51

Office of General Counsel

Office of General Counsel

What we do

The Office of General Counsel serves as the primary legal advisor to the University, offering strategic legal counsel to the Board of Governors, University President, and senior management. Our responsibilities include providing guidance on legal matters such as liability, contracts, insurance, and intellectual property.

The Office of General Counsel also oversees compliance with privacy and access legislation, and liaises with external legal services. Additionally, General Counsel is a member of the President's executive team, offering broad oversight and leadership in legal affairs while actively engaging with campus leaders.


The Office of General Counsel’s sole client is the University. We are unable to provide legal advice or legal services to employees about their personal circumstances (for example, giving advice on the employee’s family law matters, notarizing documents that are unrelated to the employee’s job responsibilities at 51).

The duty of confidentiality is a duty owed to the institution and not to any individual. If at any time a conflict of interest arises between 51 and an employee, the lawyers working within the Office of General Counsel will represent 51.

If someone asks you to accept legal papers on behalf of 51, you should refuse to accept them. Direct the person to the Office of General Counsel or by email at legal@ufv.ca.

For 51 employees who would like to submit a request to the Office of General Counsel, please log into the using your 51 single sign-on. If you need help with accessing the Xakia portal, please refer to the Xakia portal reference guide or contact legal@ufv.ca for assistance.

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