports from committees, approves submissions and makes decisions and sets policy on issues that can not wait until the next Council meeting.

Council

Who are they?

·         President

·         Vice-President

·         Secretary

·         Treasurer

·         Chair, Advocacy and Government Relations Committee

·         Chair, Student Division

·         Chair, County District  Law Presidents’ Association

·         OBA Standing Committee Chairs

·         Law School Faculty Representatives

·         Articling Student Representatives

·         Local Law Association Representatives

·         Treasurer and Law Society of Upper Canada Representatives

·         Chair of Professional Development

·         Immediate Past President

·         Executive Director (non-voting)

·         Five Elected Executives at Large

·         Chair, Membership and Member Support Committee

·         Chair, Young Lawyers Division

·         All OBA Section Chairs

·         OBA Past Presidents

·         Elected Members of Council

·         Law School Student Representatives

·         Bar Admission Student Representatives

·         Past CBA Presidents from Ontario

·         Representatives of other legal organizations

Elected members of Council are elected by and from OBA members. Sections elect their own Chairs. Students, law schools, the Law Society, local law associations and other legal organizations determine their own representatives.

Council’s Role

Council elects the officers, approves the budget, and most important determines OBA policy. Council meets four times a year to perform its duties and hear reports from the President, Executive Director, Standing Committees, Divisions and other agenda items set by the President.