Legislative Counsel Office
The primary responsibility of the Legislative Counsel Office is to draft all the Bills, Regulations and Orders in Council for the government.
The other responsibilities and duties of the Legislative Counsel Office include:
- commenting on legislative proposals made by ministries and taking part in discussions with ministry officials and standing Cabinet committees;
- ensuring that policy is enacted in a format consistent with other British Columbia legislation and that the Cabinet directives regarding the preparation of government Bills are respected;
- assisting client ministries in achieving their goals, raising the need for consultation with other ministries and ensuring that legal and administrative issues are resolved;
- advising the government on the content of Bills, legislative procedure and on the conduct of government business in the Legislature;
- maintaining an orderly statute book;
- advising the government on matters of statutory interpretation; and
- answering inquiries on the progress of legislation through the Legislature.
A student on rotation with Legislative Counsel might be asked to:
- draft an amendment to an Act or a regulation;
- write or review an order in council; review and provide Legislative Counsel comments to Cabinet on a Request for Legislation;
- participate in a drafting meeting;
- provide an opinion on a matter of statutory interpretation or parliamentary procedure;
- research legislation of other jurisdictions; and
- work on an Act or regulation revision.
What Former Students Say About Their Experiences at Legislative Counsel
"During my rotation at Legislative Counsel I gained first hand exposure to the process through which public policy becomes legislation. I participated in many meetings with policy analysts and was able to attend a Legislative Review Committee meeting in which Cabinet Ministers were in attendance. I was also asked to give legal opinions on draft legislation and interpret the meaning of existing legislation. This gave me a unique perspective into the inner workings of government and I actually used skills I learned in 1st year Law, Legislation and Policy!!"
~Pam, Articled student 2005-2006
