Nouvelles | Nova Scotia Legal Aid

Director of Legal Services Appointment

8 avril 2022/dans Nouvelles

We are pleased to share that Samira Zayid is the new Director of Legal Services for Nova Scotia Legal Aid effective April 25, 2022.

Samira is entering her 29th year as a lawyer and has spent 26 of those years at Nova Scotia Legal Aid. She first came to NSLA as an Articled Clerk and after a brief 2-year period in private practice, she returned NSLA and has never left.

She has spent her time at Legal Aid practicing exclusively in the field of family law. This has meant helping our clients deal with many problems in the areas of child protection, custody, parenting, support, and divorce.

In 2018, Samira became the Managing Lawyer of the Dartmouth Family Office, which then expanded to include management of the Child Protection Practice Group when that office opened in 2020.

She has also found time over the years to sit on many different committees including:

• Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society Family Law Standards Committee
• Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society Bench & Bar Supreme Court Liaison Committee (Family Division)
• Halifax Domestic Violence Court (Subcommittee assisting in the implementation)
• Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (Family Division) Child Protection (Bench & Bar)
• Nova Scotia Maintenance Enforcement Program Review Committee
• NSLA’s Children & Family Services Act Committee

Samira has also volunteered as a facilitator at the Supreme Court Family Division for the Parent Information Program continuously since 1996.

Congratulations Samira and welcome to your new role!

JD Bridges Bursary

31 mars 2022/dans Nouvelles

Are you a Black student in Canada applying to law school? Check out the JD Bridges Foundation sponsorship package below for a bursary to cover the cost of the LSAT prep courses/study materials, application fees and transcript fees. Deadline for applications is April 15, 2022.

JD Bridges Foundation Sponsorship Package 2022

2022-23 Business Plan

30 mars 2022/dans Nouvelles

We are pleased to share the Nova Scotia Legal Aid Commission’s 2022-23 Business Plan, The Business Plan can also be found in Legal Aid Publications under the About Us tab.

NSLAC 2022-2023 Business Plan

Nova Scotia Adoption Record Changes Effective Spring 2022

22 mars 2022/dans Nouvelles

Adoption records in Nova Scotia will become open in spring 2022. We are reaching out, at the request of the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services, to help spread the word about this important change.

Adopted people who are now 19 or older, birth parents and potential birth parents are encouraged to consider their privacy options before adoption records open in the spring of 2022. For more information visit: https://novascotia.ca/adoption-records-changes/. The Disclosure Program can be reached toll-free (within Canada) at: 1-833-424-2755 or by email: disclosureprogram@novascotia.ca

Important Changes for Residential Tenants and Landlords

18 mars 2022/dans Nouvelles

The ban on ending a tenant’s lease for the purpose of renovations will be lifted when the
state of emergency ends at 11:59 p.m. on March 20, 2022. Please see the fact sheet below to learn about important changes on renovictions and rent caps.

Fact Sheet for Residential Tenants and Landlords (March 2022)

Chief Executive Officer Appointed

4 janvier 2022/dans Nouvelles

I am pleased to share with you that Charlene Moore, QC is the new CEO for Nova Scotia Legal Aid effective January 1, 2022.

Charlene has served on the Executive as Service Delivery Director since 2017. In her former leadership role as Service Delivery Director, her focus included Big Case Management, state-funded counsel matters, criminal appeals, duty counsel, Wellness Courts along with family and civil matters. As a Staff Lawyer she practiced in the areas of family law, child protection, social justice, and administrative law. Charlene embodies our legal aid values (integrity, respect, client focus, fearlessness, excellence, collaboration).

Charlene’s commitment to NSLA is best communicated in her own words: « I am honoured to be the CEO for NSLA. For me, NSLA is synonymous with access to justice. An important element of the work we do in supporting and advocating for our clients is our commitment to increasing access to justice by being part of the solution through collaboration with our community and justice partners. »

Nova Scotia Legal Aid has an important role to play in the administration of justice and is committed to working with community and justice stakeholders in increasing access to justice for Nova Scotians through innovation, client service and collaboration with a focus on diversity and inclusion.

George Ash,
Chair, Nova Scotia Legal Aid Commission

Online Chats Temporarily Suspended

30 novembre 2021/dans Nouvelles

We are investigating issues with our online chat program. Due to these issues our Tuesday (Family) and Wednesday (Social Justice) chat sessions have been suspended. Thank you, and sorry for any inconvenience.

2020-2021 Annual Report

27 octobre 2021/dans Nouvelles

The Nova Scotia Legal Aid Commission’s 2020-21 Annual Report is now available and can be found on the About Us, Legal Aid Publications page, or at this link: 2020-21 Annual Report

Access to Justice Week & National Duty Counsel Day (Oct. 27, 2021) Videos

25 octobre 2021/dans Nouvelles

Below are links to videos from judges and justices in Nova Scotia regarding duty counsel. It’s Access to Justice Week (Oct. 25-29) and these videos confirm the importance of duty counsel in the justice system.

Chief Judge Pamela Williams

Associate Chief Justice Lawrence O’Neil

Chief Justice Michael Wood

To view all videos from across Canada, please visit:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDP752KlF_dR3TJxubrzrcVA-sWXVCKIC

October 27, 2021 Proclaimed National Duty Counsel Day in Nova Scotia

22 octobre 2021/dans Nouvelles

In recognition of Canada’s first Duty Counsel Day being held on October 27, 2021, a proclamation has been signed by the Honourable Tim Houston, Premier of Nova Scotia, proclaiming October 27, 2021 as National Duty Counsel Day in the Province of Nova Scotia. A copy of the proclamation is below outlining the importance of Duty Counsel in the justice system.