THANK YOU to the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia for providing a grant to the Court Monitored Mental Health Program (CMMHP) in Kentville! The grant is specifically for assisting our clients with transportation to and from their bi-weekly court appearances. CMMHP participants reside throughout West Hants and Kings Counties, with little or no access to public transportation. This grant has made a tremendous difference for our rural clients, allowing them to access the CMMHP and thereby resulting in better legal outcomes.

 

 

The Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia is a registered charity dedicated to improving the lives of Nova Scotians living with mental illness and their loved ones, and increasing access to mental health education and awareness for all Nova Scotians. Their mission is to make a difference in the lives of Nova Scotians by supporting mental health initiatives in our communities. Their Community Grants fund important work and, most importantly, offer hope for mental health consumers and their loved ones. For more information, check out www.mentalhealthns.ca. Like them on Facebook and follow on Twitter!

Halifax, Nova Scotia

The Nova Scotia Legal Aid Commission (NSLAC) is an independent Commission legislatively mandated to provide legal representation to vulnerable Nova Scotians. Our focus is criminal, family and social justice law. The Commission works collaboratively with other justice stakeholders to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of our criminal and family justice systems. The mandate of the Nova Scotia Legal Aid Commission, to the extent that Government funding permits, is:

(a)  To deliver quality legal services to qualified applicants with priority for matters involving the liberty and civil rights of individual clients and for matters involving the integrity and protection of an individual’s family;

(b) Such other legal services as Government may contract with the Commission to provide to individuals or groups.

The NSLAC is seeking an Executive Director to serve as the Commission’s executive head. Accountable to the Commission you will be responsible for the general administration of the legal aid plan and staff in accordance with the Nova Scotia Legal Aid Act and the Regulations. As the Executive Director, you will provide strategic direction and management to an organization of 176 staff (of which 97 are lawyers), offices across the Province and a total budget of $25 million. You are a champion of excellence in client service and will, through sound operational and financial stewardship, enhance the organization’s ability to improve access to justice for vulnerable Nova Scotians. You bring strategic vision and management acumen to this leadership position as the organization undergoes change to support the sustainability of access to justice in Nova Scotia. You are comfortable working with key stakeholders including: clients, agencies, courts, justice officials and various government departments.

The NSLAC seeks a leader with demonstrated experience in a complex, dynamic and client centre environment. You have held positions of leadership with the need to balance and represent various interests in a fair and equitable manner. You hold yourself to the highest standards of professional service using collaboration, innovation, equity and honesty. You are committed to supporting and contributing to the maintenance and development of an efficient and effective justice system that protects the constitutional rights and due process of individuals and promotes their economic stability and social wellbeing.

Being a barrister in good standing; having knowledge of the Statutes of NS, criminal law, constitutional law, family law, administrative law and civil litigation procedures; experience in legal aid and ability to communicate in both English and French will be considered assets.

If you are interested in this opportunity, submit your application / resume by email at astewart@wickwireholm.com or by mail to the attention of Audrey Stewart, Wickwire Holm, PO Box 1054, Halifax, NS B3J 2X6.

All applications must be submitted before midnight, October 21, 2016.

While we appreciate all applications, only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. All applications held in confidence.

Please find here a link to the Alumni article regarding Ashlea Richard, Bridgewater Office, from the Faculty of Law, University of Calgary: http://law.ucalgary.ca/alumni/meet-alumni/richard

On July 23^rd, 2016, as part of the Africville Reunion, Rickcola Brinton, Halifax Youth Office, attended an African Nova Scotian Resource event.  This event was attended by a number of different organizations that offer services to the African Nova Scotian community.  Rickcola is pictured here with Carlos Beals, who is a Senior Outreach Worker with CeaseFire Halifax, as well as the 2016 municipal candidate for Dartmouth District 6.  The event allowed both visibility in the community, as well as the opportunity to share Nova Scotia Legal Aid’s social justice offerings and outreach activities.  Some of the organizations present were Association of Black Social Workers, Human Rights Commission, CeaseFire Halifax, Nova Scotia Brotherhood Initiative, African Nova Scotian Affairs and more.

I am pleased to share with you that our Executive Director, Karen Hudson, QC, has been appointed as Deputy Minister of Justice effective August 8, 2016. This was made public today: http://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20160802007

Karen has been a tireless leader of the organization who inspired all who have worked with her and helped to revitalize NS Legal Aid and put into action our values of responsiveness, excellence and accountability. Karen’s efforts have helped position and enhance our modern legal aid program for sustainability.

I have every confidence in our Executive team (Megan, Barry, Jen and Shawn) to lead the organization in the interim until a new ED is chosen and also confidence in our Managing Lawyers to continue to manage our offices and deliver the critical services that Nova Scotians and the justice system have come to rely on.

On a personal note, I have worked closely with Karen and consider her a great colleague and friend. I know I speak for the entire Legal Aid family in saying that we will miss her but also wish her well in this new and challenging endeavour.

Don Harding, QC
Chair NSLA