About this Web Site
This Web site is maintained by the Office of the University Counsel at the University of British Columbia. This Web site is provided for informational purposes only. Although the Office of the University Counsel updates the information on this Web site regularly, no guarantees can be made about its accuracy or timeliness. This Web site is not a substitute for professional advice, whether legal or otherwise. University administrators seeking legal advice should contact the Office of the University Counsel. To review the full disclaimer for this Web site, please click on the Copyright and Disclaimer link at the bottom of this page.
About the Office of the University Counsel
The University is a large, complex environment in which the efficient delivery of quality legal services is critical.
Its challenges are similar to those faced by any large corporation. The University’s annual budget is in excess of $1.4 billion and it has varied real estate holdings, wholly owned subsidiaries, and linkage agreements with over 170 universities in 44 countries. In addition to almost 3,000 full-time faculty members, it employs 14,000 individuals spread across half a dozen bargaining units.
The University Counsel reports to the Vice-President, External, Legal and Community Relations. The Office of the University Counsel functions as a coordinated and integrated unit in conjunction with the other administrative units within this portfolio.
Our Mission
The mission of the OUC is:
- To identify and to recommend procedures and practices to protect the University from undue liability and to assist with risk assessment and control;
- To provide strategic legal advice as well as a full-range of legal services directly to the University, its senior administration, the Board of Governors, and the Senate;
- To provide legal advice and services directly to faculties and administrative units when requested by the deans or administrative heads of unit;
- To retain, instruct and oversee external legal counsel on behalf of the University;
- To manage the costs of legal services in an effective and cost efficient manner in order to maximize the value of the University’s expenditures and to minimize the University’s exposure to risk;
- To regulate and oversee the legal structure of the University’s subsidiaries;
- To oversee and administer the development of Board of Governors’ policies;
- To administer matters relating to University compliance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act;
- To provide seminars and other education-oriented initiatives on legal issues affecting the University; and
- To participate in special initiatives and sensitive projects on an as-needed basis.
