May InForum - Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society

May InForum: Second Vice-President Appointment, QC Appointments, 6 Steps to Make your Legal Workplace More Equitable & more

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Melanie Petrunia Appointed as Society’s Second Vice-President

We’re pleased to announce that Melanie Petrunia was appointed as the Society’s Second Vice President for the 2020-2021 Council year. The Second Vice-President holds a key position in governance and Melanie will continue on to become First Vice-President in June and then President of the Society in June 2022.

Melanie has contributed her time and insights as a Council member since June 2019 and has sat on the Credentials Committee and Racial Equity Committee.

“Melanie comes to the Society’s Executive with insight and experience on Council and committees. I know she will help the Society advance our strategic priorities. We are very fortunate to have Melanie on board.”
– Craig Garson QC, NSBS President

“I am happy to be appointed as the Society’s Second Vice President. My past experience as a Council member and on the Credentials Committee and Racial Equity Committee gives me valuable insight into the Society’s strategic priorities. I look forward to serving on the Executive and will work hard to further the goals and objectives of the Society.”
– Melanie Petrunia, NSBS Second Vice-President

Melanie’s Biography

Melanie Petrunia is a partner at Nijhawan McMillan Petrunia, a litigation boutique in Halifax, where she practices civil, commercial and tax litigation. She began her legal career at Stewart McKelvey before joining the federal Department of Justice, Tax Law Services. During her eight years with the DOJ, she regularly appeared in the Tax Court of Canada, the Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal. She joined her current firm after a brief period as a sole practitioner. She also serves as a part-time member of the Social Security Tribunal of Canada, Appeal Division.

NSBS Executive Director Opportunity

The Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society (NSBS) regulates the legal profession in Nova Scotia in the public interest by ensuring that lawyers are competent, ethical, and practice law in accordance with the standards set by the Society. As the regulator of legal services delivery, we also strive to improve the administration of justice in the province by working to promote access to justice and enhanced legal services for the people of Nova Scotia.

Reporting to the Council and working closely with the President of the NSBS, the Executive Director (ED) is responsible for the management and coordination of the Society’s operations, finances, organizational structure, and governance through a proactive, principled, and proportionate approach to all aspects of regulation.

The ED is responsible for implementing the Society’s strategic framework and its annual activity plan. The ED anticipates and plans for the Society’s evolving needs. The ED consistently demonstrates the Society’s commitment to substantive equality, diversity, and inclusion in the legal profession and in the administration of justice. An extraordinary relationship builder, the ED will intrinsically understand the Society’s mission and values and will draw upon analytical prowess and a progressive mindset to fully support the Council in its commitment to foster innovation in the delivery of legal services. The ED will lead by example in continuously enhancing the Society’s public profile, management systems, and regulatory objectives, as well as championing improvements to the delivery of justice and legal services in Nova Scotia.

The Society is a vibrant and ever-changing organization. Within the last month, the Society acknowledged the existence of systemic discrimination in our justice system and within the organization itself. Since then, we have set in place an external, independent review of our regulatory and operational policies and procedures. To move this important work forward, the ED will be fully supportive and experienced in dealing with issues related to the barriers created by racism, unconscious bias and discrimination and deeply committed to eliminating their existence.

As the ideal candidate, you are a professional with a post-secondary graduate level degree combined with a minimum of 10 years of experience as a proven leader. You know when to apply common sense and flexibility and you can easily build rapport and work effectively with diverse stakeholders. You are seasoned in managing a multi-faceted portfolio and you are forward-thinking and strategic in your approach. With a passion for continuous improvement, you are skilled in developing organizational structures and allocating resources with operational efficiency and effectiveness in mind, while maintaining appropriate budgetary control. Known for your superior communication skills and sound judgement, you are a proven facilitator and consensus builder who can effectively deliver complex messages ensuring clarity and compliance with established standards and practices. You value equity, diversity and inclusion. An interest in and/or knowledge of the Canadian legal community and justice system is necessary for this dynamic leadership opportunity. Practice experience and familiarity with self-governing bodies is also an asset.

If you are interested in significantly contributing to the important mission of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society, please submit your application at: [email protected]. This competition will remain open until filled.

The Society is committed to being a workplace that is free of discrimination, values diversity and isrepresentative, at all job levels, of designated groups and the citizens we serve. We welcome applicants from groups who have historically faced barriers to employment. We encourage you to self-identify in your application.

Nominate a Lawyer for the Distinguished Service Award by June 7th

The Society’s Distinguished Service Award (DSA), established in 1999, recognizes outstanding lawyers who have contributed significantly to their community, the legal profession and/or to the Society.

The 2020 DSA recipient was John Rafferty QC. Review the list of all recipients.

The DSA Committee reviews the nominations and makes a recommendation to Council based on these considerations:

Integrity: The recipient is of unimpeachably good character, with a reputation for the highest professional integrity.
Professional achievement: The recipient is amongst the leaders in the practice of law or the academic realm.
Service to the profession: The recipient has made long-term, exceptional volunteer contributions to elevate the legal profession through work with one or more of the following: the Society, the justice system, legal scholarship or otherwise.
Community service: The recipient is an outstanding contributor to the community, through volunteer service and a commitment to making the world a better place.
Reform: The recipient has made an outstanding contribution to the betterment of the law or the improvement of the justice system.
Overall: The recipient espouses the highest ideals of the legal profession and is a person to whom all members of the profession can look for inspiration.

Do you know an outstanding lawyer who fits the nomination criteria?

Nominate a lawyer by submitting a completed nomination form to [email protected] by June 7th.

2021 DSA Nomination Form (PDF)

Both members of the Society and members of the public may nominate a lawyer.

Questions? Please contact the Society’s Governance, Policy & Planning Officer, Katie Lister, at [email protected].

Twelve Lawyers Appointed to the Queen’s Counsel

Twelve of the province’s lawyers are being awarded the prestigious Queen’s counsel (QC) designation.

The QC designation is awarded annually to members of the legal profession to recognize exceptional merit and outstanding contributions to the legal community.

The appointees are:

Donald A. MacLeod, Halifax
Philip S. Gruchy, Halifax
Joseph Royden Trainor, Jr., Halifax
Jennifer Louise Cox, Truro
Shauna MacDonald, Halifax
Richard Niedermayer, Halifax
Suzanne I. Rix, Halifax
Terrance G. Sheppard, Dartmouth
Angela Doris Caseley, Bedford
Jeanne Desveaux, Bedford
Robert John Scott Hanf, Halifax
Michelle Marie Kelly, Halifax

A formal ceremony to honour the QC designates will be held at a later date.

Congratulations to all of the Queen’s counsel designates for this well-deserved recognition. I know that the lawyers in our province give their time generously to their profession and to their communities. To see them being recognized with a QC designation is a testament to their leadership and many contributions
Jacqueline Mullenger, acting executive director, Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society

Read the Nova Scotia Government news release

2021 Annual Meeting

When: Saturday, June 19, 2021, at 9:00 AM
Where: Virtually via Zoom

The Society’s Annual Meeting will be hosted virtually via Zoom due to public health guidelines. We will welcome the Society’s incoming President Tuma Young QC as our first Indigenous President. The Honourable Justice L.S. Tony Mandamin, retired Judge of the Federal Court, Trial Division and President David C. Dingwall, President and Vice-Chancellor of Cape Breton University will speak briefly at this event.

We will be asking members to register in advance. Registration is coming soon & a direct invite will be emailed to all members prior to the meeting.

Anti-Money Laundering/Client ID and Verification Webinar

Register for this educational webinar about the Society’s cash transactions, client identification and verification Regulations. This webinar is an opportunity to ask questions & learn more about these Regulations.
Wednesday, June 9, 2021, via Zoom.

Presenters: Jillian Barrington (in practice with Sheldon Nathanson Law), Bernadine MacAulay (NSBS General Counsel), and Elaine Cumming (NSBS Professional Responsibility Counsel).

Council Meetings

Diverse group of business people, entrepreneurs or office workers isolated on white background.

Six Steps to Make Your Legal Workplace Equitable

Wondering what you and your colleagues can do to make your legal workplace more equitable for everyone but you’re not sure what steps to take?

We’ve created a list of six steps that you can take to make your legal workplace more equitable for no monetary cost and require no special training.

In the coming months, we’ll publish scenarios for each of the six steps in our new blog series featured in InForum titled ‘Equity in Action: What Would You Do?‘ Each scenario in this blog series will be situations you or your colleagues may have already found yourselves in.

Review the 6 steps to make your legal workplace equitable

Contact List for Mortgage Discharges

The Canadian Bankers Association (“CBA”) has provided an updated list of bank officials to contact in the case of delays in the discharge of mortgages.

Mortgage Discharge Escalation Contact List (PDF)Download

Lawyers’ Insurance Association of Nova Scotia

FRAUD ALERT: “Dog Bite” Cheque Scam Resurfaces

NSLAP WELLNESS: Managing the Impact of COVID-19

Changes in Category: April 29, 2021-May 27, 2021

In every issue of our newsletter InForum, we provide updates on category changes.

The following members have changed to Practising status:

Nicole Marie Campbell

Marian F. Mancini

Emily Jane Mason

Micaela Anne Sheppard

The following members have changed to Non-Practising status:

Jocelyn Zoe Larissa Ferguson

Shauna Claire Elizabeth Hall-Coates

Olajumoke Damilare Odepe

Efe Maris Ogbonmwan

Amber Natasha Penney

Thilairani P. Pillay, QC

The following members have Retired:

Patrick L. Casey, QC

Terry Francis Thomas Degen

Dominic P. Goduto

Elizabeth Mary Haldane

Heather Jeanne Hill

The following members have Resigned:

Ishrath Muneer Ahmed

Subodhini David

Daniel Ross Jones

Robin Shilp Sharma

Katrina Anne Trask

Professional Responsibility

Revised Notice of Sanction Resolution: Adam Rodgers

For Your Information

National Study on well-being of legal professionals

Dear colleagues,

I am writing to invite you to participate in a national study on the well-being of legal professionals in Canada. In the next week you will receive an email forwarded from Dr. Nathalie Cadieux of the Université de Sherbrooke inviting you to complete a questionnaire about experiences related to your well-being.

The study is being administered by Dr. Cadieux and her research team, and adheres to rigorous research and security protocols through the Université de Sherbrooke. All responses are anonymous and will remain strictly confidential. Only the research team will have access to survey data in aggregate form.

The study is a collaborative initiative of all law societies in Canada, the Federation of Law Societies of Canada, and the Canadian Bar Association. It is led by the Federation through a national Steering Committee.

On behalf of the Steering Committee, I am writing to ask that you please take the time to complete the questionnaire. Your participation will provide important information about the determinants of well-being, both risk factors and factors that support well-being, among legal professionals in Canada. The information will also help law societies develop appropriate intervention strategies to better support legal professionals.

The questionnaire should take 30 to 45 minutes to complete. You can leave the questionnaire and return to it at any time, and continue from where you left off. Simply click on the secure link that will be provided in Dr. Cadieux’s email. Your response is kindly requested within two weeks of receipt of the survey.

There is more information about the well-being initiative here. You can also watch a short video about this project from Dr. Cadieux here. The survey link will follow in a separate email within the week.

The cooperation of lawyers and articling students in Nova Scotia is essential to the success of the study, and your participation in the national survey would be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards,

Morgan Cooper

Chair, National Well-being Study Steering Committee

Missing Wills

Name on will: Iris Umlah
Last known residence: Halifax, NS
Any lawyers with information please contact: Mallory Arnott at [email protected] or 902-921-1091.
Additional information: Her full name is Iris Ada Josephine Umlah & maiden name is Slaunwhite. Formerly of Terence Bay.

Name on will: Graham Russell MacKenzie
Last known residence: Kemptown
Any lawyers with information please contact: Angela Hudson at [email protected] or 902-890-5109.

Name on will: Donald S. Lim
Last known residence: Dartmouth, NS
Any lawyers with information please contact: Penny Lim at [email protected] or 604-708-3603.

News from the NS Courts

Career Opportunities

Upcoming Events

These events include NSBS events as well as professional development opportunities and related events posted to the events page on our website.