July InForum: Save the Date: NSBS/LIANS Solo & Small Firm Conference
- Save the Date for the NSBS & LIANS Solo and Small Firm Virtual Conference
- Society Library Introduces Curbside Pick-up
- Depression & Trauma Care Added to NSLAP
- Provide Your Feedback: Amendments to the Equality, Harassment & Discrimination Section of the Code
- Equity Resources: TRC, Cultural Competency, Allyship & More
- Courts Now Doing Foreclosure Sales
- Need Help with Stale Balances in Your Trust Fund?
- Lawyers’ Insurance Association of Nova Scotia
- Changes in Category: June 25, 2020-July 30, 2020
- Professional Responsibility
- For Your Information
- News from the NS Courts
- Career Opportunities
- Upcoming Events
Save the Date for the NSBS & LIANS Solo and Small Firm Virtual Conference
Join the Society & LIANS Thursday, November 5th, 2020 from 9:00 AM-4:00 PM for the 12th annual Solo and Small Firm Conference.
This event, typically held in person at a cost, will be a free online event hosted via Zoom & sessions may be eligible to count towards your annual CPD.
The recorded video sessions will also be available after the event for those who cannot attend.
Registration and session details coming soon.
Society Library Introduces Curbside Pick-up
The Society’s Library continues to be closed until further notice. Library staff are available for research and reference assistance during our office hours Monday to Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm by emailing [email protected] or calling 1 866-219-1202 (toll-free).
As of Monday, July 6, 2020, we started accepting returns and requests to borrow materials using “curbside” pick-up and drop-off. Please request materials by emailing [email protected] and we will advise when to come pick up your materials.
We encourage members to continue to monitor the Society’s updates on our website at nsbs.org, on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Depression & Trauma Care Added to NSLAP
As part of our continued support of the profession, we recently renewed our service agreement with Homewood Health, the service provider to the Nova Scotia Lawyers’ Assistance Program (NSLAP).
With this renewal, we have enhanced the program by adding two new services – Depression Care and Trauma Care. These two programs will supplement the current assistance programs provided by Homewood.
Depression Care provides mid- to longer-term, work focused treatment for individuals with moderate to severe anxiety and/or depressive symptoms. Sessions focus on reducing the symptoms of depression and anxiety while building resiliency to assist with staying at work and getting back to life. The program provides up to 20 sessions of individual treatment.
Trauma Care provides specialized treatment for individuals struggling with acute, or long-term, trauma symptoms. The program offers treatment and resiliency training for PTSD, mood, and anxiety disorders.
Learn more about the NSLAP or call the NSLAP at 1-866-299-1299.
Provide Your Feedback: Amendments to the Equality, Harassment & Discrimination Section of the Code
The Federation of Law Societies’ Standing Committee on the Model Code has prepared fulsome amendments to Section 6.3 – Equality, Harassment and Discrimination of the Code of Professional Conduct (Code).
We’re seeking member feedback on these amendments. These amendments address issues related to the duties regarding non-discrimination and harassment, as well as ex parte communications with courts and tribunals.
Please review the following:
Equity Resources: TRC, Cultural Competency, Allyship & More
We’re continuing to update our equity resources, online tools & training to support lawyers in their education and law firms as they develop an equity strategy in the workplace. We encourage members to review these resources regularly & stay tuned as we add additional resources to this page.
Courts Now Doing Foreclosure Sales
The Supreme Court of Nova Scotia is now able to schedule foreclosure sales, but with restrictions to comply with the COVID-19 orders under s.32 of the Health Protection Act and further guidance from Dr. Robert Strang. The Court has published a directive outlining the safe practices for parties, counsel, and auctioneers to follow.
Need Help with Stale Balances in Your Trust Fund?
Send the Society your submission for Undistributed Trust Funds anytime before August 28, 2020 to be included in the September application.
If you have trust funds that you are not able to return to your client, you can participate with other members when the Society makes application to the Public Trustee for the disposal of undistributed trust funds. Learn more about dealing with stale balances.
The next application for disposal of undistributed trust funds will be in September 2020. You can send your submission to the Society anytime, but you must send it before August 28, 2020 if you want to be included with the September application.
If you wish to make an application for the disposal of undistributed trust funds, please refer to the Procedure and Sample Documents or contact Elaine Cumming, Professional Responsibility Counsel, at (902) 422 1491 or [email protected].
Lawyers’ Insurance Association of Nova Scotia
Changes in Category: June 25, 2020-July 30, 2020
In every issue of our newsletter InForum, we provide updates on category changes.
Welcome to the following articled clerks:
| Hilary Patricia Angrove |
| Kathryn Grace Brady |
| Tyler Neil Chiasson |
| Logan Charles Clark-Kenney |
| Nicholas Joseph Foran |
| Colin Douglas Hooper |
| Nora Jane MacIntosh |
| Simone Arlene MacLennan |
The following members have changed to Non-Practising status:
| Ishrath Muneer Ahmed |
| Mallory Erna Barbara Arnott |
| Deborah Elizabeth Bowes |
| Jacob Johnathan Tak Ken Che |
| Brittni Louise Anne Deveau |
| Gilles Joseph Deveau |
| Ashley Catherine Dickey |
| Patricia Ann Dunn |
| Sean Christopher Farmer |
| Neil R. Ferguson, QC |
| Gerald W. Green |
| Robert John Scott Hanf |
| Cherise Noelle Hart |
| Nathan Alexander Holman |
| Karen Leslie Hudson, QC |
| Matthew Young Jacobs |
| Christina Marion Lazier |
| Nathan David Cecil Little |
| Suzan MacLean |
| Marian F. Mancini |
| John Alexander McKinlay |
| Jason Edward McQuaid |
| Adam Lyle Melvin |
| Michelle Pamella Morgan-Coole |
| Oladeji Samuel Omotosho |
| Stacey D. O’Neill |
| Matthew Alexander Orrell |
| Peter David Taaffe Osmond |
| Folusho Wuraola Osunade |
| Ademofe Aretha Oye-Adeniran |
| Sean Rajeev Ponnambalam |
| Michael Thompson Pugsley, QC |
| Robert Francis Purcell |
| Alyssa Micheal Rahey |
| Jody C. Rice Gallagher |
| Drew Davis Ritchie |
| Jeremy Graham Ryant |
| Stefan Peter Schmidt |
| Tia Dawn Silver Surette |
| Emily Lorraine Tallon |
| Vernice Katherine Teed |
| Brent Douglas Timmons |
| Daphne Clara Mary Ann Williamson |
The following members have Retired:
| Cameron Robert Anderson |
| Bruce Carlton Baxter, CA,CAE |
| M. Jean Beeler, QC |
| Craig Reginald Berryman |
| Duncan John Chisholm |
| Charles Arthur Mark Coffin |
| Robert Martin Crosby, QC |
| George David Eldridge, QC |
| Bruce W. Evans |
| John G. Khattar, QC |
| Jerome T. Langille |
| Ena C. MacDonald |
| Catherine Mary MacNeil-Macdonald |
| James Carroll Martin |
| Gary L. Nelson |
| David Lloyd Parsons, QC |
| John David Plowman, QC |
| Marie Louise Scagliola |
| Barry Edward Wadsworth |
| James J. White |
The following members are now Life members:
| Edward Borden Chase, QC |
| John Geoffrey Cooper, QC |
| Elizabeth Cuddihy, QC |
| James Edward Gould, QC |
| Morris Josef Haugg, QC |
| Carl Arthur Andrew Holm, QC |
| Kenneth Frederick Langille, QC |
| Roy Ian Logan, QC |
| John Stetson McFarlane, QC |
| Willard Strug, QC |
| John David Wade, QC |
The following members have Resigned:
| Margaret Jean Keliher |
| Michelle Jennifer Lang |
| Peter Armand LeCain |
| Nancy Isobel Murray, QC |
| Barbara Stewart Penick |
| Ramona Sladic |
| Julie Elizabeth Smith |
Judicial Appointments:
The Provincial and Family Court of Nova Scotia welcomed
two new judges to its ranks. The Hon. Judge Aleta C. Cromwell, a lawyer with Legal Services at the Nova Scotia Department of Justice, and The Hon. Judge Perry F. Borden, a Senior Crown Attorney at the Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service, were appointed July 9, 2020.
Judge Borden’s appointment fills the vacancy created when The Hon. Judge Brian Williston retired in December 2018, while Judge Cromwell takes over for The Hon. Judge Michael Sherar, who elected to go to part-time status this past January. Read more.
Professional Responsibility
Notice of Resolution accepting Settlement Agreement: R. Blois Colpitts
For Your Information
CPLED is recruiting lawyers
Join the team on the journey of training the future lawyers of Canada
Developing the lawyers of tomorrow requires a team of talented and experienced legal professionals. The Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLED) is recruiting lawyers with five or more years of experience who have a background in Business Law, Criminal Law and/or Family Law for various roles to help deliver the Practice Readiness Education Program (PREP), the new Bar admission program for Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan.
PREP takes students from just reading about legal activities to carrying them out themselves within simulations, playing out real-life scenarios, and learning from their successes and mistakes while receiving feedback from trained legal professionals.
CPLED is actively recruiting the following positions:
- Virtual Law Firm Assessors – will assess and provide feedback on student assignments during the Virtual Law Firm phase of PREP. Training will begin in October and work will commence in November of 2020.
- Practice Managers – will meet with students during the Virtual Law Firm rotations (three-month period) and provide coaching and mentorship as well as assess students’ practice management skills. Training will begin in October and work will commence in December of 2020.
- Capstone Assessors – will assess assignments completed by students during the final phase of PREP, the Capstone assessment. Capstone assessors can choose to assess students’ oral skills such as interviewing or written submissions. Training will begin in early 2021 and work will commence in March of 2021.
These are great opportunities for anyone looking for part-time casual contract work that they can do remotely. CPLED will provide training, resources and support for all positions.
For more information on these opportunities and to apply, check out the Join the Team section on the CPLED website.
For more information about CPLED, visit their website.
Pro Bono Opportunity with Halifax SAR
Halifax Search & Rescue is one of four Ground Search and Rescue teams in the Halifax Regional Municipality. We work with police and fire to help locate and assist the lost, missing, and injured person in the wilderness areas of our region. We also provide support to the HRM and province during civil emergencies, such as wildfire and flooding. In our nearly 50-year history, HSAR has been involved in some of the largest ground search and rescue and civilian emergencies in North America- including the ground-based recovery efforts for Swissair 111 in 1998.
Halifax SAR is a non-profit, volunteer organization. The team is registered as a charity with the Canada Revenue Agency. Restricted operational funding is provided by the Halifax Regional Municipality. The team actively fundraises for operational items outside of the scope of the funding agreement plus all capital items required to maintain the team in a state of good repair. We currently have over 150 dedicated volunteers with Halifax SAR and proud of the service we provide in the municipality.
We are interested in having a lawyer with us to advise us on issues that arise. We anticipate that most of the legal advice will centre around Human Resources in the volunteer context. Occasionally, there are external items that will arise. For more information, please contact Chief Director Kara Baisley at [email protected].
Missing Wills
Name on missing will: Marion MacInnis
Last known residence: Westville NS
Any lawyers with information please contact: Lynn MacDonald at [email protected] or (902) 396-5065
Name on missing will: Lisa Sarah Cinnamon
Last known residence: Hammonds Plains, NS
Any lawyers with information please contact: Vanja Mitrovic via email at [email protected] or by telephone at (902) 423-6361 (ext. 315).
Name on missing will: Kenneth David Kumar-Misir
Last known residence: Hammonds Plains, NS
Any lawyers with information please contact: Vanja Mitrovic via email at [email protected] or by telephone at (902) 423-6361 (ext. 315).
Name on missing will: Elizabeth May
Last known residence: Dartmouth, NS
Any lawyers with information please contact: Rebecca Wildsmith at [email protected] or (902) 830-4110.
Notice of Opportunity for Fixed-Term Agreement as Agent of the Director of Public Prosecutions
| The Atlantic Regional Office of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC) is seeking private-sector lawyers or law firms with experience prosecuting or defending criminal matters to assume responsibility for the conduct of prosecutions and related proceedings arising from the enforcement of various federal statutes, and assist the regional office in the judicial districts listed below. Colchester County, including court location of Truro and the circuit court of Shubenacadie for matters concerning charges under the Fisheries Act only (and all other Acts and Regulations as administered by DFO) – Secondary (REF: NS 07-2020-1) Colchester County, including court location of Truro and the circuit court of Shubenacadie – Primary (REF: NS 07-2020-2) |
| Applications will be accepted from July 15, 2020 to August 17, 2020; however, due to the current circumstances and in support of public health recommendations to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the deadline for the submission of applications in this process could be extended. |
| You are invited to visit the PPSC Agent Affairs website to obtain forms and further information with regards to this competition: http://www.ppsc-sppc.gc.ca/eng/aaf-man/index.html Please submit your completed application to: Angela Caseley Atlantic Regional Office Public Prosecution Service of Canada Suite 1400, Duke Tower 5251 Duke Street Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 1P3 Fax: 902 426-1351 [email protected] For any questions, please contact Ms. Sherry Katsihtis at 902 426-8801 or by email: [email protected]. |
News from the NS Courts
- In case you missed it, watch a recorded session of the Virtual Court Open House
- Two new judges appointed to the Provincial & Family Court
- Review Notices related to COVID-19
Career Opportunities
- Litigation Associate
- Associate Lawyer
- Associate Property Lawyer
- Crown Prosecutor
- Articled Clerk (2021-2022)
- Crown Attorney
- Agent for the Director of Public Prosecutions
- Assessment Developer
- Virtual Law Firm Assessor
- Practice Manager
- Legal Assistant
- Supervising Senior Crown Attorney
- Senior Legislative and Applied Research Analyst
- Prothonotary of the PEI Court of Appeal and Supreme Court
- Property Paralegal
- Chief Legal Officer
- Corporate Paralegal
- Legal Assistant
Upcoming Events
These events include NSBS events as well as professional development opportunities and related events posted to the events page on our website.
- CCDI Webinar: Busting myths – Challenging the myth of meritocracy (August 4, 2020)
- Workplace Violence and Threat Assessment: Essential guidance from the experts (August 13, 2020)
- CCDI Webinar: Cultural competence (August 20, 2020)
- It’s All About Attitude: Is there a duty to be happy at work? When is a bad attitude a disciplinary offence? (August 27, 2020)
- CCDI Webinar: Respectful ways to celebrate inclusive holidays (September 8, 2020)
- Sharper Than a Serpent’s Tooth: Responding to employee disloyalty and breaches of trust (September 10, 2020)
- Online LRA Qualification Assessment (September 16-October 7, 2020)
- CCDI Webinar: Combatting tokenism (September 22, 2020)