Anne Malick, QC has been appointed as Acting Executive Director effective August 8th, 2016 as Nova Scotia Legal Aid undergoes the process of appointing the next Executive Director. Anne will be acting as ED on a part-time basis. The rest of the Executive team will continue to work with Anne and the Commission. The Executive is happy to have Anne stepping in to support them through the transition.
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
If you have questions about Employment Insurance, please see: Employment Insurance which was just updated. You can also find other legal education materials under “Legal Information”.
Nova Scotia Legal Aid lawyers, staff and families took part in the Halifax Pride Parade held on Saturday, July 23rd, 2016. We marched as part of the joint CBA NS and Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society float as well as with other organizations we work with in the community. Shown are photos of the team before the march and Tammy Wohler from the Dartmouth Family Office in action.
The application deadline for the Low Income Transit Pass Pilot Program has been extended to July 22, 2016. For details and a copy of the Application Form, please visit: http://www.halifax.ca/transit/LowIncomePass.php
Morgan Manzer, freshly invigorated from his attendance at Toronto Pride on the July 1st weekend, amped up his work with Halifax Pride in preparation for the Festival from July 14-24, 2016.
A Staff Lawyer with Nova Scotia Legal Aid and Board member with Halifax Pride, Morgan is seen here with Mayor Mike Savage and Councillor Jennifer Watts, introducing the city to the first Pride crosswalk or “Pridewalk” as coined by Mayor Savage. This year’s Festival theme, “This Is Why”, strives to answer the question of why Pride is still tremendously important.
“LGBTQ+ people continue to experience disadvantages and discrimination in employment. All LGBTQ+ persons should be afforded the same opportunity as me – to be able to bring their full selves to work and achieve their full professional potential. This is why Pride matters to me.” – Morgan Manzer
Nova Scotia Legal Aid is reaching out into communities with client-centered initiatives to improve access to justice for more Nova Scotians. This outreach includes support staff taking a leading role in proactive early intervention initiatives with a goal to connecting better with our communities and putting into motion the old adage that ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’.
To learn more about NSLA’s holistic approach, please see the report ‘We Are Here to Help’; the changing culture of legal aid in Nova Scotia prepared by Dr. Ab Currie, Ph.D, Senior Research Fellow, Canadian Forum on Civil Justice: Report – We Are Here to Help (Currie)
In celebration and recognition of National Aboriginal Day, Nova Scotia Legal Aid pleased to share our Aboriginal Justice Strategy:
From May 17 to 20, 2016 Megan Longley, Service Delivery Director, attended the ‘HIV is Not a Crime National Training Academy’ in Huntsville, Alabama (www.hivisnotacrime.com ). Megan was asked by the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network (who arranged funding for the trip) to be part of the Canadian delegation made up of lawyers, academics and advocates from across the country who are pictured here.
Megan became involved in the movement to end criminalisation of HIV in 2013 when she successfully defended two cases dealing with HIV disclosure. The cases addressed the issue of whether an HIV+ person is guilty of aggravated sex assault if they have not disclosed their HIV status, even in instances where there was no realistic chance of transmission. One of those cases was reported across Canada and internationally as offering hope and a new approach to defending these cases (http://canlii.ca/t/g1vj3 ). Megan continues to work on this important justice issue provincially and through the Canadian Legal Network.
Nova Scotia Legal Aid believes in “connecting better” with communities we are here to serve. Legal Aid is not the only organization which understands the importance of seeking to understand. With this in mind, I wanted to take the time to share an article which highlights the work of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society (to which all lawyers belong) and, in particular, the work of Emma Halpern in promoting the importance of connecting with communities we serve: NSBS Spring 2016 Halpern Community Engagement
In Emma’s words this is all “about engaging directly with the diverse communities of this Province who frequently do not have a voice in our justice system. We are trying to…build relationships and truly hear people’s stories and experience”.
The photo shown is from the Dalhousie Legal Aid Service Social Justice Soiree where Emma gave her keynote.
Legal Aid Ontario is also committed to meeting with economically vulnerable and racialized communities to learn about the most pressing needs. In the words of their press release:
“LAO will consult with clients, the private bar, community legal clinics and community service providers to identify barriers faced by racialized communities in accessing justice and develop strategies to address those barriers. LAO will also identify gaps and enhance services, programs and resources to offer increased access to justice”.