Is this service confidential?
We collect only the information we need to set up a meeting with a lawyer. We may ask you for an email address so we can send you a survey that will help us understand how to improve our program. The survey is optional and completely anonymous.
The Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia will share some statistics with our funder, the federal Department of Justice. They will want to know how often Nova Scotians use the program and what part of the province they live in. The information we share will not identify anyone using the program.
What can I expect when I talk with the lawyer?
You might meet with the lawyer over the telephone or in person. It will depend upon what is right for you.
Our lawyers are trained to help you take the right action to deal with what has happened at your workplace. They are also trained to work with clients who may feel traumatized.
At your first appointment, the lawyer will tell you about your rights and ways you can deal with what is happening at work. Everyone’s situation is different, and the lawyer will answer questions and provide guidance about your work situation and experience.
You and the lawyer may use your four hours in the way that works best for you. For example, your first meeting might be two hours, and you might have another appointment later on.
You might not need four hours of legal advice. If your issue is complex, you might feel that you need more than four hours. If you need more time, phone or email us and we will do our best to help.
If I see a lawyer, do I have to take legal action?
You are in control, and what you do next is entirely up to you.
For some people, taking legal action to deal with a sensitive matter can be overwhelming. You may take any of the steps or options that the lawyer tells you about, or you may do nothing. Our program aims to help you better understand your options so that you can make the choices and take the actions that are best for you.
I want a referral. What are the next steps?
If you have experienced workplace sexual harassment and want a lawyer referral, please either use the phone number or email address above, or fill out the form with your name, email and/or phone number, and where you are in Nova Scotia, and send to us. When you submit your information it will be sent to our Program Coordinator, who will be in touch to arrange a referral for you. We do our best to follow up within 24 hours.
Please note that we need either a phone number or an email address to arrange a referral for you. You can give us either, or both. If you are comfortable providing an email address, we would be grateful so that in addition to arranging a referral we can also send you a feedback survey to help us improve our program.
We ask for your location solely so that we can refer you to a lawyer in your community whenever possible.
We will never require you to tell us the name of your employer or for the details of your experience. You may provide this information to us if you wish to do so through this anonymous Workplace Sexual Harassment Disclosure form. If you choose to disclose this information to us, it will be used solely by the LISNS Workplace Sexual Harassment Project team to help us understand how and where workplace sexual harassment is affecting Nova Scotians.
Conflict Check: Please note that when you see a lawyer through our referral program, the lawyer or administrative staff at the law firm will need you to tell them the name of your employer and the names of anyone involved so they can complete a conflict check. Don't worry, this is a standard practice at law firms. A lawyer can't give you advice if someone at their firm is already representing the other side on any kind of legal issue. If a law firm has a conflict, our Program Coordinator will arrange a referral for you at a different law firm.
Legal Information about Workplace Sexual Harassment
Go here for answers to common questions about sexual harassment in the workplace.
The Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia is a free service that gives you information about the law and your rights and responsibilities. The Government of Canada, through the Department of Justice, graciously funds the pdf Workplace Sexual Harassment Legal Advice Program. (204 KB)