The attorney general of British Columbia (AG) oversees the

Ministry of Attorney General The Ministry of Attorney General of British Columbia is a provincial government department responsible for a broad range of legal services in the province. Its responsibilities encompass sheriff and court administration services, legal aid, prosecu ...

, a provincial government department responsible for the oversight of the justice system, within the province of

British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...

, Canada. The attorney general is a member of the provincial cabinet, typically a

member of Legislative Assembly A Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) is a representative elected to sit in a legislative assembly. The term most commonly refers to members of the legislature of a federated state or an autonomous region, but is also used for several national ...

who is chosen by the

premier of British Columbia The premier of British Columbia is the first minister and head of government for the Canadian province of British Columbia. Until the early 1970s, the title ''prime minister of British Columbia'' was often used. The word ''premier'' is derived ...

and formally appointed by the

lieutenant governor of British Columbia The lieutenant governor of British Columbia () is the representative of the monarch in the province of British Columbia, Canada. The office of lieutenant governor is an office of the Crown and serves as a representative of the monarchy in the p ...

. The attorney general is responsible for ensuring that public administration is conducted according to the law and as such, they are the chief advisor of law to the government, in addition to overseeing the court system and Sheriff Service. Under the ''King's Counsel Act'', the attorney general is automatically appointed a

King's Counsel A King's Counsel (Post-nominal letters, post-nominal initials KC) is a senior lawyer appointed by the monarch (or their Viceroy, viceregal representative) of some Commonwealth realms as a "Counsel learned in the law". When the reigning monarc ...

upon swearing into office. The attorney general also serves as an ''

ex officio An ''ex officio'' member is a member of a body (notably a board, committee, or council) who is part of it by virtue of holding another office. The term '' ex officio'' is Latin, meaning literally 'from the office', and the sense intended is 'by r ...

'' bencher of the

Law Society of British Columbia The Law Society of British Columbia is the regulatory body for lawyers in British Columbia, Canada. Purpose The society's primary mandate under the ''Legal Profession Act'' is to uphold and protect the public interest in the administration of ...

. A separate cabinet position, the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, administers the province's law enforcement agencies (police, prisons and security). Since December 7, 2022, the post has been held by

Niki Sharma Niki Sharma (born ) is a Canadian politician and lawyer, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 2020 British Columbia general election. She represents the electoral district of Vancouver-Hastings as a member of ...

List of attorneys general of the Colony of British Columbia

George Hunter Cary George Hunter Cary (16 January 1832 – 16 July 1866) was an English barrister and colonial official. Born in Essex, he studied law in London, and was recommended for a colonial posting by a family friend. Arriving in British Columbia in 1859, ...

; 1859–1861 *

Henry Pering Pellew Crease Sir Henry Pering Pellew Crease (20 August 1823 – 27 November 1905) was a British-Canadian lawyer, judge, and politician, influential in the colonies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia. He was the first Attorney General of the united C ...

; 1861–1870 *

George Phillippo Sir George Phillippo (1833 – 16 February 1914) was Chief Justice of Hong Kong in the late 19th century. He often attended the Legislative Council of Hong Kong sittings from around 1884 to 1888. Early life and education Phillippo was ...

; 1870–1871

List of attorneys general of the province of British Columbia

References

External links

Ministry of Attorney GeneralMinistry of Attorney General Service Plan
{{Government of British Columbia British Columbia government departments and agencies *

1859 establishments in the British Empire

List of attorneys general of the Colony of British Columbia

List of attorneys general of the province of British Columbia

See also

References

External links