Board Director, Alberta Lawyers Indemnity Association

The Opportunity

Alberta Lawyers Indemnity Association ("ALIA") is recruiting to fill two positions on its board of directors (the “Board”) that have become vacant as two long-serving directors (“Directors”) will reach their term limits in the first half of 2026.

Although all individuals with experience and an interest in oversight of a professional liability program are encouraged to apply, this year ALIA will be giving preference to:

1. A lawyer.
2. An insurance professional with an understanding of reciprocals/mutuals.

Experience serving on governance boards is considered to be an asset.

Information regarding ALIA, the roles of Directors and the Board, required skills and attributes, remuneration, time commitment, and the application process are set out below.

The Organization

ALIA is the member-funded, non-profit corporation that manages Alberta’s mandatory indemnity program for lawyers in private practice (“Subscribers”), providing economic and reputational protection to them and compensation to members of the public who have suffered certain financial losses due to their actions. ALIA operates as a separate financial entity from the Law Society of Alberta (“Law Society”), ALIA’s shareholder.

The Law Society, created pursuant to Alberta’s Legal Profession Act (the “Act”), regulates the legal profession and the approximately 12,300 lawyers who practice law in the province, promoting a high standard of legal services and professional conduct. The Act also requires the Law Society to establish and maintain an indemnity program for lawyers.

Pursuant to that requirement, in 1988, the Law Society incorporated a subsidiary corporation (ALIA) to manage the professional liability indemnity program for Alberta lawyers. Every Subscriber – currently approximately 8,100 – must purchase a base level of professional liability coverage, misappropriation coverage, and cyber coverage through ALIA. ALIA handles all claims against Subscribers.

ALIA is committed to creating a diverse environment and fostering an inclusive Board and workplace in which individual differences are recognized, appreciated, respected, and responded to in ways that fully develop and utilize each person’s talents and strengths.

Role of Directors and Board

All Directors are appointed by the Law Society’s governance board (“Benchers”), and the Board reports to the Benchers through the Board Chair.

The Board is responsible for supervising the indemnity program and providing financial oversight for ALIA, including approving ALIA’s budget and financial statements and supervising the management, administration, and investments of the indemnity program.

In managing ALIA’s business and affairs, the Board is responsible for ensuring that ALIA operates in accordance with the Rules of the Law Society of Alberta, all applicable legislation – including the Act and the Companies Act – and all other relevant governing documents and policies.

For further information about ALIA and its Board, please click here.

Skills and Attributes Required

All Directors are expected to have informed judgment, integrity, personal accountability, strategic thinking, initiative, good communication skills, sufficient time available for duties, interest in the indemnity program, and a commitment to ALIA’s mission, core values, and goals.

Remuneration and Time Commitment

Independent Directors – those Directors who are not members of the Law Society or employees of the Law Society or ALIA – receive compensation for their service, set by the Benchers. Non-Independent Directors are not compensated, although all Directors are reimbursed for any costs incurred, in accordance with the Board’s policy.

Time commitment varies with committee involvement, with five scheduled Board meetings and four or five scheduled committee meetings per year, depending on the committee. Additional Board, committee, and ad hoc work group meetings may be scheduled if required. Meetings are generally two to four hours in duration. New Directors are also expected to attend an onboarding session, and all Directors are expected to attend strategic retreats when scheduled. Time is also required to prepare for the meetings.

Board meetings are usually held in Calgary at the offices of the Law Society / ALIA. With the permission of the Board Chair, attendance at Board meetings may be virtual through video conferencing. Committee meetings, however, are currently all virtual, via video conferencing.

Directors will be appointed for a term of up to three years (renewable), commencing in May 2026.

Applications

Interested applicants should apply by Friday, October 31, 2025, by visiting: https://www.lawsociety.ab.ca/public/careers/