January InForum: CPLED Update, Upcoming Education Session, 2nd VP Nomination & more
Table of Contents
Change is on the horizon: Update on the new Skills Course
Save the Date: History, Culture and the Impacts of Residential Schools
Gender Equity Committee (GEC) Gender Discrimination and Harassment Survey: Thank you & Follow Up
2019 Statistical Snapshot of Nova Scotia’s Legal Profession
Correction to Allnovascotia.com article
Society Nominates Denise Mentis-Smith QC as 2020-2021 Second Vice-President
Nominations Open for Second Vice-President
Risk Advisory: Client ID Rule Changes, Money Laundering, & New Tool to Help
Lawyers’ Insurance Association of Nova Scotia
Changes in Category: November 28, 2019-January 30, 2020
Change is on the horizon: Update on the new Skills Course
The Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLED) will be launching the new Skills Course, PREP in June 2020 for articling clerks in Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan. The Practice Readiness Education Program or PREP is an innovative program that provides the lawyers of tomorrow with the skills to thrive in a professional legal environment.
To better accommodate students and firms, CPLED will be offering two intakes each year to the program, students can begin in either June or December.
Registration
Registration for PREP will open on Monday, March 2 on CPLED’s website. This may be a change for some jurisdictions as students will need to register with CPLED directly for their Bar admission program and with their law society for student membership.
Admission Requirements
Students will need to provide proof of a Canadian common law degree or certificate of qualification (CQ) from the Federation of Law Societies of Canada.
PREP is intended to be completed while students are articling, however, students** can enroll and begin the online Foundation Modules, phase one, prior to securing an articling position.
All PREP students must, however, secure and start their articling position as well as register with a CPLED participating law society before the end of phase one, Foundation Modules.
For more information on admission requirements and starting PREP prior to securing an articling position, visit CPLED’s website.
**Please note: The NSBS is currently reviewing their rules to decide if students can begin PREP prior to becoming articled clerks with the Society.
Program Cost
The total program cost for PREP is $6,100. What you may not know is this cost is subsidized by CPLED’s participating law societies.
For Nova Scotia articled clerks, the Society 2020/2021 is offering a subsidy of $2,350 towards PREP tuition for 2020/2021. The remaining tuition fees students will be responsible for is $3,750. Payment plan options are available.
For more information on the cost structure of PREP tuition fees, visit CPLED’s website.
Looking for more information on PREP, admission requirements, program costs and registration? Watch this video, hosted Dr. Kara Mitchelmore, CEO of CPLED.
Save the Date: History, Culture and the Impacts of Residential Schools
History, Culture and the Impacts of Residential Schools facilitated by Donna Morris
February 28, 2020 – 10:00 AM- 2:00 PM
This education session facilitated by Donna Morris and coordinated by the Society’s Truth and Reconciliation Working Group is a great opportunity to add to your Professional Development Plan. Details & location TBA.
Gender Equity Committee (GEC) Gender Discrimination and Harassment Survey: Thank you & Follow Up
Thank you to the 400 members who provided feedback and shared their personal experiences in the gender discrimination and harassment survey distributed in November 2019. We recognize and appreciate the time and effort that went into these responses. It is clear that the survey touched on a topic of concern to members.
We are continuing to review the responses and are preparing a report on the survey results to share with Council and members. Please note that all information provided in the survey will remain anonymous and we will remove any potentially identifying information before it is included in the report.
We are hopeful that the feedback will help to shape the GEC and the Society’s priorities on the important issues of gender discrimination and harassment.
Questions? Please contact the Society’s Equity and Access Manager, Angela Simmonds.
2019 Statistical Snapshot of Nova Scotia’s Legal Profession
Each year we share current statistics about Nova Scotia’s legal profession.
The statistical snapshot includes:
- numbers of practising lawyers and non-practising (including retired) members,
- years at Bar,
- geographic distribution,
- gender and diversity data,
- types of practice, and areas of law.
Correction to Allnovascotia.com article
Please note that the publication All Nova Scotia published an article Wednesday, January 29, 2020, at www.allnovascotia.com titled “Boudrot Clients Payout Could Top $1M” with incorrect information.
The article incorrectly identified LIANS as the Society’s Lawyers’ Fund for Client Compensation (LFCC). The article has since been updated with a note from the editor clarifying the publication’s error. We apologize for any confusion.
Society Nominates Denise Mentis-Smith QC as 2020-2021 Second Vice-President
The Governance and Nominating Committee (GNC) nominates lawyer Denise Mentis-Smith QC as the Society’s Second Vice-President for the 2020-2021 Council year.
In making its nomination, the GNC seeks integrity, respect for others, leadership and communication skills, strategic thinking and consensus building. The Society strives for diversity of leadership with respect to personal characteristics, area of practice and geographic location.
“I’m delighted with the GNC’s nomination of Denise Mentis-Smith as the Society’s Second Vice-President,” said President Carrie Ricker. “Denise’s combination of practice experience, volunteer work with the Society and other community organizations make her an ideal choice. Throughout her career, she’s demonstrated leadership in promoting access to justice as well as equity, diversity and inclusion. I know she will work hard and help the Society move forward on our strategic priorities. Denise’s warmth, humour and enthusiasm are, and will continue to be, greatly valued and appreciated by her colleagues.”
Denise Mentis-Smith QCgraduated from the Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University in 1995. She was called to the Nova Scotia Bar in 1996 and is currently practising with the law firm Harris North Law in Bedford, Nova Scotia. Denise’s practice over the past 23 years has focused on plaintiff personal injury law and over the past 5 years, she has developed a practice in the area of wills & estates. Denise has also developed an extensive practice in mediation and dispute resolution and has appeared before the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal.
In April of 2018, Denise was appointed the Queen’s Counsel designation and in January 2019, she was appointed a member of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission.
Denise also currently serves as a member of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society Complaints Investigative Committee and she has been a past member of the CBA Nova Scotia Equity Committee, the NSBS Racial Equity Committee and the Nova Scotia Police Commission. Denise has also served as a Mentor with the Dalhousie Women and the Law Mentorship Program and the Indigenous Black and Mi’kmaq Initiative Mentorship Program.
Denise was a speaker in the Dr. Carrie Best, Champion for Human Rights documentary film produced by Maroon films, a speaker during African Nova Scotia History Month in Truro, Nova Scotia and a speaker at the East Preston Empowerment Academy Society Legal Clinic.
Denise’s current memberships include the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society, the Canadian Bar Association, the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers, the Atlantic Provinces Trial Lawyers Association and the Advocates Society.
Denise has been involved in fundraising for various charity organizations including Mulgrave Park Association, World Vision, the United Way, the Heart and Cancer Fund. She also spearheaded a fundraising campaign to raise money for disadvantaged youth to enable them to participate in Basketball Nova Scotia’s provincial program.
Nominations Open for Second Vice-President
The Second Vice-President holds a key position in governance and continues on to become First Vice-President and then President of the Society.
Additional practising lawyers may be nominated for Second Vice-President until February 15, 2020, by:
- Completing the Nomination Form
- Submitting the completed Nomination Form to elections@nsbs.org
Questions? Please contact the Society at elections@nsbs.org.
Risk Advisory: Client ID Rule Changes, Money Laundering, & New Tool to Help
The Society’s Council approved changes to the Client ID Rules effective January 1, 2020. We’ve outlined the changes at .
This is an opportunity to review the Client ID Regulations at 4.13 with the lawyers and staff in your firm.
You may be a target to criminals or terrorists seeking to defraud you or to launder money. It’s a reality of practice that isn’t limited to just Vancouver, Toronto or Halifax. Criminal organizations are active in our communities making money off drugs, human trafficking, fraud etc.
If you do transactions (property or commercial) or corporate work, and especially if you don’t see yourself as at risk, you are a target. Criminals with money are often smart enough that you could have trouble suspecting anything amiss. They will not look like criminals, but they will look for lawyers with their guard down. Remember, they want your good reputation to help cloak their assets.
The Federation of Law Societies (FLSC) has developed a risk advisory, which includes a helpful checklist that outlines risks of money laundering and terrorist financing.
The Society’s Professional Responsibility Counsel Elaine Cumming works with FLSC on this project and is a great resource if you have questions or suspicions. Connect with Elaine at ecumming@nsbs.org.
For practice support and questions, please contact the Society’s Legal Services Support at lss@nsbs.org.
Lawyers’ Insurance Association of Nova Scotia:
- FRAUD ALERT: Bogus cheque scam in “Dog Bite” Case
- NSLAP Wellness: Mental Health During Changes Within Your Organization
- LIANS Claims Review Committee Seeks New Members
Changes in Category: November 28, 2019-January 30, 2020
In every issue of our newsletter InForum, we provide updates on category changes.
The Society welcomes these lawyers who were newly called to the bar:
| Samantha Elizabeth Allen |
| Katie Elizabeth Armstrong |
| Michael Emmett Berrigan |
| Michael Bourgeois |
| Morgan Leo Jarvis |
| Terence Lee Katerynych |
| Robert Michael Richards |
| Kristyn Anne Stevens |
| Barry Edward Wadsworth |
| Jacqueline Susan Walsh |
| Marci Christine Wiggins |
| Robert Blakeney Williams |
The following members have changed to the Practising Lawyer category:
| Cameron Robert Anderson |
| Emma Mae Wilson |
The following members have changed to Non-Practising status:
| Emma Katharine Baasch |
| Lydia Katherine Billingsley |
| Alison Jane Bird |
| Kody Douglas Blois |
| Tim Hervé Dubé |
| Ashley Jennifer Hill |
| Margaret Jean Keliher |
| Tyler Creighton Pulley |
| Alison Noelle Steeves |
| Enoch John Wu |
| Justin Christopher Yee |
| Diane Katherine Zwicker |
The following member has Resigned:
Leanne Wanda MacMillan
The following members have Retired:
| William Scott Bennett |
| Thomas Paul Donovan, QC |
For Your Information
- Online Survey Now Open on Division of Family Property
The Government wants to hear from you on whether changes are needed to modernize the Matrimonial Property Act, which governs how property is divided at the end of a marriage or registered domestic partnership. You can share your opinions through an online survey available at: https://novascotia.ca/family-property-law-survey You can also e-mail your feedback to info@narrativeresearch.ca. The deadline for submitting comments is February 20, 2020.
- Legal Info Nova Scotia’s Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) can help bring you clients and give you an opportunity to make a difference in your community. We’ve made thousands of referrals to lawyers – we know our stuff! For more information and to join the LRS please visit our website at legalinfo.org/lawyers/lawyer-referral-service. The Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia is a registered charity committed to helping people with legal issues find the legal information and advice they need.
- Information on the Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families (the Act). The Act came into effect January 1, 2020 and it represents a significant shift within the Canadian child and family services system for Indigenous children. The Act affirms that the inherent right to self-government under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 includes jurisdiction in relation to child and family services, including legislative authority and the authority to administer and enforce these laws with respect to such services. Learn more.
- Notice to the Profession: Health Canada Fentanyl and Acetylfentanyl Certificates. Fentanyl, as listed at subitem 16(5) in Schedule I of the CDSA, and Acetylfentanyl, not listed but captured under item 16 in Schedule I of the CDSA, currently have no known isomers that could have been seized and analyzed by Health Canada. As a result, for all Certificates of Analysis that say “fentanyl, or its isomers”, the substance referred to was Fentanyl, and for “Acetylfentanyl, or its isomers”, the substance referred to was Acetylfentanyl. Learn more.
- Proposed Amendments to the Land Registration Administration Regulations. The Registrar General’s Office is preparing amendments to the Land Registration Administration Regulations and invites comments on the proposed amendments. Comments should be directed to LRARegulation2020@novascotia.ca and be received no later than March 3, 2020. Review the proposed amendments & learn more.
- Missing Wills: