NSBS seeking individuals from Indigenous, African Nova Scotian, and racialized communities for roles in Professional Responsibility

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As we seek to fill vacancies connected to Professional Responsibility, we are focusing on recruiting from among Indigenous, African Nova Scotian, and racialized communities. We’re doing this because we appreciate the importance of ensuring meaningful involvement of our diverse members to ensure the Society’s work truly reflects our membership and the public we serve.

As a collaborative initiative between the Equity & Access Office and Professional Responsibility, we are currently drawing upon the significant skills and experience of our membership as we look for individuals from Indigenous, African Nova Scotian, and racialized communities to fill the following roles. Some of these roles provide compensation, as described below, and training is provided where relevant.

  1. Committee Members

We are seeking members to volunteer for the following committees.

  1. Complaints Investigation Committee – Investigates complaints against lawyers.
  2. Hearing Committee – Hears charges of professional misconduct. Honouraria dependent upon the length of the respective hearing.
  3. Code of Professional Conduct Committee – Reviews and updates the Code of Professional Conduct.
  4. Professional Responsibility Policies and Procedures Committee – Reviews and updates policies procedures and regulations related to Professional Responsibility process.
  5. Lawyers’ Fund for Client Compensation Committee – Reviews claims of lawyer misappropriation of client funds.
  6. Fitness to Practise Committee – Diversionary program from the discipline process for lawyers who are experiencing health related capacity concerns.
  7. Complaints Review Committee – Deals with requests for review for complaints dismissed at the staff level.

2. Practice Reviewer

Practice Reviews are ordered by the Complaints Committee under s. 36 of the Legal Profession Act. The CIC determines whether a practice review should be ordered after a complaint is filed. If the CIC issues an order for practice review, then a reviewer will be hired to review the practice of a member.

  1. Training can be provided for those who may be interested in this role.
  2. Compensation is provided to the reviewer in accordance with the Society’s Professional Fees Policy.
  3. This role is for a more seasoned lawyer who has experience in private practice who understands the day-to-day management of running a law firm.  
  4. Some expectations of this role include writing of reports and presenting them to the CIC.

3. Custodian and Receiver

Receivers are appointed by the CIC or Hearing Committee following a suspension or disbarment of a member. Custodians are appointed by Court Order. The role of the custodian and receiver is to manage and/or wind up a law practice. Receivers and Custodians do not assume carriage of a lawyer’s client files but make sure that client files, property or any trust funds are transferred to new counsel or returned to the client.

  1. Training can be provided for those who may be interested in this role.
  2. Compensation is provided to the Custodian and Reviewer in accordance with the Society’s Professional Fees Policy based upon year of call.
  3. Some expectations of this role include writing reports and presenting them to the CIC; liaising with the Courts and opposing counsel and management and closure of trust bank accounts including trust accounts.

4. Practice Supervisor

Mentorship support for a member who is in the discipline process, meeting with them monthly to discuss file work and file load and assisting them with organizational systems, including bring forward, accounting, client communications, and file documentation. The practice supervisor supports the member to address the concerns with their practice.

  1. Senior lawyer with law office management experience.
  2. The expectation of this role includes writing reports and presenting them to the CIC.

5. Pro Bono / Low Bono service providers

A list of volunteer counsel who are willing to provide pro bono, low bono or limited retainer legal services to members who are engaged in the discipline process. This list is posted on the NSBS website.

It is expected that the members who have agreed to be included on the list will provide an initial consultation and advice on a pro bono or reduced fee basis. Any further representation, and the basis on which such representation will be provided must be agreed upon between the parties. The Society is not involved.

If you are interested in any of these roles, or if you would like to recommend someone, please contact us via email at info@nsbs.org