Our Purpose
The purpose of the Society is to uphold and protect the public interest in the practise of law.
Our Mission
Our mission is to regulate the legal profession in the public interest in a manner that is proactive, inclusive and supportive so our members deliver competent and ethical legal services.
Our Values
The core values that guide how we approach our purpose and our work are:
- Excellence
- Fairness
- Respect
- Integrity
- Diversity and Inclusion
- Accountability
- Visionary leadership
- Transparency
Our Vision
Acting in the public interest, the Society is the trusted and respected regulator of the legal profession. We provide leadership, value and support to a competent, ethical, diverse and engaged legal profession. We work with the legal profession to enhance access to legal services and to uphold the rule of law.
Strategic Goals and Objectives
Goal #1: The Society regulates the legal profession in the public interest in a proactive, principled and proportionate manner. We will:
- Support members at every stage of their careers;
- Communicate and engage with members;
- Develop and maintain a mentorship initiative;
- Support members in delivering competent and ethical legal services;
- Facilitate education and provide resources and support to members to be culturally competent in the delivery of legal services;
- Facilitate education and provide resources and support to members in becoming more proficient in using technology;
- Investigate and implement, if appropriate, differential membership fee models;
- Review and assess the viability of paralegal regulation in Nova Scotia;
- Identify and remove regulatory barriers to support innovation in the delivery of legal services;
- Explore, and where appropriate, support the viability of innovative models of legal services delivery (e.g. MDPs, “sand boxes”);
- Review and replace the current Bar Admission course.
Goal #2: More Nova Scotians will have access to ethical and competent legal services. We will:
- Identify and provide supports to address the challenges and needs of rural members;
- Provide guidance and advice on having appropriate succession planning in place;
- Facilitate the placement of articling and summer students in underserviced areas of the Province
- Establish a Council committee that is dedicated to the support of sole practitioners and small firms;
- Facilitate and support the provision of pro bono services by addressing regulatory barriers;
- Advocate, where appropriate, for funding or services that will address gaps in access to legal services.
Goal #3: Nova Scotians will be served by a legal profession that is diverse, inclusive and culturally competent. We will:
- Continue to develop cultural humility, awareness and understanding of issues and barriers in the justice system affecting equity-seeking groups;
- Develop mechanisms to hold members accountable for the delivery of culturally competent legal services
- Continue to implement meaningful responses to the TRC Calls for Action and MMWIG Calls to Justice;
- Honouring the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Donald Marshall Jr. Prosecution, the Society will pay particular attention to the needs of Mi’kmaq and African Nova Scotians throughout all of its work;
- Facilitate and encourage entry into the legal profession of members from diverse and equity-seeking groups by partnering with community organizations to educate community members about the role of the lawyer and the role of the regulator;
- Identify and address barriers that affect the retention and advancement of members from diverse and equity-seeking groups in the profession;
- Continue the integration of the equity and inclusion lens through all Society, Council and committee decision making and policies.
* “Equity-seeking groups” include women, Aboriginal peoples, racialized peoples, persons with disabilities and persons seeking equality on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity. [Council Policy #2]
