May InForum - Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society

May InForum: Register for the 2022 Annual Meeting, NSBS Awards & more

Society News

Register for the 2022 Annual Meeting

When: Saturday, June 18, 2022, at 9:00 AM
Where: Virtually via Zoom

Join us for the 2022 Annual Meeting held virtually via Zoom as we welcome the Society’s incoming President Melanie Petrunia. The meeting agenda will be distributed before the meeting to registrants and also posted here.

Please register in advance at .

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information about joining this Zoom meeting. Prior to joining the meeting on June 18th, please review our Zoom tips. We also recommend that you join a test Zoom meeting to familiarize yourself with Zoom and test your microphone/speakers.

Award for Mi’kmaq & Indigenous Peoples Excellence in the Legal Profession (AMIE)

We’re happy to introduce the Society’s new Award for Mi’kmaq & Indigenous Peoples Excellence in the Legal Profession (AMIE) which recognizes outstanding Mi’kmaq and Indigenous lawyers within Nova Scotia who have contributed to their community, their Nation and the legal profession and to the Society.

The creation of this award was approved by Council at the January 2022 meeting.

The AMIE Committee will review nominations and make recommendations to Council based on the following criteria:

The Nominee is a Mi’kmaw or Indigenous lawyer (practising or non practising) within Nova Scotia.
Community Service: The recipient contributes and shows commitment to the Mi’kmaq & Indigenous community through volunteer work.
Reform: The recipient has made and continues to advocate for reform and change in the justice system to ensure substantive equity for the Mi’kmaq communities and Indigenous peoples living in Nova Scotia.
Leadership: The recipient is a community leader in striving for change.
Mentorship: The recipient is a mentor to other Mi’kmaq and Indigenous lawyers.
Overall: The recipient has a career in advancing Mi’kmaq and Indigenous rights and legal traditions.

Do you know an outstanding Mi’kmaw or Indigenous lawyer who fits the nomination criteria?

Nominate a lawyer by submitting a completed online nomination form or a PDF nomination form by 4:00 PM on June 30, 2022.

Questions about this award? Contact the Society’s Equity and Access at equity@nsbs.org.  

AMIE Online Nomination Form

Please note that you will not receive a confirmation email. This page will refresh and display a confirmation message confirming that we have received your submission.

Nominate a Lawyer for the Distinguished Service Award by May 31st

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

The 2021 DSA recipient was Malcolm Jeffcock QC. Review the full list of 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 online nomination form or send a completed PDF nomination form to jwillwerth@nsbs.org by 4:00 PM on May 31, 2022. Please note: Late applications will be accepted if Jane Willwerth is informed via email before the deadline that the application is coming.

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

Questions? Please contact Jane WIllwerth, Strategy and Engagement Advisor, at jwillwerth@nsbs.org.

Distinguished Service Award Online Nomination Form

Please note that you will not receive a confirmation email. This page will refresh and display a confirmation message confirming that we have received your submission.

May Council Meeting Documents

The Society’s Council met Friday, May 20, 2022, at 9:00 AM in person and via Zoom.

Review the May Council meeting documents

Society’s Library Open by Appointment Only

The Society’s Library is open to members/authorized secondary clientele on Tuesdays and Thursdays by appointment only.

How the appointment system will work:

Members/authorized secondary clientele wishing to conduct a database search or library material search are asked to email the library at nsbslib@nsbs.org or call (902) 425-2665 to book an appointment.
- Library appointments are for a maximum of 60 minutes, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Appointments are available at 9 am, 10:30 am and 2 pm.
- If you reach the end of your research period and need another appointment, please speak with our staff.
You must be fully vaccinated. Please provide your proof of vaccine in advance or have your proof of vaccination ready to show upon arrival to the appointment prior to entry. Refusal to complete this process will result in the cancellation of your appointment.
You are required to bring AND wear your own face covering and to follow safety guidelines while in the Library. Refusal to wear a face-covering will be grounds for the cancellation of your appointment.
Please arrive on time for your appointment. We want to ensure you have maximum time for your research and we need time to sanitize stations prior to the next appointment.
Photocopying and printing are available during your appointment, however, only staff will have access to the photocopier and will copy on your behalf. Members can invoice for all copies or print jobs. We will not accept cash at this time.

The health and safety of our members and staff is our top priority. We are complying with public health order directives including social distancing and cleaning requirements.

If you are ill on the day of your appointment, please contact the Library and reschedule your appointment. If you arrive at the library and show signs of illness and you have not cancelled the appointment, library staff reserve the right to cancel your appointment. Another appointment will be offered, if available.

We continue to offer “curbside” pick-up and drop-off and members can continue to access the library catalogue. The Lawyers’ Reading Room is accessible by logging into the member area of the Society’s website.

Please note that appointments are not available for general work/study, and we will not be able to accommodate walk-ins. After-hours access remains suspended for the foreseeable future.

Questions? Contact the Library at nsbslib@nsbs.org or call 902-425-2665.

Barristers’ Gowning Room is Open

The Barristers’ Gowning Room is open at the Law Courts for lawyers who are attending court or who have made a library appointment. Please contact the Society’s Library staff at nsbslib@nsbs.org or call (902) 425-2665 or connect with the Sheriffs upon entry to the courthouse to receive the room access code.

2022 NSBS President’s Leadership Award Recipient

The NSBS President’s Leadership Award emphasizes the importance of leadership in a lawyer’s career and honours the exemplary volunteer commitment and leadership of Past Presidents to the work of the Society.

Established by Past Presidents Philip J. Star QC and Catherine S. Walker QC, the award is presented each year at the Schulich School of Law to a graduating student who, in the eyes of the teaching faculty, has “exemplified consistent leadership qualities while at law school.”

A special congratulations to the 2022 recipient of the NSBS President’s Leadership Award Shaniqwa Thomas!

“I was raised to “lift as I climb”, it’s an honour to receive and be recognized for this award! I will continue to forge a path for those to come behind me by advocating for racial justice and law reform.” – Shaniqwa Thomas

Connect with the Society’s Equity & Access Team

Do you have a question for our Equity & Access team? Members can contact the department by connecting with Jennifer Dickison, Equity & Access Manager at jdickison@nsbs.org or Jubanti Toppo, Equity & Access Advisor at jdhantoppo@nsbs.org.

Are you looking for Equity & Access Resources? Review our Equity and Cultural Competence related resources in our Practice Resource Search.

Your Practice

Lawyers’ Insurance Association of Nova Scotia

FRAUD ALERT: LAWPRO Issues Warning for Fraudulent IDs Used with Mortgages

NSLAP WELLNESS: Indigenous Peoples and Trauma

Changes in Category: April 28, 2022-May 26, 2022

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

These members have changed to Practising status:

Katie Elizabeth Armstrong

Gary Patrick Mooney

Mirsada Stasevic

Sarah Julianne Stuart

These members have changed to Non-Practising status:

Stephen Michael Deturbide

Gillian Ruth Lush

David Murray

James Moorhouse

These members have changed to Retired status:

Annette M. Bouche QC

Walter Richey Clarke, QC

These individuals have Resigned:

Jennifer Sarah Bond

Susan C. Brousseau

Susan Rita Hope Winfield

For Your Information

CPLED Stakeholder Engagement

The Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLED) is committed to continuously enhancing and evolving the Practice Readiness Education Program (PREP) to be recognized as a “best-in-class” Bar admission program. To achieve this, CPLED is engaging with key stakeholders to gather information on potential skill gaps experienced by lawyers who have been called to the Bar in the last five years. CPLED has contracted ACT to facilitate and analyze the feedback received to provide a report that CPLED will use to update PREP for implementation in their Summer 2024 program.

ACT is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization with a 60+ year history of helping people achieve education and workplace success. ACT’s Credentialing and Career Services team works with organizations that educate, train, and assess competencies for practice in professions including law, nursing, veterinary medicine, and psychology. Their expertise is in research to identify and validate the knowledge, skills and attributes essential for success in job roles or professions. Recent engagements include work with the Federation of Law Societies of Canada and the Law Society of Alberta.

On behalf of CPLED, ACT will conduct a series of virtual focus groups with lawyers who have been called to the Bar in the past five years, Principals and firm articling supervisors. The focus groups will be 90-minutes and take place in June of 2022. During the sessions, participants will have the opportunity to share their perspectives on PREP and the competencies necessary for success in early practice.

Sessions for Nova Scotia participants will be held at the following times:

Principals and Firm Articling Supervisor

Thursday, June 16, 2022, from noon to 1:30 p.m. AT
Tuesday, June 21, 2022, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. AT

Recent Calls

Wednesday, June 8, 2022, from noon to 1:30 p.m. AT
Tuesday, June 14, 2022, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. AT

If you are interested in participating, please fill out a brief survey by Wednesday, May 25, 2022. The information provided will be used by ACT only to coordinate the virtual focus groups. The data will not be shared with CPLED.

ACT will notify selected individuals by Friday, May 27. If more people express interest than can be accommodated, ACT will make selections to balance the representation of practice settings, professional background, and demographic characteristics.

If selected, you will:

Prepare for the focus group by reviewing the discussion questions in advance
Commit to a 90-minute web-based focus group session
Be willing to engage in discussion with other lawyers during the webinar

Privacy considerations:

The ACT will record the focus groups to fill in any gaps in their notes after the session concludes. ACT will not share the recordings with CPLED. They will destroy the audio files within one month of the meeting date.

In addition, all feedback obtained during the session will be anonymized in the report ACT submits to CPLED. Names will not be attached to specific comments made.

CPLED welcomes your potential participation in this critical project. Please reach out to Dr. Patricia Muenzen at patricia.muenzen@act.org with any questions.

CBA-NS Survey: Experiences of Individuals in Equity-Seeking Groups Throughout Their Legal Careers

The Canadian Bar Association – Nova Scotia Branch (CBA-NS) would like to gain a better understanding of the experiences of individuals in equity-seeking groups throughout their legal careers. From entering law school to beginning and maintaining your practice – CBA-NS would like to hear about your journey and any challenges you may have faced along the way.

The survey is administered using the online platform, ThoughtExchange. All responses will remain anonymous and will assist the CBA in developing future initiatives and services to help address challenges experienced. Access the survey to participate throughout the month of May. Remember to check back throughout the month to add thoughts and rate those submitted by others!Access the survey

Questions? Contact the CBA-NS at cbainfo@cbans.ca.

Supreme Court (Family Division) Liaison Committee Meeting Minutes

Review the March 2023 meeting minutes and the Devonshire Scheduling Guidelines.

Recruitment for Legal Membership at the Nova Scotia Health Research Ethics Board

The Nova Scotia Health Research Ethics Board (NSH REB) is recruiting new members to fill the role of legal representatives on our virtual provincial board. The REB’s role is to review cutting-edge clinical research that involves human participants or their data and that takes place within Nova Scotia Health to ensure that the research respects and protects our research participants, patients and communities.

Legal members are persons knowledgeable in the relevant law (i.e. health, privacy) and cannot be part of NS Health legal counsel or risk manager. They represent the legal and ethical perspectives for research participants. Their role is to ensure that the information provided to research participants is readable, correct, and understood. The NSH REB does not expect that legal members understand the science behind the studies. It is the responsibility of scientific and medical board members to simplify the research study protocols so everyone on the board understands the study and what is expected of the research participants.

WHEN: Meetings are held once per month on Mondays from 4:00 – 6:00 pm

WHERE: Virtually through ZOOM. Links and materials sent through email.

INTERESTED? Want to learn more? Please email: ResearchEthics@nshealth.ca

Hearing and Speech Nova Scotia (HSNS) seeking volunteers

Hearing and Speech Nova Scotia (HSNS) is currently seeking a volunteer from the Nova Scotia Barristers Society to serve on our passionate and engaged Board of Directors. The Board of Directors meet monthly, in addition to periodic committee meetings.

Hearing and Speech Nova Scotia, funded by the NS Department of Health and Wellness, is responsible for providing audiology services to Nova Scotians of all ages, and speech-language pathology (SLP) services to preschool children and adults. HSNS delivers integrated and standardized provincial services across 35 clinic sites, located in 25 communities. Since its inception in 1963, it is estimated that HSNS has provided services to 400,000 Nova Scotians, recording over 1.5 million clinical visits. Nationally certified Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists with support from Communication Disorder Technicians, provide core services (prevention, diagnosis, and treatment) and collaborate with partners to deliver special programs (e.g. Autism, Stroke, Cochlear Implant). HSNS is accredited with Accreditation Canada. For more information, please refer to our website https://hearingandspeech.ca/

Interested parties should email HSNS at: info@nshsc.nshealth.ca

Barristers robe, shirt tabs and waistcoat for sale – $600

Purchased new from Harcourts and only worn a few times. Tabs are size small, white court shirt is size 12 (13 T), and the robe measures about 54 inches. I am 5’7” tall and was around a size 6 or 8 when purchased. Please contact Noémi Westergard at Noemi.westergard@novascotia.ca

New Application Process for Judicial Appointments Open

Nova Scotia lawyers who want to be provincial court judges can now apply under the Province’s new application process.

“Nova Scotia needs to have a strong pool of candidates who are of the highest integrity, exhibit professional excellence and reflect the wide diversity of this province,” said Brad Johns, Attorney General and Minister of Justice. “I invite members of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society who represent the best of Nova Scotia and who are interested in being judges to apply.”

The government recently revised its Provincial Judicial Appointments Guidelines, updating the process for appointing judges to the criminal court. The guidelines include a new independent advisory committee, which will recommend candidates to the minister of justice.

The seven-member advisory committee is chaired by retired Justice N.M. (Nick) Scaravelli.

The guidelines ensure that appointments to the bench continue to be based on merit and professional excellence. Gender, racial and cultural diversity, geographical representation and commitment to public service are among the criteria for the appointment of judges.

There are currently two vacancies on the provincial court.

The Provincial Judicial Appointments Guidelines and the application form are available at: https://novascotia.ca/just/Court_Services/.

Individuals who previously submitted applications are encouraged to reapply using the new application form.

Members of the Advisory Committee on Provincial Judicial Appointments:

retired Justice N.M. (Nick) Scaravelli, Chair
Paulette Anderson, public representative
Natalie Borden, public representative
Matthew Darrah, on recommendation of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society
Judge Ann Marie MacInnes, on recommendation of the chief judge of the Provincial court
Anil Mohan, member of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society
Jade Pictou, on recommendation of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society

Read the Province’s news release

Notice of Spring 2022 ABC Advertisement Campaign

You can make a difference. Serve on an agency, board, or commission.

Serving on an agency, board, or commission can help you grow personally and professionally while making a real impact in your community.

The deadline for applications to adjudicative ABCs is Tuesday, May 31, 2022. Applications for non-adjudicative ABCs will be accepted at any time but it is expected that departments will begin screening them soon after May 31st.

To learn more and apply visit: https://novascotia.ca/abc or call 1-866-206-6844 (toll free).

The Government of Nova Scotia has an Employment Equity Policy. We welcome applications from Aboriginal people, African Nova Scotians, other racially visible people, persons with disabilities, women, and other employment equity groups. Applicants are encouraged to self-identify.

Missing Wills

Name on will: Geraldine Calbury
Last known residence: Middle Sackville
Any lawyers with information please contact Shalen Calbury at shallencalbury@yahoo.ca or (902) 448-4161

Name on will: Dorothy Marie MacIssac
Last known residence: Pictou
Any lawyers with information please contact John Robinson at john.robinson@eastlink.ca or (902) 595-0822

Name on will: Kenneth Strange
Last known residence: Dartmouth
Any lawyers with information please contact Arthur Strange at Bikerbow@yahoo.ca or (647) 860-3692

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.