The Board is recruited by a Nominating Committee and appointed by the Benchers of the Law Society of Alberta. Membership is comprised of five lawyers and six public members.
The 2012/2013 Board of Directors
Board of Directors — Standing Committees
Through the use of Standing Committees, the Board of Directors undertakes the governance and stewardship of Legal Aid Alberta, facilitates both policy and development and ongoing policy revision, and enacts its decision making authority with respect to issues of coverage and taxation. A Board member chairs each committee, while committee members are appointed from members of the Board and members of the private bar.
Appeals Committee: The Appeals Committee represents the final level of appeal in coverage issues. The Appeals Committee also provides direction in unusual cases and making decisions regarding requests from lawyers for large disbursements and for coverage for appeals to the Supreme Court of Canada. Appeals Committee meetings are held in Edmonton (Northern) and Calgary (Southern).
Audit Committee: This Committee is responsible for overall fiscal control and monitoring of the organization’s financial affairs.
Complex Case Committee: This Committee considers appeals from the taxation of lawyers’ accounts and any requests for discretionary increases to lawyers’ accounts based on exceptional circumstances. They are also responsible for hearing requests from lawyers for additional coverage or time due to extraordinary circumstances that take the case beyond the usual fees allowed under the Tariff.
Human Resources Committee: This Committee is responsible for reviewing the compensation and classification structures for all Legal Aid staff and reviewing the performance of the CEO and Senior Counsel of the Youth Criminal Defence Office and the Family Law Office. In addition, the committee makes recommendations to the Board as required.
Regional Committees: Each LAA region has a regional committee comprised of lawyers and members of the public. Members are nominated by existing regional committee members and approved by the Board of Directors. The Legal Aid Rules provide the regional committees with their authority.
These committees are responsible for providing Legal Aid applicants with a local appeal process from staff coverage decisions. Regional committees may also provide direction for unusual cases within a region.
Roster Committee: This Committee deals with complaints and concerns regarding the conduct of counsel.
Archived copies of LAA Board minutes can be made available by request to webmaster@legalaid.ab.ca
Board Members
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J. Patrick Stopa, Q.C. — Chair
Calgary, Alberta
Director since: 2009
Membership status: lawyer
Pat Stopa is a partner with Caron & Partners LLP in Calgary. He was admitted to the bar in 1974 and appointed Queen's Counsel in 2004. He currently practices primarily in the areas of family and matrimonial law, specializing in the area of alternate dispute resolution as a family law mediator and collaborative lawyer. In addition, Pat also practices administration and municipal law acting as municipal solicitor to the City of Airdrie, Town of Cochrane and as board solicitor to the City of Calgary Subdivision and Development Appeals Board, Assessment Review Board, and Licensing and Community Standards Appeal Board.
In addition to Pat's many years of involvement with LAA on various committees, he also serves as a member on other volunteer boards and has served as a Dispute Resolution Officer since 2001.
Member of:
Appeals Committee (South)
Audit Committee
Complex Case Committee
Roster Committee
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Derek Cranna — Vice Chair
Edmonton, Alberta
Director since: 2011
Membership status: lawyer
Derek Cranna is a partner with Field LLP in Edmonton. He was admitted to the Saskatchewan bar in 1999, and to the Alberta bar in 2001. His practice focuses on labour and employment issues, administrative law and professional discipline matters, and institutional governance advice. Derek also has a background in human rights claims arising out of correctional settings, as well as claims on behalf of Aboriginal peoples relating to their attendance at Residential Schools and their treaty, Band membership, and Indian Act rights.
Prior to joining Legal Aid Alberta, Derek was a Director of the University of Saskatchewan Alumni Association and the Edmonton Inner-City Housing Society.
Member of:
Appeals Committee (North)
Audit Committee
Complex Case Committee
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John Bachinski
St. Albert, Alberta
Director since: 2008
Membership status: public
John Bachinski is the Executive Director of the Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council (AMVIC). Prior to joining AMVIC, John worked with Alberta Pensions Services as Director, Plan Board Secretariat and as Managing Director of the Beverage Container Management Board. John also worked with Alberta Justice as the Project Director for the Calgary Courts Centre. He was also Director of Court Operations at the Edmonton Law Courts, holding the appointments of Clerk of the Court and Sheriff.
Member of:
Human Resources Committee
Roster Committee
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Lori G. Bokenfohr
Calgary, Alberta
Director since: 2011
Membership status: lawyer
Lori Bokenfohr is a partner with Dunphy & Bokenfohr in Calgary. She challenges assessments by the Canada Revenue Agency in Tax Court of Canada proceedings. She also assists individuals, businesses and charities with tax-efficient business planning. In addition to her tax and business practice, Lori represents children involved in the child welfare system in court proceedings. She is one of four lawyers in Calgary who represents at-risk youth who are temporarily confined for stabilization and assessment. She finds advocating for children and youth to be especially important and rewarding work.
Lori is also a volunteer with Pro Bono Law Alberta, the Canadian Bar Association, and the Law Society of Alberta.
Member of:
Appeals Committee (Southern)
Roster Committee
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Lance Clark
Edmonton, Alberta
Director since: 2010
Membership status: public
Lance Clark is a partner with BDO Canada LLP (Chartered Accountants). Obtaining his CA designation in 1984, Lance has spent the better part of the last 25 years focusing his professional practice in the area of litigation support/matrimonial property disputes and related matters. Lance has given evidence in the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench in excess of sixty times. In 2000, Lance received his specialist designation in Investigative and Forensic Accounting (IFA). He currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Association of Collaborative Lawyers/Professionals, where he is also a member at large. He is also a member of the International Association of Collaborative Professionals.
Member of:
Audit Committee |
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Linda Cook
Edmonton, Alberta
Director since: 2011
Membership status: public
Linda C. Cook is the Chief Executive Officer of the Edmonton Public Library and is also an Adjunct Professor for the University of Alberta’s School of Library and Information Studies where she teaches the senior management course. She has been the recipient of a number of awards for excellence in service to the library community, including the University of Alberta’s Library and Information Studies Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumni Award, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal given for outstanding service to the community, and the Outstanding Public Library Service Award for Canada.
She is a past President of the Canadian Library Association, and sits on the boards of the Alberta Library, Legal Aid Alberta, Public Lending Right Commission and the Downtown Business Association, of which she is Chair. She is also a member of the Edmonton Glenora Rotary Club.
Member of:
Complex Case Committee
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Denise Lightning
Hobbema, Alberta
Director since: 2010
Membership status: lawyer
Denise Lightning is a sole practitioner with a background in clinic/poverty law. She was called to the Alberta bar in 1999. Denise has worked with the Aboriginal Legal Services in Toronto and was instrumental in establishing a clinic at the Aboriginal Shelter for inner city people living on the street.
She has been an active member on the Boards for the Native Centre, Kapuskasing Women's Shelter and Indigenous Bar Association.
Member of:
Appeals Committee (Northern)
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Richard Luciani
Calgary, Alberta
Director since: 2009
Membership status: public
Richard (Rick) Luciani is a human resources professional with over 32 years experience. He has held senior management positions in the oil and gas, mining and fertilizer industries. Mr. Luciani has a Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation and is a member of the Human Resources Institute of Alberta. He has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Concordia University.
Member of:
Human Resources Committee
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Martin West
Westaskiwin, Alberta
Director since: 2010
Membership status: lawyer
Martin West is a partner with the law firm Farnham West Stolee in Camrose, Alberta. He was admitted to the Alberta bar in 1991. He currently practices in the areas of civil litigation including family law, personal injury, criminal defence, immigration and real estate. Mr. West has served as President and Past President of the Alberta Chambers of Commerce and Camrose Chamber of Commerce. He has also served as a director on the Centra Cam Vocational Training Assoication, Camrose Regional Exhibition, and is the current president of the Crowfoot Conservative Electoral District Association.
Member of:
Human Resources Committee
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