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Proposed Test Cases About Cultural Assessment Reports

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On May 10, 2017, Wayne van der Meide, Regional Manager of the Case Management and Litigation Group, in Ottawa participated in a CTV interview regarding Legal Aid Ontario’s proposed test cases about cultural assessment reports.  The use of cultural assessment reports in court is an important issue to address in all jurisdictions and Nova Scotia’s efforts in this regard are referenced in the interview. You can view the interview from the link below.

http://www.ctv.ca/YourMorning/Video/The-importance-of-cultural-assessment-reports-in-court-vid1119826

 


 

Teens Now Talk Youth in Production Session

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On April 29, 2017 Nicole Rovers, Staff Lawyer, Antigonish Office, participated in an interview session with African Nova Scotia youth for the Teens Now Talk Youth in Production session. This session was an opportunity for youth to connect with the professions they dream of having and to help empower them to realize their dreams can and will come true.  Below is a group picture and Nicole is the fourth person in the back row going from left to right.

Low Income Transit Pass Program

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You may qualify for a Halifax Transit Low Income Transit Pass!  For details on this Program, please visit: http://www.halifax.ca/transit/LowIncomePass.php

Training on Supporting Survivors of Sexual Violence

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The Sexual Violence Strategy has launched training sessions called:  Supporting Survivors of Sexual Violence:  A Nova Scotia Resource.  This resource is a great tool for anyone in contact with survivors of sexual violence.  Please see handout below regarding the training.

Impact of Systemic Racism on African-Canadian Offenders

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Staff Lawyers Brandon Rolle, Christa Thompson and others have urged that judges take into account systemic racism before sentencing their African-Canadian clients.  Great work by these Staff Lawyers in bringing forward this very important issue!  Below is a link to the National Post article on this issue to which our staff contributed.

https://www.google.ca/amp/news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/consider-impact-of-systemic-racism-before-sentencing-black-offenders-canadian-judges-urged/amp

Wagmatcook Court to Open September 2017

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A new court is scheduled to open in September 2017 in the Wagmatcook Culture and Heritage Centre. This Court will provide service to residents of Wagmatcook, Waycobah and their surrounding communities in Victoria County. The Court will provide services appropriate to the Mi’kmaq culture, including a wellness court and Gladue Court as well as routine Provincial Court matters. It is anticipated that sentencing and healing circles will also be held at this Court.

Picture from April 19, 2017 Memorandum of Understanding and Collaboration Signing Ceremony

Nova Scotia Legal Aid will be providing services at the new Court and is proud to be a partner in this initiative which recognizes the culture and values of our Indigenous communities.

Further details can be found at the links below.

Cape Breton Post:

http://www.capebretonpost.com/news/local/2017/4/20/new-court-for-cape-breton-first-nation-communities.html

NS Government Press Release:

https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20170424002

Survey for Family Lawyers: Do You Have Ideas About Legal Coaching?

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From the National Self-Represented Litigants Project (NSRLP) – March 13, 2017:

The NSRLP has embarked on a major project involving “legal coaching,” another form of unbundled legal service delivery we believe responds to the needs (and budgets) of self-represented litigants. Legal coaching is a form of unbundling that envisions an ongoing relationship between the lawyer and the client from the start of the file, empowers clients to take the next step in their litigation on their own, and provides them with more control over their matter by assuming a partnership with their lawyer.

NSRLP Research Fellow Nikki Gershbain has been meeting with lawyers, self-represented litigants and other justice sector stakeholders to secure feedback on this innovative model. Nikki’s preliminary research reinforces our belief that legal coaching is the next logical step in the unbundling model. Legal coaching has the potential to make the justice system more accessible to people who cannot afford full representation, but who can purchase some legal services, particularly in family law, where we are piloting this program.

We need your input!

Nikki has created a survey for family lawyers, which you can access here. Whether you have or have not delivered unbundled or coaching services in the past, we’d like to hear from you about the challenges and possibilities of this model. Your feedback will inform the development of a training program for family lawyers interested in building a coaching practice, which is a specialized and challenging area of practice.

Justice Annemarie Bonkalo’s Report on Family Legal Services in Ontario

Last week, the former chief justice of the Ontario provincial court, Annemarie Bonkalo, reinforced support for legal coaching in her report on the provision of family legal services in Ontario. Justice Bonkalo has recommended that the legal profession “support the development of legal coaching and offer continuing legal education opportunities to ensure lawyers are equipped to offer these services.” She goes on: “Lawyers should be encouraged to take these training programs, and to offer and advertise coaching services. The Law Society of Upper Canada and LawPRO should consider providing incentives for lawyers to make legal coaching an integral part of their practice.”

We could not agree more! We are thrilled that Justice Bonkalo has formally recognized this new and important form of legal service delivery. Her report, which also includes key recommendations relating to unbundling, paralegal practice and law students, can be found here. If you have feedback on her recommendations, please send your comments by email to commentsflsr@lsuc.on.ca by 11:59 p.m. on May 15, 2017.

We Want to Hear From Litigants Too!

We want to hear from all stakeholders in the system, including litigants. Whether you are representing or have represented yourself in a legal matter, have benefited from unbundled legal services or legal coaching, or had a lawyer for your matter but have ideas about coaching, we are looking for your input.

Be on the lookout for our next newsletter, which will include a link to our legal coaching questionnaire for self-represented litigants.

Feedback?

If you have any questions or comments about this project, please contact Nikki at nikki.gershbain@utoronto.ca.

See the original post on the NSRLP website:

https://representingyourselfcanada.com/are-you-a-family-lawyer-do-you-have-ideas-about-legal-coaching-fill-out-our-lawyer-survey-today/

Call for Nominations – NSLA Commission 2017 Community Leadership Award

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The Nova Scotia Legal Aid Commission is seeking nominations for the 2017 Community Leadership Award. Criteria and information regarding the Award can be found below.  Please note the deadline for nominations is May 12, 2017 @ 12:00 pm.

NOVA SCOTIA LEGAL AID COMMISSION

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

2017 Community Leadership Award


Community Leadership

  • Anyone (including employees of NSLA, a member of the public, an employee of a government agency or department – such as police, PPSNS, DCS, court services) and/or a community organization may nominate.
  • You may nominate an individual staff member or lawyer of NSLA.
  • The award recognizes exceptional and selfless service to others using personal time that enhances the image of NSLA and increases public awareness of those who work for NSLA (e.g., sports coach, Board member or volunteer of a NFP or charity).

 

General information:

  1. All nominations to be submitted in confidence to the Chair, Strategic Planning Committee of the Commission, by email: ternst@wnns.ca   Nominations may be accompanied by supporting documentation, letters of reference, newspaper clippings, copies of online posts, etc.
  2. Deadline: May 12, 2017, noon (Atlantic Time).
  3. The Commission may make more than one award or give no award in any calendar year.
  4. Award(s) will be presented in conjunction with the Annual Meeting or another suitable venue determined by the Commission.
  5. The award recipient(s) will receive a plaque or framed certificate and must be willing to be photographed. Photos will be used for promotional purposes, including (but not limited to) a press release, posting on the organization’s website and other social media, and inclusion in the organization’s internal and external publications.

Samuel Moreau and Rickcola Brinton Appointed Judges of the Provincial and Family Court

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We are thrilled to advise that Samuel Moreau, Manager of our Port Hawkesbury Office, and Rickcola Brinton, Manager of our Halifax Youth Office, have both been appointed Judges of the Provincial and Family Court.  Details are here: Press Release

 

Congratulations to Judge Moreau and Judge Brinton for these truly well-deserved appointments!

Cut Off Income Assistance Case Going to Court of Appeal on May 31, 2017

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Below please find a link to the March 27, 2017 CBC News article which outlines the case which Vincent Calderhead, Nova Scotia Legal Aid, will be taking to the Court of Appeal:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/income-social-assistance-sparks-department-community-services-leaf-legal-aid-1.4042487

© L’Aide juridique de la Nouvelle-Écosse, tous droits réservés – 2017