May InForum - Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society

May InForum: Join us at the June 13th Virtual Annual General Meeting

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Join us at the NSBS Virtual Annual General Meeting

Join us at the Society’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) Saturday, June 13, 2020, at 9:00 AM. This meeting will be a virtual meeting via Zoom.

The following business will be conducted at the AGM (prescribed by Section 10(2) of the Legal Profession Act):

The Executive Director must present the Annual Report for 2019/20;
Presentation of the Society’s Financial Statements;
Appointment of Auditors; and
Presentation of the Law Foundation report.

The President (Carrie Ricker) will also present her report and the incoming President (Jim Rossiter QC) will say a few words about the year ahead.

Please note that there will be no education component this year.

Learn more & register by June 10

COVID-19 FAQs & Resources for Return to Office Coming Soon

We continue to update the COVID-19 guidance to the profession on the nsbs.org website & support lawyers with the practice of law and delivery of legal services in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over the next few weeks, we will update this FAQ page with resources to assist members plan for a return to their office and guidance and checklists to manage particular risks associated with returning to the office.

Review the COVID-19 FAQs, Resources & more

Provide your Feedback by June 30th: New Succession Planning Standard

The Law Office Management Standards Committee has extended the deadline for member feedback on the introduction of the new Succession Planning Standard to Tuesday, June 30, 2020.

The Committee will review all comments received and revise the draft Standard, as necessary. It will then present the standard to the Society’s Council for approval.

Provide your Feedback

2020 NSBS Presidents’ Leadership Award Recipient Sydney Hull

Congratulations to the recipient of the 2020 NSBS Presidents’ Leadership Award Sydney Hull!

“As a lifetime Nova Scotian with a love for inclusive and collaborative leadership, I am humbled and honoured to receive this award.” (Sydney Hull)

Established by Past Presidents Philip J. Star QC and Catherine S. Walker QC, this 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.”

Sydney was recognized Thursday, May 21, 2020 through the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University virtual convocation celebration.

Equity Considerations During COVID-19

Angela Simmonds, the Society’s Equity & Access Manager, shares equity considerations during COVID-19 in a recent article included in the CBA-NS magazine Nova Voce.

“Understanding the history of African Nova Scotians and Mi’kmaq peoples in the midst of this pandemic requires an element of knowledge and critical evaluation of equity and inclusion. Implementation of equitable policies involves those in positions of power continuing to educate themselves and seriously considering the burden those policies are placing on these communities.”

Read the Article

Changes to Admission Requirements & Start Dates in New Bar Admission Program

With the new Bar admission program launching this year through the Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLED), we want to remind you of some changes and new key dates for students to register and start the program.

Under the previous program, articled clerks started their Bar admission program in September, but in the new Practice Readiness Education Program (PREP) students can begin as early as June 1, 2020.

Registration for PREP is now open and students are encouraged to register as early as possible to select their desired schedule. Once registered, students can begin phase one, the Foundation Modules when the materials are released to get a head start on PREP. Or, they can wait and follow the more rigorous schedule.

“Encouraging your students to begin their PREP studies as soon as possible will allow them to build on their foundational knowledge, making them more productive and efficient during their articles,” says Dr. Kara Mitchelmore, CEO of CPLED.

For those students who have yet to secure articles, CPLED has changed its admission requirements for the June and December 2020 intakes of PREP. Students with a Canadian common law degree or Certificate of Qualification (CQ) from the Federation of Law Societies of Canada may now register and complete PREP without secured articles. This change provides students with an opportunity to complete their Bar admission program without delay. As well, it allows students to develop the necessary competencies and practice lawyer skills within PREP which they can apply immediately when they begin their articles.

During these difficult times, law firms and organizations are still encouraged to do their part in training the next generation of lawyers by hiring articling students. This decision was not intended to hinder firms from hiring articling students but rather to help students who are having a difficult time finding an articling position continue on their path to becoming a lawyer.

Registration for the June 2020 intake of PREP closes on Friday, June 26 and students must begin their PREP studies no later than Tuesday, June 30.

Lawyers’ Insurance Association of Nova Scotia

Changes in Category: April 30, 2020-May 28, 2020

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

Welcome to the following articled clerks:

Maile Joy Graham-Laidlaw

Mealey Jade MacDonald

The following members have changed to the Practising Lawyer category:

Rachel Bushuev

Victoria P. Rees, QC

Nadia Shivji

The following members have changed to Non-Practising status:

Louisa Chioma Nnenna Agwu-Utah

Mary Huguette Brown

Gregg William Knudsen

Monica Eliza Martalog

Tanvi Ronak Nagda

Tricia Marian Ralph

Andrew James Scott

The following members have Retired:

Susan Dale Clarke

Judicial Appointments:

The Hon. Diane Rowe, a former Senior Solicitor with the provincial government, was appointed to the Bench on May 14, 2020. Justice Rowe will preside on the Supreme Court in Bridgewater.

For Your Information

The Federal Department of Justice has confirmed that the coming into force date for Bill-78 (the Act to amend the Divorce Act) will not occur on July 1, 2020 and will be deferred to a later date due to complications associated with Covid-19. This information has not yet been made public and is being shared with members of the Nova Scotia Bar as stakeholders. The deferment and new coming into force date are expected to be announced publicly in the near future.
Notice of ABC Spring 2020 Advertisement Campaign: Grow your career. Serve your community. 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 some applications is Monday, June 22, 2020. It’s easy to apply with our new online application.

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.

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.

Online LRA Qualification Assessment (June 3, 2020)
Spotlight on Compulsive Behaviour: The duty to accommodate gaming, gambling, sex addiction, and more (June 9, 2020)
CCDI Webinar: Accommodations – The ultimate checklist (June 9, 2020)
Avoiding & Managing Sibling Conflicts in Estate Matters (June 11, 2020)
NSBS Virtual Annual General Meeting (June 13, 2020)
DigiMarCon America 2020 – Digital Marketing Conference (June 16, 2020)
Sickness and Disability Leave: Accommodating employees, preventing abuse, facilitating return to work (June 18, 2020)
CCDI Webinar: Ageism and age discrimination (June 23, 2020)
A Guide to Preparing for Civil Trials (June 30, 2020)