Our Board
CALC is a non-profit corporation that is also a charity. Our main funder is Legal Aid Ontario. CALC’s Board of Directors plays an important role in overseeing our clinic’s work, ensuring that we meet the requirements of our funding agreements and the laws governing non-profit and charity organisations. The Board holds the clinic staff accountable for the use of public funds through CALC’s Executive Director.
Our Board of Directors has 10 volunteer members. Members are elected annually at our Annual General Meeting. Our members are drawn from throughout the geographic community we serve. The Board’s Nominating Committee each year seeks to ensure that there are people running for the Board that have a healthy mix of expertise and experience.
What does the Board of Directors do?
The Board is responsible for setting high level policies for the clinic’s operation and for overseeing that services provided to the community are high quality, cost-effective and in keeping with the clinic’s strategic plan.
Although Board members do not take part in the clinic’s day-to-day operations, they set the strategic directions and determine service priorities. The Board seeks to ensure that scarce resources are allocated to areas of greatest local legal needs, keeping in mind that Legal Aid Ontario is legally responsible for providing criminal and family law services through their staff lawyers and private lawyers on Legal Aid certificates.
What skills and experience does CALC’s Board require?
At least one member must be a lawyer. Experience of poverty or living on a low income is especially valued. The Board needs to have members with skills such as:
- teamwork and co-operative decision-making
- community development and advocacy
- financial management
- fundraising
- communications
- governance of business or non-profit organizations
- human resource management
- knowledge of the legal system.