Board and Council Orientation

WHO WE ARE The largest Provincial branch of the Canadian Bar Association 18,000 lawyers, judges, students and law professors (comprises approximately 45%of all CBA members) Promoters of the Legal Profession Ontario Bar Association 2

OTHER POLITICAL ENTITIES Law Society – Regulator, not the promoter CDLPA : Association of County and District Law Associations –Local Law Associations – each has board and a librarian – each can send a delegate to OBA Council –Funded by membership dues and Library Co. – an LSUC Entity Advocates Society LAW ASSOCIATIONS: Criminal Lawyers Association, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, Canadian Defence Lawyers, CABL, etc. Ontario Bar Association 3

OBA ORGANIZATION OBA general membership – meets annually Council - meets 4 x year (fiduciary decision-makers) Board of Directors meets monthly (fiduciary decision- makers) Standing Committees and Special Committees 36 Sections – operated by Section Executives Ontario Bar Association 4

OBA GOVERNING DOCUMENTS OBA Branch By-Laws (operating By-law) OBA Corporate By-Laws OBA Code of Conduct Model Sections Constitution Financial Policies Manual Ontario Bar Association 5

SECTIONS AND SECTION EXECUTIVES Sections are opt-in membership groupings Section Executives oversee management and operation of sections Section Executive acts as a hub for Section volunteer participation and delivery of PD Sections act as resources in the development of submissions to government Sections deliver value directly to members For many, Sections are the OBA – if we can increase participation in sections we will grow the OBA Ontario Bar Association 6

COMMITTEES AND TASK FORCES TASK FORCES –Paralegals STANDING COMMITTEES –Audit, Finance, Governance, Strategic Planning and Corporate Social Responsibility, Compensation and Human Resources, Membership, Public Affairs, Professional Development, and subcommittees SPECIAL COMMITTEES –Access to Justice, Awards, CLE – Main, Equal Opportunity, Foreign Conference, Institute, Law Day, and subcommittees Ontario Bar Association 7

OBA BOARD OF DIRECTORS With a few exceptions, exercises all of Council’s authority when Council is not sitting Consists of: – Officers (Pres., VP1, VP2, Treasurer, Secretary, Immediate Past-Pres.); –8 Directors-at-Large (1 per region); –a YLD rep; –the Chair of the Student Division, and the Chair of PD. Ontario Bar Association 8

OBA COUNCIL Acts as OBA Board of Directors when in session Considers, and may vote on, significant issues, both internal and external. Conveys information about legal developments back to the constituents. 84 elected members, 35 from Toronto, plus about 50 section and committee chairs, board members, plus about 50 ex-officio members Ontario Bar Association 9

CBA Officers are elected by National Council Board of Directors – National Officers, Branch presidents – and others representing national sections, national committees and conferences Board meets 4 x year CBA Council – CBA Board members, designated branch Council members, national committee and sections chairs – meets 2 x year CBA is the Primary deliverer of services to most branches (not Ontario) Fees paid to CBA are split 62% to CBA and 38% OBA Ontario Bar Association 10

WHY DO MEMBERS BELONG? Advocacy on behalf of all lawyers – in Ontario and in Canada Networking Opportunities Professional Development Mentorship Recognition Ontario Bar Association 11

WHAT WE DO FOR MEMBERS - SURVIVE We create and maintain the legal, economic, social and institutional conditions for lawyers to make a living and effectively serve their clients Ontario Bar Association 12

Personal: The OBA provides the opportunity for lawyers to demonstrate to others how good they are For the Profession: The OBA is recognized by the media, the government – and to some extent, the public – as the voice of the legal profession in Ontario speaking on issues which are important for the public, the justice system, and the administration of the justice system Ontario Bar Association WHAT WE DO FOR MEMBERS - THRIVE 13

“Everything [we] do, [we] do it for you” Bryan Adams Ontario Bar Association Song 14