2023 Annual Report

Who We Are

Our Mission

We regulate the legal profession in the public interest in a manner that is proactive, inclusive and supportive so our members deliver competent and ethical legal services.

Our Vision

Acting in the public interest, we provide leadership, value and support to a competent, ethical, inclusive and engaged legal profession.

Our Values

Excellence

We operate fairly and impartially. We are proactive, principled and proportionate.

Fairness

We operate fairly and impartially. We are proactive, principled and proportionate.

Respect

We treat all persons with dignity and respect. We listen, consider and seek to understand other points of view.

Visionary Leadership

We actively seek out and assess what is happening provincially, nationally and globally that affects the regulation of the legal profession. We anticipate and respond to a rapidly changing environment and have the courage to initiate change.

Accountability

We are open, transparent, objective and fiscally responsible in our independent governance and regulation of the profession.

Integrity

We approach our work in an ethical, honest and principled fashion.

Diversity

We promote substantive equality and encourage the profession to embrace the value of diversity. We are inclusive and supportive of people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, practice environments and life experiences.

2021-2023 Strategic Plan

Goal #1: The Society regulates the legal profession in the public interest in a proactive, principled and proportionate manner. We will:

Support members at every stage of their careers;
Communicate and engage with members;
Develop and maintain a mentorship initiative;
Support members in delivering competent and ethical legal services;
Facilitate education and provide resources and support to members to be culturally competent in the delivery of legal services;
Facilitate education and provide resources and support to members in becoming more proficient in using technology;
Investigate and implement, if appropriate, differential membership fee models;
Review and assess the viability of paralegal regulation in Nova Scotia;
Identify and remove regulatory barriers to support innovation in the delivery of legal services;
Explore, and where appropriate, support the viability of innovative models of legal services delivery (e.g. MDPs, “sand boxes”);
Review and replace the current Bar Admission course.

Goal #2: More Nova Scotians will have access to ethical and competent legal services. We will:

Identify and provide supports to address the challenges and needs of rural members;
Provide guidance and advice on having appropriate succession planning in place;
Facilitate the placement of articling and summer students in underserviced areas of the Province
Establish a Council committee that is dedicated to the support of sole practitioners and small firms;
Facilitate and support the provision of pro bono services by addressing regulatory barriers;
Advocate, where appropriate, for funding or services that will address gaps in access to legal services.

Goal #3: Nova Scotians will be served by a legal profession that is diverse, inclusive and culturally competent. We will:

Continue to develop cultural humility, awareness and understanding of issues and barriers in the justice system affecting equity-seeking groups;
Develop mechanisms to hold members accountable for the delivery of culturally competent legal services
Continue to implement meaningful responses to the TRC Calls for Action and MMWIG Calls to Justice;
Honouring the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Donald Marshall Jr. Prosecution, the Society will pay particular attention to the needs of Mi’kmaq and African Nova Scotians throughout all of its work;
Facilitate and encourage entry into the legal profession of members from diverse and equity-seeking groups by partnering with community organizations to educate community members about the role of the lawyer and the role of the regulator;
Identify and address barriers that affect the retention and advancement of members from diverse and equity-seeking groups in the profession;
Continue the integration of the equity and inclusion lens through all Society, Council and committee decision making and policies.

* “Equity-seeking groups” include women, Aboriginal peoples, racialized peoples, persons with disabilities and persons seeking equality on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity. [Council Policy #2]