Lawyers & Legal Help

If you feel your lawyer was negligent you will likely need to speak with another lawyer to get a legal opinion about the situation. You can also contact the Lawyers' Insurance Association of Nova Scotia, a not-for-profit company that provides mandatory liability insurance and administers the insurance program for practising insured members of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society.

Go to the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society website at nsbs.org/concerns-with-a-lawyer/ for details about the complaint process, or contact the Barristers’ Society at:
Telephone: (902) 422-1491
Address: Cogswell Tower, 800-2000 Barrington Street, Halifax NS B3J 3K1.

1. Speak with or write to your lawyer. Ask for more detailed information about the bill. Ask the lawyer to explain any fees or disbursements (out-of-pocket expenses) you do not understand. If you cannot resolve the dispute directly with the lawyer, see if you can speak with the managing lawyer or executive director of the firm, assuming it is not your lawyer.  If that does not work, you have the option of going to Small Claims Court to have the lawyer’s bill assessed. This assessment of a lawyer's bill is also called a "taxation" of a lawyer's bill.

2. Small Claims Court - Taxation. ‘Taxation’ means a Small Claims Court adjudicator can ‘tax’ or review your lawyer’s bill, including fees and disbursements, to decide whether the bill is reasonable. The taxation process includes looking at whether the percentage fee under a contingency fee agreement is reasonable. 

Contact the Small Claims Court for more information. You will find court contact information at www.courts.ns.ca, or look under ‘Courts’ in the government pages of the telephone book.

• Small Claims Court Taxation of Costs Regulations
• Appealing a Small Claims Court adjudicator's taxation decision

Commissioners are authorized to take your oath or solemn affirmation when you sign an affidavit (sworn or affirmed document) or statutory declaration. When you sign an affidavit in front of a Commissioner of Oaths you are swearing or affirming that the contents of the document are true. The Commissioner will sign the document as well, and type, print or stamp their name and the words “A Commissioner of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia”

For information about becoming a Commissioner of Oaths visit the Nova Scotia Department of Justice website at novascotia.ca/just/legal_services/commissioner_oaths.asp, or call 902-424-4030.

Finding a Commissioner of Oaths

• All practising lawyers are Commissioners of Oaths.  The Nova Scotia Barristers' Society has an online lawyer directory at: https://members.nsbs.org/LawyerSearch

• You can also call the Nova Scotia Department of Justice at 902-424-4030 for the name of a Commissioner of Oaths in your community.
  
  
• You can have some types of documents commissioned at any ACCESS Nova Scotia location in the province, at no cost - generally documents you need to file with ACCESS Nova Scotia.  Contact Access Nova Scotia for details
  
  
•  If you are filing documents with the court that need to be commissioned you can have that done at the court. Depending on the court there may be no fee to have court staff commission documents, or there may be a fee. Contact the court for more information.

• Other people in your community may also be Commissioners, such as:
  • some provincial or municipal government employees, including court staff
  • some police officers (officers, municipal chiefs of police)
  • funeral directors
  • Commissionaires Nova Scotia
  • officers in the Canadian Armed Forces
  • Band Council member
  • Members of the Nova Scotia legislature (MLAs)

Global Affairs Canada, Authentication Services Section, authenticates Canadian documents for use abroad, including:

• official Canadian documents, such as birth, marriage or death certificates, educational documents (transcripts, degrees, diplomas), criminal clearance certificates; and
• documents signed by a Canadian notary public or Commissioner of Oaths.

Global Affairs also issues Statements in lieu of Certificates of Non-Impediment to Marriage Abroad for persons who want to get married outside Canada in a country where such a document is needed. For more information visit international.gc.ca or call 1 800 267-8376.

Nova Scotia's Department of Justice, Legal Services Division, Authentication Services also authenticates documents for use abroad.    For information contact the Nova Scotia Department of Justice at [email protected] or 902-424-4390.

Here are some things to ask about if you are looking for a lawyer in private practice and cost is an issue:

• do you offer pro bono (free) help?
• can you help me with just part of my case? Lawyers call this a "Limited Scope Retainer"
• do you offer coaching for people who are representing themselves? Coaching is basically out-of-court strategic support
• do you charge a flat fee for this type of work?
• will you consider a contingency fee agreement?
• what is your hourly rate?
• can the lawyer wait to get paid once you get the money you are seeking (for example, spousal support, matrimonial property division).

More Information about How lawyers charge for their work

Nova Scotia Barristers' Society

The Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society (NSBS) regulates lawyers in Nova Scotia, and has an online directory of all lawyers licensed to practice law in Nova Scotia. You can find a lawyer by name, law firm, or location. The directory also says the year the lawyer was called to the Nova Scotia Bar, and whether the lawyer has any disciplinary history.

Contact
www.nsbs.org. Click on "Directory of Lawyers"
Telephone: 902-422-1491

Lawyers are listed in the telephone book, both online and in print, in alphabetical order as well as under location and the type of law they do.

If you have an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) in your workplace you should contact your EAP to see whether they provide help in finding and/or paying for a lawyer in private practice, or cover a consultation with a lawyer.

Pour obtenir de l’information en français ainsi qu’une liste des juristes d’expression française en Nouvelle Écosse, veuillez communiquer avec le centre Accès Justice Access, un project de l’Association des juristes d’expression française de la Nouvelle-Écosse (AJEFNE). L’AJEFNE est un organisme à but non lucratif fondé en 1994 pour promouvoir l’accès aux services juridiques pour la population acadienne et francophone de la Nouvelle-Écosse.

Contact:
www.ajefne.ns.ca
1741, rue Brunswick / 1741 Brunswick Street, Halifax, Nouvelle-Écosse B3J 3Z6
Téléphone: 902-433-2085 ou 1-844-250-8471

Trusted service providers at community agencies, or your friends, family members or co-workers may be able to give you suggestions about finding a lawyer in private practice. 

If you are a member of a union, it is worth speaking with your union to see whether they can offer any help in finding a lawyer, or help with covering the cost of a consultation with a lawyer or legal fees.

If you plan to hire a lawyer the Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia offers a Lawyer Referral Service through which you might be referred to a lawyer for an intial up to 30 minute consultation for no more than $20 plus tax, if a referral is appropriate in your situation.  The lawyer would not do legal work or give you legal advice in the initial consultation, just give you a general idea of your options and costs if you decide to hire the lawyer and the lawyer agrees. You would have to work out a fee arrangement if you and the lawyer decide to go ahead after the initial consultation.   See "how lawyers charge for their work" for more information about fee arrangements.

Contact:
Legal Info Nova Scotia's Lawyer Referral Service

If you are going to the Supreme Court or Court of Appeal in Halifax without a lawyer, the Free Legal Clinic at the Halifax Law Courts may be able to help. The Clinic provides information and advice on civil law issues before the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeal.  Family law issues, except child protection appeals, going before the Court of Appeal also qualify.

The Clinic does not deal with criminal law issues in either Court, or family law issues in the Supreme Court Family Division. See the Family Law section for information about family law help services, including for the Supreme Court Family Division.

There is no income threshold to meet. Everyone qualifies for this free service, as long as your case meets the criteria above.  

You can make an appointment to meet with a volunteer lawyer and law student for a private, free 60 minute session.  The Clinic is open most Thursdays between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm in the Law Courts building 1815 Upper Water St., across from the foot of Duke Street. The Clinic area and the courthouse administration office are to the left when you come through the main entrance on the 2nd Floor.  Follow the signs or ask at the reception desk.

This is not a drop-in clinic.  You must schedule an appointment to be seen.

To make an appointment, call:

• 902-424-6900 for Supreme Court matters
• 902-424-6937 for Court of Appeal matters

You can also visit the Courts' Website for more information.

Area of law: Civil law

If you are going to the Supreme Court or Court of Appeal in Sydney without a lawyer, the Free Legal Clinic at the Sydney Courthouse may be able to help. The Clinic provides information and advice on civil law issues before the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeal.

The Clinic does not deal with criminal law or family law issues in either Court.  See the Family Law section for information about family law help services, including for the Supreme Court Family Division.

There is no income threshold to meet. Everyone qualifies for this free service, as long as your case meets the criteria mentioned above.

You can make an appointment to meet with a volunteer lawyer for a private, free 60 minute session.  The Clinic happens most Fridays, with appointments available at 10:00 am and 11:00 am. The Clinic is on the main floor of the courthouse at 136 Charlotte Street in Sydney. Follow the signs or ask at the reception desk to the right of the main doors.

This is not a drop-in clinic. You must schedule an appointment to be seen.

To make an appointment:

• call 902-563-3550, or make an appointment in person at the Court Administration office at the Sydney courthouse, 136 Charlotte Street

You can also visit the Courts' website for more information.  

Area of law: Civil law

If you are going to the Supreme Court or Court of Appeal in Truro without a lawyer, the Free Legal Clinic at the Truro Supreme Court may be able to help. The Clinic provides information and advice on civil law issues before the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeal.

The Clinic does not deal with criminal law or family law issues in either Court.  See the Family Law section for information about family law help services, including for the Supreme Court Family Division.

There is no income threshold to meet. Everyone qualifies for this free service, as long as your case meets the criteria mentioned above.

You can make an appointment to meet with a volunteer lawyer for a private, free 60 minute session.  The Clinic happens the first and third Friday of the month, Jan-June, Sept-Nov, except holidays.  Appointments are available at 9 am, 10 am, and 11 am. The Clinic is at the Truro Supreme Court, 1 Church Street, Truro.  Click here for the Clinic brochure.

This is not a drop-in clinic. You must schedule an appointment to be seen.

To make an appointment:

• call 902-893-3953, or make an appointment in person at the Supreme Court Administration Office, Lower Floor, 1 Church Street, through the Prothonotary's Office.

You can also visit the Courts' website for more information.  

Area of law: Civil law

If you are going to the Supreme Court or Court of Appeal in Yarmouth without a lawyer, the Free Legal Clinic at the Yarmouth Courthouse may be able to help. The Clinic provides information and advice on civil law issues before the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeal.  Family law issues, except child protection appeals, going before the Court of Appeal also qualify.

The Clinic does not deal with criminal law issues in either Court, or family law issues in the Supreme Court Family Division. See the Family Law section for information about family law help services.

There is no income threshold to meet. Everyone qualifies for this free service, as long as your case meets the criteria above.  

You can make an appointment to meet with a volunteer lawyer for a free 60 minute session.  Appointments are available at 9, 10, and 11 a.m. on the first and third Fridays of the month, except on holidays.

This is not a drop-in clinic.  You must fill out an application and schedule an appointment. People with close court dates get priority.

To make an appointment:

Appointments can be arranged in person at the Court Administration office at the Yarmouth courthouse, 164 Main Street. Ask for Court Administrator, Jean Brown. You can also make appointments by phone by calling 902-742-0580.

Visit the Courts' Website for more information.

Area of law: Civil

If you are facing or have faced workplace sexual harassment anywhere in Nova Scotia, you can get up to four hours of free, independent legal advice to help you decide how to deal with it.   Go here for more information. 

To get free legal advice you can contact us:

• by telephone, toll free, at 833-407-3600, or
• by email at [email protected]

If you call, please leave a message telling us how to reach you and if it is safe to leave a return message when we call you back.

We will get back to you right away to arrange a meeting with a lawyer.

This program is completely confidential.

Go here for answers to common legal questions about sexual harassment in the workplace.

The Workplace Sexual Harassment Free Legal Advice program is a program of the Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia, funded by the federal Department of Justice.

The Legal Advice for Sexual Assault Survivors Program provides up to 4 hours of free, independent legal advice for sexual assault survivors who are 16 years of age or older. You do not have to report to police or take legal action if you use this service.

Registration is done through an independent agency, 211 Nova Scotia. Dial 2-1-1 for intake. Go to novascotia.ca/sexualassaultlegaladvice/ for more information.

Areas of law: Criminal, Civil

The Canadian Intellectual Property Office is a federal government office that provides legal information and services on trademarks, patents, copyright, industrial designs and integrated circuit topographies.

Contact:

• Phone: 1-866-997-1936
• Website: cipo.ic.gc.ca

Areas of law: Intellectual Property.

The Legal Advice for Sexual Assault Survivors Program provides up to 4 hours of free, independent legal advice for sexual assault survivors who are 16 years of age or older. You do not have to report to police or take legal action if you use this service.

Registration is done through an independent agency, 211 Nova Scotia. Dial 2-1-1 for intake. Go to novascotia.ca/sexualassaultlegaladvice/ for more information.

Areas of law: Criminal, Civil

Halifax Regional Police Victim Services Help with Applying for a Peace Bond
Individuals who wish to apply for a peace bond through the Provincial Court in Halifax and Dartmouth can get support from Halifax Regional Police (HRP) Victim Services. Victim Services volunteers will provide potential and current applicants with information on the application process, assistance to complete the application forms and ongoing emotional support. Contact HRP Victim Services at 902-490-5300 for more information about the Peace Bond Navigator program.

Peace bond help from Nova Scotia Legal Aid
Nova Scotia Legal Aid (NSLA) is committed to helping people applying for peace bond orders. NSLA Staff Lawyers can help by explaining the steps required to begin a peace bond application and then explaining the court process. If you are seeking assistance to apply for a peace bond order, you can contact Nova Scotia Legal Aid at 902-420-7800 or apply online. A lawyer will contact you and provide you with confidential advice and assistance. 

Click here for Legal Information about Peace Bonds and how to apply for one

Area of law: Criminal

Nova Scotia Legal Aid

Nova Scotia Legal Aid provides legal information, advice and representation to Nova Scotians on criminal defence law issues. To get start to finish help with your case (full representation) you must be getting income assistance or have an equally low income.  Contact Nova Scotia Legal Aid for further information, and go here for information about services and areas of criminal law covered.

Contact:

• Your local Legal Aid office at: nslegalaid.ca
• Website: nslegalaid.ca/
• Apply for NS Legal Aid online at: nslegalaid.ca/online-application/

Areas of law: Criminal, Prison law

Help from Duty Counsel lawyers is available to all Nova Scotians facing criminal or drug charges.

Nova Scotia Legal Aid Duty Counsel is available for:

• free, summary (brief) legal advice at court for those who do not have a lawyer
• youth and adults in custody (Criminal Law, court appearance at Bail Hearing)
• Emergency legal advice by telephone is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, province-wide, if you have been arrested or detained by police

Contact:

• Your local courthouse or Legal Aid office at: nslegalaid.ca
• Website: nslegalaid.ca/  or contact the court
• Apply for NS Legal Aid online at: nslegalaid.ca/online-application/

Area of law: Adult and youth criminal law

The Mi’kmaq Legal Support Network provides legal support services and victim support services to Indigenous people in Nova Scotia, particularly through the Mi'kmaw Court Worker Program and the Mi'kmaw Customary Law Program.

Contact:

• Phone:
  • Cape Breton: 902-379-2042
  • Dartmouth: 902-468-0381
  • Truro: 902-895-1141
  • Toll-free: 1-877-379-2042

Area of law: Criminal law

If you are considering bankruptcy, you'll need the help of a licensed professional who administers the bankruptcy process, called a Licensed Insolvency Trustee (LIT). Licensed Insolvency Trustees are licensed by the federal Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy.

If you are unable to get an LIT to accept your file, or if you cannot afford to hire an LIT, the Bankruptcy Assistance Program may be able to help if you:

• have contacted at least two LITs and tried to obtain their services
• are not, and have not recently been, involved in commercial activities
• are not required to make surplus income payments; and
• are not in jail.

Contact:

• Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada
• Phone: 1-877-376-9902
• Website: osb.ic.gc.ca

Areas of law: Credit and debt law, Bankruptcy law

Financial Consumer Agency of Canada:
https://www.canada.ca/en/financial-consumer-agency/services/debt/debt-help.html: Information about how a credit counsellor can help you deal with debt, and how to find a trustworthy, qualified credit counselling service near you.

The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada has lots of free information about your options for managing debt.

The Debtor Assistance Program helps people experiencing financial difficulty deal with their creditors. You can meet with a licensed administrator who will review your situation and discuss options. If appropriate, administrators can file consumer proposals under the federal Bankruptcy Act. A consumer proposal is a debt repayment plan that avoids bankruptcy and is legally binding on creditors, if accepted. Administrators cannot file bankruptcy applications (you need a licensed insolvency trustee for that).

Contact:

• Phone: 902-424-5200 or toll free 1-800-670-4357 or visit your local Access Nova Scotia office
• Website: novascotia.ca/sns/access/individuals/debtor-assistance.asp

Nova Scotia Legal Aid provides a wide variety of services and programs to economically vulnerable Nova Scotians.

To get start-to-finish help with your case (full representation) you must be getting income assistance or have an equally low income. Free legal information and brief (summary) legal advice may be available for debt issues. It is important to contact Nova Scotia Legal Aid and fill out an application to see what help they can provide. 

Contact:

• Your local Legal Aid office at: nslegalaid.ca
• Website: nslegalaid.ca/
• Apply for NS Legal Aid online at: nslegalaid.ca/online-application/

Areas of law: Credit and debt

The Nova Scotia Labour Standards Code applies to employers, employees, and recruiters. There are also rules for the recruitment of workers and the hiring of foreign workers. The Labour Standards Division addresses questions and complaints from the public about how the provincial Labour Standards Code applies to specific employment situations. Complaints about potential violations of the Labour Standards Code generally must be filed within 6 months of the issue or incident occurring. If you file a complaint, an officer will try to settle the dispute and, if the dispute does not settle, will investigate and issue a formal decision, if necessary. 

Labour Standards also has an online Guide to the Nova Scotia Labour Standards Code

Contact:

• Address: 1505 Barrington Street, 3rd Floor North, Halifax B3J 3K5
• Phone: 902-424-4311 or 1-888-315-0110 (toll-free in NS)
• Website: novascotia.ca/lae/employmentrights/

Labour Standards Division,NS Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration

Area of law: Employment law

Nova Scotia Legal Aid provides information, advice and representation about Employment Insurance Appeals. To get start to finish help with your case (full representation) you must be getting income assistance or have an equally low income. Contact Legal Aid for information about help with an Employment Insurance issue.

Nova Scotia Legal Aid has online legal information about Employment Insurance Appeals

Contact:

• Your local Legal Aid office at: nslegalaid.ca
• Website: nslegalaid.ca/
• Apply for NS Legal Aid online at: nslegalaid.ca/online-application/

Areas of law: Administrative law, Employment Insurance

Workers' Advisers Program Nova Scotia

This Workers' Advisers Program offers legal services to eligible injured workers and their families, who are seeking compensation under Nova Scotia's Workers’ Compensation Act.  Services are offered at all levels of appeals, including at Court in special cases. In general, in order to qualify for services, an injured worker must have a reasonable expectation of success in obtaining at least $500, or the equivalent, in an appeal from a Workers' Compensation Board written decision.  The legal services are provided independently of the Workers’ Compensation Board and the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Tribunal. Clients of the program are in a solicitor/client relationship with the program and its staff, in the same way as they would be with any other lawyer or law firm in Nova Scotia.

Contact:

• Address:
  • Halifax: 502–5670 Spring Garden Road Halifax, NS  B3J 2X1
  • Sydney: 5–1030 Upper Prince Street Sydney, NS  B1P 5P6
• Phone (voice & TTY): 1-800-774-4712 (Halifax office) or 1-800-890-6786 (Sydney office)
• Website: novascotia.ca/lae/wap/

Area of law: Workers' Compensation

Office of the Worker Counsellor

The Office of the Worker Counsellor offers information, advice, education and advocacy for injured workers, their representatives in the workplace and their family members on all aspects of workers’ compensation in Nova Scotia.

Contact:

• Address: Suite 220-3700 Kempt Road, Halifax, NS 
• Phone : 902-455-5455 or 1 877-220-2722
• Website: workercounsellor.ca

Area of law: Workers' Compensation, Administrative law

If you are facing or have faced workplace sexual harassment anywhere in Nova Scotia, you can get up to four hours of legal support to help you decide how to deal with it. 

To get help, you can contact us:

• by telephone, toll free, at 833-407-3600, or
• by email at [email protected]

If you call, please leave a message telling us how to reach you and if it is safe to leave a return message when we call you back.

We will get back to you within 48 business hours. 

This program is completely confidential.

Go here for answers to common legal questions about sexual harassment in the workplace.

The Workplace Sexual Harassment Free Legal Support program is a program of the Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia, funded by the federal Department of Justice.

Contact:

• Website: halifaxwac.ca
• To schedule an appointment call (902) 221-0755 or email [email protected]

Area of law: Employment law

East Coast Environmental Law

East Coast Environmental Law (ECELAW) is a non-profit organization that envisions a clean, healthy environment that is protected by the fair application of strong environmental laws. ECELAW was founded in 2007 with a mission to provide public access to environmental law information and advice, to promote the development and equitable application of progressive environmental laws, and to assist in the development of the next generation of lawyers who are committed to using the law to achieve environmental protection and sustainability. ECELAW provides a public inquiry service, partners with other environmental organizations, holds workshops, publishes citizen guides and research papers, and mentors environmental law students.

Contact:
• Phone: 902-494-7121 (Environmental law Inquiry Service)
• Website: www.ecelaw.ca

Areas of law: Environmental law; Aboriginal and Indigenous law in environmental contexts.

Nova Scotia Legal Aid

Nova Scotia Legal Aid provides legal information, advice and representation to Nova Scotians on family law issues, including child protection, custody, parenting time, child and spousal support, separation and divorce.

Some level of help is available to all Nova Scotians on family law issues. To get start to finish help with your case (full representation) you must be getting income assistance or have an equally low income.  Contact Nova Scotia Legal Aid for further information.

Contact:

• Your local Legal Aid office at: nslegalaid.ca
• Website: nslegalaid.ca/
• Apply for NS Legal Aid online at: nslegalaid.ca/online-application/

Area of law: Family Law

Summary Advice Counsel at Family Courts

The Summary Advice Counsel is a lawyer who assists people who need legal advice on a family law matter, but who do not have a lawyer. The Summary Advice lawyer provides basic legal advice, free of charge, regardless of how much you make or where you get your income.

This service is available throughout Nova Scotia. Your case or issue must be somehow related to the court where the Summary Advice lawyer is located. For example, if you are making an application to the court in Halifax, you should book an appointment with the lawyer in Halifax.

The purpose of the Summary Advice Counsel service is to give people a better understanding of their legal rights and responsibilities. The Summary Advice lawyer can give basic information about legal terms, how to start or respond to a court application, court processes, legal documents, and other aspects of family law.

The Summary Advice lawyer can give advice on parenting arrangements, child support and spousal support, property division, divorce, and most other family law matters and court processes.

The Summary Advice lawyer does not provide advice to parents involved in child protection matters, or for matters involving Mi’kmaw Family Services. The Summary Advice lawyer may provide advice to a non-party to a child protection matter. For example, if you are not directly involved with a child protection proceeding and are applying for decision-making responsibility for, or contact with, the children involved.

The Summary Advice lawyer does not go to court with you. For more information about this service, click here.

You can contact your local Summary Advice lawyer to book an appointment by calling the appropriate number below:

Area of law: Family Law

Dalhousie Legal Aid Service

Dalhousie Legal Aid provides legal aid services to Nova Scotians who have a lower income and who would otherwise be unable to obtain legal advice. Generally, for family law issues you must first apply to Nova Scotia Legal Aid before being assigned a lawyer at Dalhousie Legal Aid.

Contact:

• Address: 5746 Russell Street St. Halifax
• Phone: 902-423-8105
• Website: http://www.dal.ca/faculty/law/dlas.html

Area of law: Family law

Nova Scotia Legal Aid

Nova Scotia Legal Aid offers legal information, legal advice and representation.   To get start to finish help with your case (full representation) you must fill out an application and meet income and area of law requirements.

Nova Scotia Legal Aid only provides lawyers for certain types of law, generally Family Law, Criminal Law, and Social Justice, which includes Income assistance, Residential tenancies (tenant rights), CPP disability, and EI - Employment Insurance, Prison Law, Adult Capacity and Decision-making, Involuntary Psychiatric Treatment, Adult Protection. 

Go to nslegalaid.ca for more information about available services and areas of law covered. 

Youth qualify for services independently of their family.

Contact:

• Your local Legal Aid office at: nslegalaid.ca
• Website: nslegalaid.ca/
• Apply for NS Legal Aid online at: nslegalaid.ca/online-application/

Dalhousie Legal Aid Service is a community legal clinic that provides legal aid services to people otherwise unable to obtain legal advice.

Generally, you must first apply to Nova Scotia Legal Aid before getting a lawyer at Dalhousie Legal Aid for family law or youth criminal law issues. Contact Dalhousie Legal Aid directly about legal issues for people with low incomes, such as income assistance, tenant rights, human rights complaints, police complaints, mental health law issues, and disputes with Nova Scotia Power.  Contact Dalhousie Legal Aid for details about services and areas of law covered.

Contact:

• Address: 5746 Russell Street St., Halifax
• Phone: 902-423-8105
• Website: http://www.dal.ca/faculty/law/dlas.html

Here are some things to ask about if you are looking for a lawyer in private practice and cost is an issue:

• can you help me with just part of my case? Lawyers call this a "Limited Scope Retainer" or "unbundled" services
• do you offer coaching for people who are representing themselves? Coaching is basically out-of-court strategic support
• do you charge a flat fee for this type of work?
• will you consider a contingency fee agreement?
• what is your hourly rate?
• can the lawyer wait to get paid once you get the money you are seeking (for example, spousal support, matrimonial property division)
• do you offer any pro bono (free) help?

Get more information about Finding a lawyer, and How lawyers charge for their work

Dalhousie Legal Aid Service

Dalhousie Legal Aid provides free information, advice and representation to tenants on Residential Tenancies and low income housing issues. Contact Dalhousie Legal Aid for details.

Download Dalhousie Legal Aid's Tenant Rights Guides

Contact:

• Address: 5746 Russell Street St. Halifax
• Phone: 902-423-8105
• Website: http://www.dal.ca/faculty/law/dlas.html

Areas of law: Residential tenancies (Tenant rights), Administrative law

Nova Scotia Legal Aid

Nova Scotia Legal Aid provides free legal information, advice and representation on Residential Tenancies issues for tenants.  To get start to finish help with your case (full representation) you must be getting income assistance or have an equally low income.  Contact Nova Scotia Legal Aid for further information.

Nova Scotia Legal Aid has online legal information about tenant rights

Contact:

• Your local Legal Aid office at: nslegalaid.ca
• Website: nslegalaid.ca/
• Apply for NS Legal Aid online at: nslegalaid.ca/online-application/

Areas of law: Residential tenancies (Tenant rights), Administrative law

Residential Tenancies (Service Nova Scotia)

The Residential Tenancies program, part of Service Nova Scotia, is the Nova Scotia government office that deals with residential landlord and tenant disputes. The Residential Tenancies program helps landlords and tenants understand their rights, and exercise those rights when necessary. They offer a range of services, including dispute resolution, residential tenancies forms and information booklets for both landlords and tenants.

Contact:

• Phone: 902-424-5200 or 1-800-670-4357
  TTY: 1-877-404-0867
• In-person: Access Nova Scotia locations province-wide
• Website: novascotia.ca/sns/access/land/residential-tenancies.asp

Area of law: Residential Tenancies, for Landlords and Tenants

Service Nova Scotia: Condominium Dispute Resolution

Service Nova Scotia offers information about condominium ownership, how condominium corporations are operated, what costs are involved in condominium ownership, and what to watch for when buying a new or existing condominium. They also offer ways for resolving disputes between condominium owners and condominium corporations - dispute resolution for minor disputes, and arbitration for other issues. There is a $124.60 fee to apply for dispute resolution.

Contact:

• Phone: 902-424-5200 or 1-800-670-4357
  TTY: 1-877-404-0867
• In-person: Access Nova Scotia locations province-wide
• Website:novascotia.ca/sns/access/

Area of law: Condominium law

Dalhousie Legal Aid Service

Dalhousie Legal Aid provides free information, advice and representation to low income Nova Scotians on income assistance issues. 

Download Dalhousie Legal Aid's Welfare Rights Guide

Contact:

• Address: 5746 Russell Street St. Halifax
• Phone: 902-423-8105
• Website: http://www.dal.ca/faculty/law/dlas.html

Areas of law: Income Assistance, Administrative law

Nova Scotia Legal Aid

Nova Scotia Legal Aid provides free legal information, advice and representation on income assistance issues for low income Nova Scotians.  Contact Nova Scotia Legal Aid for further information.

Youth qualify for services independently of their family.

Nova Scotia Legal Aid has online legal information about Income Assistance

Contact:

• Your local Legal Aid office at: nslegalaid.ca
• Website: nslegalaid.ca/
• Apply for NS Legal Aid online at: nslegalaid.ca/online-application/

Areas of law: Income assistance, Administrative law

The mission of The Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaq (CMM) is to proactively promote and assist Mi’kmaw communities’ initiatives toward self determination and enhancement of community.  The CMM has a number of plain language public legal education materials to help the Mi’kmaq understand their rights and responsibilities under the law, including:

• Mi’kmaq Wills Package: For Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq, which includes

1.  Book One: How to Write a Will
2.  Book Two: How to Settle an Estate
3.  Book Three: How to Write a Power of Attorney and Personal Directive
4.  Mi'kmaq Wills and Estates & Matrimonial Real Property

Copies are located in band offices of The CMM's member bands or can be found online at cmmns.com/program/wills-estates

• Emergency Protection Orders pamphlet
• Exclusive Occupation Order pamphlet
• Mi’kmaw Matrimonial Real Property: A Guide for Bear River, Millbrook, Paqtnkek, Pictou Landing, and Sipekne'katik

Contact:

Address: 57 Martin Crescent Truro, NS B2N 6N7
Phone:  902-895-6385 or 1-877-892-2424
Website: cmmns.com

Areas of law: Wills and Estates law, Family law

The Mi’kmaq Legal Support Network provides legal support services and victim support services to Indigenous people in Nova Scotia, particularly through the Mi'kmaw Court Worker Program and the Mi'kmaw Customary Law Program.

Contact:

• Phone:
  • Cape Breton: 902-379-2042
  • Dartmouth: 902-468-0381
  • Truro: 902-895-1141
  • Toll-free: 1-877-379-2042

Area of law: Criminal law, including victim support

This program offers services to Indigenous peoples and communities, both on and off reserve. Outreach services in and near Indigenous communities is offered in Indian Brook, Paq'tnkek, Wagmatcook, We'koqma'q, Potlokek, Eskasoni.  Outreach is also provided at the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre in Halifax.  Indigenous lawyers are available in Dartmouth, Windsor, Sydney, Millbrook, Bridgewater, and Yarmouth. 

Contact:

• Your local Legal Aid office at: nslegalaid.ca
• Website: nslegalaid.ca/
• Apply for NS Legal Aid online at: nslegalaid.ca/online-application/
• Nova Scotia Legal Aid - Indigenous Justice Information and Resources

Areas of law: Family Law, Criminal Law, and Social Justice (income assistance, residential tenancies, CPP disability, EI)

Bringing Balance to the Scales of Justice: Fulfilling Our Responsibility to Indigenous People involved in the Justice System (2018)

A resource guide that provides a general introduction to justice issues for people who work with Indigenous clients in the Atlantic Canadian justice system. The first half of the guide focuses on an overview of the post-colonial experiences of Indigenous people in Atlantic Canada, explores the reasons for Indigenous overrepresentation in the justice system and reviews efforts to reduce this overrepresentation.  The second half provides insights into traditional Indigenous views on justice and healing and outlines some of the common ceremonial practices that can be successfully integrated into justice programs.

Published by: Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI - Indigenous Justice Program

Atlantic Refugee and Immigrant Services Project (ARIS), Salvation Army

ARIS provides form filling help to refugees and immigrants. They can help with the following applications: Citizenship, Family Class Sponsorship, Travel Documents, and Permanent Resident Documents.  They only provide help with Temporary Resident Permits in the case of an Open Work Permit being submitted with a Spousal Sponsorship application, when applicable.

Service is provided at the Spryfield Community Church & Family Resource Centre.

Contact:

• Address: 328 Herring Cove Rd, Halifax, NS B3R 1V4
• Phone: 902-477-5393
• Website: https://salvationarmy.ca/maritime/home/locations/nova-scotia/

Areas of law: Immigration, Refugee law

Halifax Refugee Clinic

The Halifax Refugee Clinic is a non-profit, non-government organization serving refugee claimants, refugees and people in need of protection in Nova Scotia. They provide free legal and settlement services to people who cannot afford the services of private legal counsel.

Contact:

• Address: 5538 Macara St. Halifax
• Phone: 902-422-6736
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: halifaxrefugeeclinic.org/

Area of law: Refugee law

Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS)

Provides services to help immigrants settle in NS, as well as refugee resettlement, language training, employment services, business services, community connections, family counselling, and more.

ISANS is able to refer clients to outreach legal services offered at ISANS by:

• Dalhousie's Schulich School of Law Pro Bono: immigration applications
• McInnes Cooper: business law services.

ISANS clients must be referred by ISANS staff to legal services available at ISANS. Arrive 15 minutes earlier to complete an application form and bring two documents-proof of income and ID such as Permanent Resident or citizenship card.

Dalhousie Schulich School of Law pro bono law students provide legal information and assistance with applications for permanent residency, citizenship, sponsorship.

Contact:

• Address: 6960 Mumford Road, Suite 2120, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3L 4P1
• Phone: 902-423-3607 or 1-866-431-6472 (toll free in NS)
• www.isans.ca

Areas of law: Immigration law, Business Law.

The Land Titles Initiative (LTI) helps residents in the communities of North Preston, East Preston, Cherry Brook/Lake Loon, Lincolnville and Sunnyville get clear title to their land at no cost. There are Community Navigators to help all applicants involved in the Land Titles Initiative. Their role is to work directly with residents to help them through the land claims process. There are different ways to get clear land title. The Community Navigators will help you get on the right path and will track the progress on your case. They can also help connect you with other services you may need.

You can call a Community Navigator to ask questions about the status of the title to a parcel within the LTI communities. You do not need to have a land titles claim registered with the LTI.   If title is unclear, you may submit an intake application to determine your eligibility for the LTI.

To speak with a Community Navigator or schedule a meeting call toll free: 1-833-424-6100 or email: [email protected]

The Imprint Trans ID Clinic provides free legal information, form-filling services, and referrals in a trans-positive and inclusive space, for folks who wish to change their legal documents to update their name and gender marker and who need help with the forms and processes.  Free form-filling services are provided for the following documents:

• Birth Certificate
• Driver's License
• Health card (MSI)
• Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• Passport
• Newcomer documents
• Student ID (Name only)

East Coast Prison Justice Society is a non-profit organization that acts as a hub for individuals and organizations involved in prison justice advocacy in the Atlantic Provinces. Their work aims to improve conditions for criminalized and incarcerated people through education, research, scholarship and legal support. 

Legal Resources: https://www.eastcoastprisonjustice.ca/resources.html

Contact:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ECPJS/
• Email: [email protected]
• Web: www.eastcoastprisonjustice.ca/

Areas of law: Criminal, Prison law

Habeas Corpus in Nova Scotia: An Accessible Guide (PDF)

An East Coast Prison Justice Society publication, produced in collaboration with the Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia  and the Elizabeth Fry Society of Cape Breton.

Areas of law: Criminal, Prison law

​A Handbook for Prisoners in Provincial Jails in Nova Scotia

Published by: Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies with East Coast Prison Justice Society

Areas of law: Criminal, Prison law

Human Rights in Action: Handbook for Women Serving Federal Sentences (PDF)

Published by: Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies.

Areas of law: Criminal, Prison law

The Elizabeth Fry Society Mainland Nova Scotia and the Elizabeth Fry Society of Cape Breton are community based organizations that address the criminalization of women and girls in Nova Scotia.

Contact:

Elizabeth Fry Society Mainland Nova Scotia
1 Tulip Street
Dartmouth NS
902-454-5041

Elizabeth Fry Society of Cape Breton
12 Cecelia Levatte Crescent
Sydney NS
902-539-6165

Areas of law: Criminal, Prison law

John Howard Society of Nova Scotia is a provincial organization whose goal is to understand and respond to problems of crime and the criminal justice system.

Contact:

John Howard Society of Nova ScotiaJohn Howard Society of Nova Scotia
541 Sackville Drive, Suite 1
Lower Sackville NS
902-429-6429

Areas of law: Criminal, Prison law

Nova Scotia Legal Aid provides legal information, advice and representation to Nova Scotians on criminal defence law issues. Contact Nova Scotia Legal Aid for further information, and download their Prison Law Initiative brochure for information about services and areas of prison law covered.

Contact:

• Your local Legal Aid office at: nslegalaid.ca
• Website: nslegalaid.ca/
• Apply for NS Legal Aid online at: nslegalaid.ca/online-application/

Areas of law: Criminal, Prison law

PATH is a non-profit law firm that provides prison law assistance to its clients. PATH's mandate is to support people who are currently incarcerated with prison law matters and people who have suffered from miscarriage of justice.

Contact:
Website: www.pathlegal.ca

L'Association des juristes d’expression française de la Nouvelle-Écosse (AJEFNE)

Pour obtenir de l’information en français ainsi qu’une liste des juristes d’expression française en Nouvelle Écosse, veuillez communiquer avec l’Association des juristes d’expression française de la Nouvelle-Écosse (AJEFNE). L’AJEFNE est un organisme à but non lucratif fondé en 1994 pour promouvoir l’accès aux services juridiques pour la population acadienne et francophone de la Nouvelle-Écosse.

• Address: 1741, rue Brunswick, Halifax, Nouvelle-Écosse B3J 3X8
• Téléphone : (902) 433-2085, sans frais : 1-844-250-8471
• www.ajefne.ns.ca/

Cliquez justice

Pour obtenir de l’information en français en ligne, consultez le site web CliquezJustice.ca. CliquezJustice.ca est un portail canadien d’information juridique simplifiée qui aide à comprendre ses droits et obligations pour mieux gérer les situations juridiques du quotidien.

Dalhousie Schulich School of Law Wills Project

The project allows low-income seniors to meet with a lawyer, in the lawyer’s office or at a client’s home within the HRM on request, to get a will, power of attorney, or personal directive done. The project operates during the school year, with a cohort of clients served in the Fall semester and a cohort in the Winter semester. Documents are executed within November and May, depending on the cohort. No client work is done during the Summer. To be eligible for the project, you should have no real property interest (you do not own your home or any land), have an income of less than $25,000 a year, have assets less than $65,000, and should be 65 years of age or older. Criteria are flexible, and those who fall outside the criteria may also use the service if resources permit.

Contact:

• Phone: 902-494-3704
• Email: [email protected]
  

Areas of law: Draft wills, Power of Attorney, and Personal Directive documents

Go here for more information about making your Personal Directive, and why you need one. 

Nova Scotians can make a personal directive using the Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia's free online Personal Directive App. You can also download print versions of the information you need to make your Personal Directive.

Nova Scotia Legal Aid provides full service representation (start to finish help) to youth between the ages of 12 to 18 on youth criminal justice issues.

Nova Scotia Legal Aid Duty Counsel is available for youth in custody and youth at court who do not have a lawyer.  Duty Counsel is available 24/7 province-wide for emergency help for youth in police custody (arrested or detained). Available around the province. Contact your local Legal Aid office.

Nova Scotia Legal Aid provides in-office summary legal advice (brief advice) to anyone between the ages of 12 to 18 on social justice issues, including:

• Tickets (for example: Motor Vehicle Act, Protection of Property Act, Liquor Control Act, Off-Highway Vehicles Act tickets)
• School level or school board issues
• Housing
• License suspensions
• Youth Ombudsman, Department of Community Services or Children and Family Services Act cases where you are a party or have a court date
• Protection of Property Act notices where you are prevented from accessing services
• Family court disputes between your parents or guardians where you have questions or want a voice
• Any other situation where you have a question or need an advocate.

All youth between ages 12 to 18 qualify for this service from Legal Aid, regardless of income.  Family income does not matter. Click here for more information about Youth Services offered by Nova Scotia Legal Aid.

Contact:

• Your local Legal Aid office at: nslegalaid.ca
• Website: nslegalaid.ca/
• Apply for NS Legal Aid online at: nslegalaid.ca/online-application/

Area of law: youth criminal law, social justice law

Dalhousie Legal Aid provides legal aid services to youth in trouble with the law.  For youth criminal issues you must first apply to Nova Scotia Legal Aid before being assigned a lawyer at Dalhousie Legal Aid.

Contact:

• Address: 5746 Russell St. Halifax
• Phone: 902-423-8105
• Website: http://www.dal.ca/faculty/law/dlas.html

Area of law: youth criminal law

Fill out the Information Sheet. 
Take the Information Sheet with you to the interview.

If there are other important names and addresses that the lawyer should be aware of, put them in too. If your problem has a file or case number, include that as well.

If possible, print or type your Information Sheet.

Take all letters and documents about your legal problem with you to the interview. If you are in doubt about an item, take it anyway. Next, put the documents in order according to their dates.

Click here for a document list that you can use to list the documents, including letters you have. For example, include documents:

• you prepared
• you got from the court
• you have been served.

If you have little Post-It notes, put the number of the document on a Post-It note. Attach the Post-It note to each document so that it corresponds to the Document List.

Write out your story in point form and in the order of dates and times they happened. This is your written statement. Put in all the facts that you consider important. Be specific about dates and who said what. When you write out your story, it should not be more than two pages. This will force you to focus on the important points.

Take the written statement with you to the interview. It will help refresh your memory when you are talking to the lawyer.

Tell the lawyer if you have difficulty reading or writing.

If you have questions you want to ask the lawyer, write them out and take them with you. Put them in order of importance to you. It’s easy to forget the questions if you don’t write them down. The lawyer will want to know all the details.

The lawyer will want to know:

• Exact dates, if possible.
• Who said what to whom – the exact words, not a summary.
• Who was there during conversations and how long the conversations lasted.

Important: The lawyer needs to know all the details, good and bad, about your case. If you are completely frank, the lawyer will be in the best position to handle your problem and advise you on it.  Your lawyer is not there to judge you, and can't give you good advice without knowing all the facts.

There are four “S’s” to a successful interview with a lawyer:

• slow,
• straightforward,
• specific, and
• systematic.

1. Slow

People tend to talk too fast in a lawyer interview. This is natural. Many of us are nervous when we have to see a lawyer. We want to tell all.

Think about it this way: hearing your story is like eating dinner.

If the lawyer is eating too fast, he or she won’t be able to digest it properly.

If you tell your story slowly, this gives the lawyer time to digest and understand your story. If you talk slowly, you give the lawyer time to ask questions.

You will avoid missing important facts.

The better prepared you are for the interview, the better advice the lawyer can give you.

2. Straightforward

All of us want to be seen in a good light. When we talk to other people, we usually try to emphasize the favourable things about ourselves. There is nothing wrong with this. It helps us all get along. However, when you’re talking to a lawyer, things are different.

You need to give the lawyer both the good information and the bad information. If you did something wrong, admit it to the lawyer. It will most likely be brought to his/her attention later anyway, by the opposing party.

The lawyer needs to know the good and the bad information at the beginning. That will help the lawyer to give you good advice and save time and possibly money in the long run. Unless the lawyer knows everything, he or she cannot give you good advice.

Here’s a situation that illustrates the point. It’s about a man who was fired for being late for work. He does not want to answer the lawyer’s question.

Q. Were you late for work on March 13, 2015?

A. Late! You should talk to Margo Smith. She is never on time. She gets away with murder.

Q. But on March 13, 2015, were you late?

A. Is it my fault there was a car accident on the Port Mann Bridge? These things happen!

Q. On Mar 13, 2015, were you on time for work? (FIRM VOICE)

A. Don’t you listen? I’ve explained that! (LOUD VOICE)

The lawyer asked the man, “Were you late for work?” But the man did not answer the question. Instead, he gave his excuses for being late. This uses up time at the interview.

A good exchange goes like this:

Q. Were you late for work on March 13, 2015?

A. Yes!

Q. What was the reason?

A. There was a car accident on the Port Mann Bridge. I was stuck in traffic for thirty minutes.

Q. Were you ever late before?

A. No.

Q. Were other people ever fired for lateness?

A. No. Marge Smith was late all the time and she wasn’t fired!

This exchange goes to the heart of the problem.

Always be straightforward. Answer the questions directly. Many of the questions the lawyer will ask require simple answers.

The simple, straightforward answer is best.

3. Specific

We all tend to talk in generalities. For example:

• This person is good.
• That movie is terrific!

Generalities are not useful when you are dealing with the law.

Law requires specific information. If you are asked a question such as: “On what date did this happen?” it is best to give the exact date, e.g., March 15, 2015.

If you can’t be specific, be as specific as possible. “It happened the week of March 12, 2015.” Do not summarize conversations. Instead, tell the lawyer, “Mr. Jones said…and then I said…” Repeat the exact words that were said. The more straightforward you are in the interview, the better advice the lawyer can give you.

4. Systematic

When you are telling your story to the lawyer, tell it in chronological order. You cannot tell everything at once. Here is an example of what can go wrong.

A woman is describing to her lawyer how she got fired from her job.

Q. Did Mr. Jones, your boss, call you in his office?

A. Yes.

Q. What did he say?

A. He said Mrs. Smith, please sit down. I sat down. Then he said, “This is difficult, but I’m going to let you go, because of the Atlantic mix-up. Well, I can tell you, I can swear on my mother’s grave, I had nothing to do with the Atlantic mix-up.”

The information in bold type breaks the flow of the story because Mrs. Smith has begun to talk about something new, “the Atlantic mix-up.”

The flow of the story is important. The explanation of “the Atlantic mix-up” can wait until later in the interview. It may also be important, but if the woman gives it here, it is confusing.

• Keep your story in chronological order. Do not skip about from one time period to another.
• If you have papers and documents, get them in order before you go to see the lawyer. It is a waste of your time to spend several minutes looking for one letter in a pile of letters.

Remember

Fill out the Information Sheet and take it with you.

Fill out the Document List and take it with you.

• Write out your story before you go to the lawyer.
• If you have questions to ask the lawyer, write them down before you go. That way, you won’t forget them.
• When you meet with the lawyer, remember to be slow, straightforward, specific and systematic.

Fees are what lawyers charge for their legal services, including their time, expertise and skills.  Fees should be fair and reasonable, and your lawyer should let you know about them in a timely way. What is fair and reasonable will depend on factors like:

• time and effort needed and spent
• lawyer’s experience and abilities
• difficulty and complexity of the issues
• what is at stake for you (for example, amount of money, importance to you)
• any estimate or range of fees the lawyer gave you
• fee arrangement you were told about and agreed to
• the outcome of the case.

Disbursements are out-of-pocket expenses paid to third parties on the client's behalf, like:

• couriers, printing, postage
• long-distance telephone, faxing
• service of documents (process server)
• court filing fees
• government fees
• medical reports
• assessments
• transcripts
• expert fees.

Hourly rate

Lawyers usually bill on an hourly basis.  Your lawyer’s time on your case includes things like research, telephone calls, emails, texts, letters, meetings, legal document preparation, discoveries, and court or tribunal appearances. A lawyer’s hourly rate usually depends on the lawyer’s years of experience - newer lawyers are generally less expensive than more experienced lawyers.  The general range is from about $150 to $500 an hour.

Contingency fee

A contingency fee is a percentage of the money the lawyer gets for you if successful. If you win, the lawyer gets the percentage agreed on as the lawyer's fee. 

...a lawyer may enter into a written agreement...that provides that the lawyer’s fee is contingent, in whole or in part, on the outcome of the matter for which the lawyer’s services are to be provided (Rule 3.6-2 Code of Professional Conduct for NS Lawyers)

Lawyers often use a contingency fee agreement in lawsuits where the client cannot pay up front, such as for a personal injury claim.  If you lose the case, you do not pay the lawyer any fee.  However, you may still have to pay the disbursements.

The percentage is open to negotiation between you and your lawyer, but must be fair and reasonable.  The percentage is based on factors like: the likelihood of success, nature and complexity of the claim, expense and risk of going ahead, amount of expected recovery, and who is to get an award of costs.

A contingency fee agreement must be in writing, and must include certain terms and conditions that come from Rule 77.14 of Nova Scotia's Civil Procedure Rules.

Most contingency fee agreements say that if you decide to change lawyers you will usually need to pay the first lawyer for the work they did on your file up to that point.

A contingency fee agreement is a contract with your lawyer.  Read it carefully and be sure you understand its terms before you sign it.  You may want to review the agreement with another lawyer before you sign it.

Flat or fixed fee

Lawyers may charge a flat or 'fixed' fee for services like:

• a will, power of attorney, personal directive
• an uncontested divorce
• incorporation of a company
• real estate purchase and sale
• a first consultation.

The lawyer’s out-of-pocket expenses (disbursements), if any, will generally be extra though. Ask your lawyer for an estimate of those expenses.

Retainer

Most lawyers will ask you to pay a retainer fee up front when you hire them, unless you have agreed on a flat fee, contingency fee, or other fee arrangement. A retainer is a lump sum of money provided to a lawyer when you hire them.    The retainer is kept in the lawyer’s trust account, and covers legal fees and other expenses for the legal work. It is also sometimes referred to as a retainer fee.   The amount of the retainer fee varies from lawyer to lawyer, and depends on the case.  The lawyer will do work until the retainer runs out, and ask for a new retainer if more work needs to be done, or until the legal work is done.  After the legal work is done, any balance left after the lawyer's bill is paid would be returned to you.

You may also be asked to sign a retainer agreement, sometimes also called an engagement letter.  A retainer agreement is a contract with your lawyer. 

A retainer agreement establishes the lawyer-client relationship, and may cover things like:

• how much you can expect to pay (ballpark estimate)
• fees, disbursements and other costs
• retainer amount (if applicable)
• billing format, when bills are due, and interest charged if you do not pay your bill on time
• scope of the retainer: what you have hired the lawyer to do, and what you have not
• whether work may be delegated (for example, to a paralegal, articled clerk, associate, administrative support staff)
• withdrawal, transfer or termination of services
• how communication will happen (for example, email, phone, letters, etc)
• confidentiality.

Full Scope Retainer or Limited Scope Retainer?

Full Service/Scope Retainer: The lawyer will provide full representation, dealing with all aspects of the matter from start to finish, to resolve the client's legal problem.

Limited Scope Retainer:  The lawyer provides legal services for part, but not all, of a client’s legal problem, by agreement with the client. This is sometimes also called 'unbundled legal services'.

Examples of a Limited Scope Retainer are where a lawyer:

• drafts or reviews court documents, like pleadings or a brief, as a 'ghost-writer'
• only does part of a court process, like questioning a witness (direct or cross-examination), or doing a sentencing hearing
• advises about whether a client should accept a proposed settlement or transaction, like giving independent legal advice on a proposed separation agreement
• provides outside court logistical and strategic help to a self-represented litigant, sometimes called 'coaching'.

Representing Yourself?  A Limited Scope Retainer or 'unbundled' legal services may be a good option. 

The Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society does not deal with disputes about a lawyer’s bill. If you have a dispute with your lawyer about the lawyer’s bill:

1. Speak with or write to your lawyer. Ask for more detailed information about the bill. Ask the lawyer to explain any fees or disbursements (out-of-pocket expenses) you do not understand. If you cannot resolve the dispute directly with the lawyer, see if you can speak with the managing lawyer or executive director of the firm, assuming it is not your lawyer.  If that does not work, you have the option of going to Small Claims Court to have the lawyer’s bill assessed. This assessment of a lawyer's bill is also called a "taxation" of a lawyer's bill.

2. Small Claims Court - Taxation. ‘Taxation’ means a Small Claims Court adjudicator can ‘tax’ or review your lawyer’s bill, including fees and disbursements, to decide whether the bill is reasonable. The taxation process includes looking at whether the percentage fee under a contingency fee agreement is reasonable. 

Contact the Small Claims Court for more information. You will find court contact information at www.courts.ns.ca, or look under ‘Courts’ in the government pages of the telephone book.

• Small Claims Court Taxation of Costs Regulations
• Appealing a Small Claims Court adjudicator's taxation decision

Colonialism disrupted the transmission of Indigenous laws and traditions in Canada. It is the goal of Indigenous Nations, such as the Mi’kmaq Nation in Nova Scotia, to rejuvenate these legal principles and values once again through sharing and the passing along of the language and traditional knowledge, such as decision-making processes and teachings, held by the Matriarchs and Elders of the Nations. The resurgence of Indigenous laws has already begun in Canada and will continue to flourish as Indigenous persons and Nations begin to heal and thrive by focusing on self-empowerment and rejuvenation of their language, culture and traditional teachings, values and laws. Twelve of the thirteen Mi’kmaq Bands in Nova Scotia are self-governing in the area of education, which means they can pass their own education laws (and policies), without approval from the Federal or Provincial Governments. They have created a self-governing authority and hired staff to work collectively on their collective education governance matters: https://www.kinu.ca

On October 1, 2008, the thirteen First Nation Chiefs signed a Mi’kmaq Nationhood Proclamation representing a commitment from the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia to develop a system of governance to enhance the quality of life for the Mi’kmaq.

There are several types of legislation in Nova Scotia:

• First Nation legislation: Laws passed by First Nation Governments/Bands located on federal Indian reserves in Nova Scotia, about matters relating to "Indians", "Indian" Bands and "Indian" reserve lands in Canada.  Examples include:
  • local governance laws,
  • matrimonial real property laws. The Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaq has information about matrimonial real property laws for the following communities: Bear River First Nation, Millbrook First Nation, Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation, Pictou Landing First Nation and Sipekne’katik,
  • Indian Act  Band by-laws (must be approved by Indigenous Services Canada before they can be enforced).  A First Nation or band by-law is a local law that is passed by a First Nation Government/Band to regulate affairs within its community.  These by-laws apply to everyone on the reserve, regardless of whether they are a band member or whether they actually live on the reserve. 
• Statutes of Canada, which are laws passed by the Canadian Parliament;
• Statutes of Nova Scotia, which are laws passed by the Nova Scotia Legislature;
• By-laws, which are laws passed by municipalities that have law-making powers given to them by the provincial law. By-laws deal with local issues such a parking and zoning.

Acts or Statutes usually include a section appointing a person or body to make regulations in relation to that law.  Regulations provide details about how the Act is applied. They are part of the law and have as much force as the Act itself. For example, Nova Scotia’s Consumer Protection Act has regulations outlining specific rules about gift cards, payday lenders and online shopping contracts.

When a regulation is passed, it must be filed and published. At the federal level, the regulation is filed with the Clerk of the Privy Council and is published in the Canada Gazette. Exceptions to this rule are listed in Part II – Consolidated Index of the Canada Gazette. At the provincial level, regulations must be filed with the Registrar of Regulations.  In Nova Scotia, regulations are published in the Royal Gazette, Part II.

Case law is also known as common law, judge-made law or case reporting. It mainly comprises all previous decisions and judgments made by all levels of court across Canada. For example, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms says that an accused is entitled to a trial within a reasonable time. Judges have interpreted what a “reasonable time” means - the Supreme Court of Canada did so in a 2016 case called R v. Jordan.  As the Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court in Canada, the legal principles set out in the Jordan decision are law and now govern how that Charter right is to be interpreted and applied.

The development of case law is an ongoing process.

In Canada, with the exception of Quebec and Indigenous laws and traditions, many laws have their origin in English common law. William the Conqueror developed common law in England after the Norman conquest in 1066.  At the time, there were few written laws in England, and William sought to establish a uniform system of law.  The King’s court travelled around England and selected the best local customs, common traditions accepted as binding on all members of the community. These customs were made law, and this new legal system became known as the common law.

Eventually the common law evolved into a formal system based on the rule of precedent.  The rule of precedent is the custom of judges standing by previous judges’ decisions.  It is also known as stare decisis (which means to stand by things decided). When making a decision, judges refer to the principles and decisions made by judges in previous cases.  These are called “precedents”. Precedents are examples of how laws or by-laws have been interpreted and applied.

The authority or importance of a particular precedent depends on the level of court and the jurisdiction in which the original decision was made. A precedent-making decision can only be changed by a court higher than the court which made the original decision.  The higher the court, the more weight will be given to its decisions.  However, courts are not bound by the decision of the following courts:

• Other courts lower than the supreme court of a province;
• Courts outside the jurisdiction or province (the exception is Supreme Court of Canada decisions);
• Courts of equal jurisdiction (for example, a judge of the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal will not be bound by a previous decision of a judge sitting on the same court - but may be persuaded by it).

In all cases, the court’s decision can still be persuasive, even if it does not follow the precedent.

A judge may also consider decisions from other countries, in particular, other common law jurisdictions such as Britain and the United States. Different decisions on the same subject matter may conflict. In reaching a decision, a judge may have to choose which previous decision or principle to follow. In doing so, the judge may either overrule one of the decisions as being bad law or may distinguish one of the cases based on the case facts.

Case law is contained in law reports, in print or electronic format.

A constitution is a document that sets out a country's system of government and the civil rights of its residents and citizens. In Canada, the Constitution Act was proclaimed on April 17, 1982. This Act consolidated the British North America Act of 1867 and 30 other constitutional Acts, and forms the core of the Canadian Constitution. The Constitution can be altered, but it is a long and complicated procedure.

The Constitution Act contains the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which sets out the rights and freedoms to be enjoyed by all Canadian citizens, and extends some of these rights and freedoms to all Canadian residents. These rights and freedoms are not absolute or limitless. As indicated in Section 1 of the Charter, they are subject to reasonable limits laid down by law which can be shown to be justified in a free and democratic society. The courts must decide what amounts to “reasonable limits”. They must strike a balance between individual rights and the needs of society.

Charter rights only apply to federal, provincial and municipal government actions; they do not apply to the actions of private individuals, such as a dispute between neighbours, or between a homeowner and a contractor. The Charter also protects Canadians from the actions of agencies regulated and/or funded by government, such as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

The federal Parliament, provincial legislatures and municipal governments have the power to declare, within clearly defined limits, that a piece of legislation is not subject to some provisions of the Charter. This power is rarely used.

The Charter is a reminder to all governments and legislators that their powers are limited and must be exercised with respect for the rights of individual citizens. The courts must see that legislation or government actions do not violate the rights and freedoms set out in the Charter. The courts also play an important role in deciding the provisions of the Charter, for example by interpreting what the rights and freedoms in the Charter mean, what they cover, and how far they extend.

Legal authority, or Jurisdiction, is set out in Sections 91 and 92 of the Constitution Act, and list areas in which only the federal or the provincial government may make laws. For example, under section 91 (27), only the federal Parliament may make criminal laws and set the criminal procedure for the courts. Or, section 92 (14) says that only a province may make laws for the purpose of administering courts in that province.

In general, the federal government has the power to make laws for the peace, order and good government of Canada, and laws regulating trade and commerce. Provinces have the authority to make law with respect to property and civil rights within their province, in matters of a local or private nature.

Some of the powers set out in sections 91 and 92 are narrowly defined. For example, section 91 (9) makes it clear that the federal Parliament may make legislation about Sable Island off the east coast of Nova Scotia.  However, most of the powers referred to in sections 91 and 92 are so broad that courts have been asked many times to decide whether the federal or provincial government has jurisdiction over a particular area.

The publication How Canadians govern themselves, written by former Senator Eugene Forsey, provides more information on the Constitution and our system of government.

Policy is a set of rules or procedures that guide how decisions should be made with regards to public affairs. Policy is not law. If a policy is contrary to the statute or regulations, it can be challenged.
For example, the work of income assistant caseworkers is governed by Nova Scotia’s Employment Support and Income Assistance Act. The Employment Support and Income Assistance Policy Manual details practical procedures caseworkers use in carrying out their work.

Government policies are often available to the public, either online or in paper format at government offices. If a policy is not already available, you can make an access to information request, at the federal or provincial level, depending on the policy.  Requests to federal departments are made under the Access to Information Act. Requests to Nova Scotia’s provincial departments are made under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIPOP) Act.

Contact the Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia. We will ask you some questions to:

• Confirm that you have a legal problem and whether a lawyer in private practice can help you;
• Determine what type of legal problem you may have;
• Determine whether other resources might help you (for example, Nova Scotia Legal Aid or a community agency); and
• Give you relevant legal information about your legal problem.

Some of the questions may be personal, but we are asking to make sure we are making an appropriate referral and to give you helpful legal information. The service is anonymous and confidential. Our legal information counsellors are trained professionals with diverse skills and knowledge in many areas of law. All of our legal information counsellors have law degrees.  Their main job is public legal education and legal information.  They may be able to give you legal information to help you take the next steps toward solving your legal problem.

If it is appropriate to provide a lawyer referral, we will do our best to refer you to a private lawyer who does the type of law you need in your part of the province.  Unfortunately, we can't always help or refer you to a lawyer, but if not, we will try to refer you to other resources that might help.

Referrals are made on a rotation basis, taking area of law and geographic location into account. 

A referral from the Legal Information Society is not a recommendation. We do not rate lawyers and are not able to give recommendations.

We only give one lawyer referral for the same legal issue. We do not give a list of lawyers.

When we provide a lawyer referral, we give you a lawyer's name and telephone number. It is up to you to contact the lawyer to set up an appointment.

The lawyer works in private practice. They do not work for the Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia. They are a lawyer in the community who has agreed to be part of the Lawyer Referral Service.

Tell the lawyer you were referred by the Legal Information Society's Lawyer Referral Service.

The law firm must do a conflict check to ensure they can offer a consultation.

You can connect with the lawyer for up to 30 minutes for a fee of $20 plus tax. Consultations are generally in the lawyer's office, although it is up to the lawyer - in some cases, it may happen remotely (examples: telephone, virtual).

During this initial consultation, you will discuss your problem with the lawyer and get an idea of your options and the costs involved.  Do not expect the lawyer to do legal work for you during the initial consultation. Legal work includes giving a legal opinion or advice, reviewing, interpreting, or drafting documents.

Prepare for your meeting with the lawyer.  Think about what you want to say - what are the most important points?  Take important documents with you, including any court order(s), contracts, financial information (if relevant), etc., so that you can leave the documents (or copies) with the lawyer if you decide to hire them. Briefly summarize your legal problem.  Keep in mind that 30 minutes goes by very quickly!  See our Guide to a Successful Interview with a Lawyer.

A referral from our service is just for a consultation. You do not have to hire a lawyer if you do not want to, and the lawyer has no obligation to take your case.

Suppose you hire the lawyer after the initial 30-minute consultation, and the lawyer agrees to represent you. In that case, you must work out a fee arrangement directly with the lawyer. This usually means you will be paying the lawyer's regular fees. Be sure you understand the fee arrangement. See How Lawyers Charge for their work for more information.

Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Closed weekends and holidays.

Please note that, unfortunately, we cannot accept messages for return phone calls.

We have the following information:

• Areas of law the lawyer practices.
• Where the lawyer is.
• Fee arrangements the lawyer may consider (e.g. regular fees, contingency fee agreement, limited scope retainer, flat fees, service fee).
• Whether the lawyer may offer in-office, telephone, email, or virtual consultations.
• How long the lawyer has practiced law.
• Whether the lawyer can meet the client where they are instead of at the lawyer's office.
• Whether notary public services are offered.
• Whether the lawyer is a member of the Bar anywhere other than Nova Scotia.
• Whether the lawyer offers service in languages other than English.

No.  We cannot provide a list of lawyers registered with the Lawyer Referral Service.

No.  It is voluntary for lawyers to join the Legal Information Society's Lawyer Referral Service. 

No. We only give one lawyer referral for the same legal issue unless there is a conflict of interest.  If the referral we gave you did not work out, click here for information about other ways to find a lawyer and legal help.

Lawyers in the Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia's Lawyer Referral Service are not free (pro bono) lawyers. Lawyer Referral Service members are lawyers in private practice who offer a reduced fee for an initial consultation. After that, you must work out a fee arrangement directly with the lawyer. This usually means you will be paying the lawyer's regular fees. Be sure you understand the fee arrangement. See How Lawyers Charge for their work for more information.

Here is a list of free and low-cost legal services in Nova Scotia, or you can contact us by phone, email or live chat for free legal information, and we'll see if we can suggest other sources of help.

Nova Scotia has different levels of court that deal with different legal issues.

• Small Claim Court deals with many civil matters where a person is suing, or being sued,  for $25,000 or less.
• The Provincial Court hears most criminal cases in Nova Scotia but it cannot deal with very serious criminal charges, like murder trials.
• The Probate Court deals  with wills and estate issues.
• Nova Scotia Supreme Court hears serious criminal cases including jury trials and most civil law suits that involve sums of more than $25,000.
• The Supreme Court (Family Division)  deals with all family law matters in Nova Scotia.
• The Nova Scotia Court of Appeal is the highest court in Nova Scotia, and plays a significant role in interpreting Nova Scotia law. Appeals of decisions of lower courts in the province are heard by the Court of Appeal. A decision of this court can, with permission ('leave' of the court), be appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada, the highest court in Canada.

Once the Supreme Court of Canada has said what the law is, only the federal Parliament (if the law in question is federal) or the provincial legislature (if it is a provincial law), can change it by passing new legislation, or by changing existing legislation. However, if the law is part of the Constitution, then the ruling of the courts is final and cannot be changed by the federal parliament or the provincial legislature.

There are special federal courts that deal with specific matters such as tax and immigration.

For more information on courts, visit:

• the Nova Scotia Courts website (courts.ns.ca)
• the Supreme Court of Canada (www.scc-csc.ca)
• the Federal Court of Canada (www.fct-cf.gc.ca/en/home)

Some things to think about:

• Can you get legal help? Have you explored all options for getting legal advice? Even a single meeting with a lawyer may help. A lawyer can talk with you about your likelihood of success and can help clarify your questions about the law or the process. Check this list of free and low-cost ways to get legal help in Nova Scotia.  Also, some lawyers in private practice offer help with just part of a case or there may be some wiggle room in terms of fees. Here is general information about how lawyers may charge for their work.
• Is there another way to solve the dispute? Have you looked at other possible ways to resolve the issue - click here for information about working things out without court?
• Are there time limits for starting a civil lawsuit for this particular issue? Have you missed them? Click here for more information about time limits.  It is a good idea to speak with a lawyer if you aren't sure.
• Do you understand the risks of going to court? Going to court is the hardest way to solve disputes. Some things to think about:
  • Court $$ costs money.  For example, it costs $218.05 (plus law stamp $25+HST) to start a claim in the Nova Scotia Supreme Court, or $99.70 to claim less then $5000 in Small Claims Court.  In some cases and if you have a low income you may be able to get the court fees waived. Find other court fee information, including information about fees that may be waived, here.    Other expenses may include the cost of witnesses, experts, discoveries, photocopying, your time, etc.
  • Costs if you lose. Could you be on the hook for some of the other side's costs if you lose (for example: some of their legal fees and out-of-pocket expenses)? 
• Your health and wellbeing. Your credibility may be challenged. Court is like a battle.  If you are starting a lawsuit you must prove your version of the facts. There will be an emotional toll on you, your family, and friends. Going through a court process is stressful and may negatively affect both your mental and physical health
• Court can take a long time.  Are you prepared to spend evenings and weekends working on the case? Can you take time off work to go to court? The court process may take months to years.
• Is there a legal basis (merit) for your claim and can you get legal help to figure that out?
• At Court - the hearing or trial. There are many steps along the way. Doing a trial on your own is challenging, and people going to court without a lawyer do not succeed as often as people who go to court with a lawyer representing them.

Each court has its own set of rules and forms that are used in that court. Go to courts.ns.ca or contact the court you are dealing with for current information about court rules and forms.

The Nova Scotia Civil Procedure Rules are procedural rules and forms made by judges, outlining the practical processes and paperwork for going to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, including the Supreme Court-Family Division, and the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal. The Civil Procedure Rules on the Courts of Nova Scotia website are searchable, and in some cases include online interactive versions of court forms, so they can be filled out on a computer.

If you are interested in appealing a criminal conviction or a sentence, you can find a how-to manual for criminal appeals on the court's website here: https://www.courts.ns.ca/resources/public/representing-yourself-court (the manual is in the section entitled "Resources for People Appearing in the Court of Appeal"). You can download the manual in PDF format: The Criminal Appeal: A How-to Manual (pdf). The manual aims to help you make an informed decision about appealing a criminal conviction or sentence. Starting an appeal means you are prepared to dedicate the time, energy, focus and possibly the money to see the appeal through to its conclusion. You should not start an appeal unless you are committed to this process.

Applying for a Peace Bond: To start the process you or your lawyer file a paper called an "Information" with the Provincial Court along with a form called a "Statement of Complaint".  The forms are on the Court's website here: https://courts.ns.ca/courts/provincial-court/peace-bonds

• You may be able to get help from Nova Scotia Legal Aid to apply for a peace bond
• The Provincial Court adopted a virtual peace bond process during the pandemic.  Many peace bond cases are now heard remotely by phone/video conference. 

This page gives general legal information about Peace Bonds. It does not give legal advice.

Last reviewed: May 2021

Go to courts.ns.ca to find court forms for dealing with a civil action in the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, from the Civil Procedure Rules of Nova Scotia (court rules & forms) including:

• Starting a Civil Action (Notice of Action)
• Starting an Action for Debt
• How to Defend an Action

Note: The Nova Scotia Courts offer free weekly legal clinics for self-represented litigants with certain types of cases going to the Nova Scotia Supreme Court or the Court of Appeal. Private one-hour sessions with a volunteer practicing lawyer and a law student are available by appointment during the clinic's scheduled hours of operation.  Here is information about the Free Legal Clinics.

Go to courts.ns.ca for information about representing yourself at the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal,  including:

• A How-to Manual for Civil Appeals to help you make an informed decision about whether to appeal, and how to appeal a judgment in a civil law case
• All about preparing your Appeal Book, including an Appeal Book Primer, Appeal Book checklist & practical tips. 

You can find these resources and other helpful information on the "Representing Yourself in Court" page of the court's site: https://courts.ns.ca/resources/public/representing-yourself-court

Note: The Nova Scotia Courts offer free weekly legal clinics for self-represented litigants with certain types of cases going to the Nova Scotia Supreme Court or the Court of Appeal. Private one-hour sessions with a volunteer practicing lawyer and a law student are available by appointment during the clinic's scheduled hours of operation.  Here is information about the Free Legal Clinics.

The Probate Court in each of Nova Scotia's probate districts has free legal information publications about going to Probate Court. You can get copies by visiting or by calling your local Probate Court office or by going to the Courts of Nova Scotia website, courts.ns.ca/Self_Reps/self-rep_home.htm#Probate.

Probate court contact information is available on the Courts of Nova Scotia website.

The information available from the Probate Court includes:

• The Probate Act - Questions and answers
• Dealing with an estate
• Grant of probate - checklist
• Grant of administration with will annexed - checklist
• Grant of administration - checklist
• Passing the accounts of an estate in Probate Court - checklist
• How to prepare the final account of the personal representative

You have been charged with a criminal offence. You have never been to court before.

You will find information here about:

• When you have to be in court
• Who will be in court
• How to prepare for trial; and
• What happens in court.

This page gives general information about going to Provincial Court. It does not give legal advice. If you are charged with a crime, you should speak with a lawyer to get legal advice. If you are charged with a serious criminal offence, your trial may be in the Supreme Court. If you have to go to the Supreme Court, it is even more important that you have a lawyer. 

Try to speak with a lawyer before you go to court. Go here for ways to find a lawyer.

There is information about representing yourself in Federal Court on the Federal Court of Canada website. 

Going to court on your own without a lawyer is called representing yourself. There are things you can do to help yourself to prepare and present your case.

Read the 'Going to Court: Self-represented Parties in Family Law Matters' workbook.

The 'Going to Court' workbook has information on:

• getting legal advice (even if you are representing yourself it is a good idea to try to get some legal advice)
• proving your case
• what the hearing process is like
• what happens at the end of the hearing

The workbook also has worksheets and checklists that will help you to prepare your case for court.

To find a lawyer who does family law, you can

• contact your local Nova Scotia Legal Aid office at: www.nslegalaid.ca/contact.php
• contact law firms in your community that do family law
• contact your Employee Assistance Program or union if you have one
• go to nsfamilylaw.ca - the page on getting legal advice
• contact a women's centre or other trusted help organization to ask if they can suggest a referral
• ask a friend, family member or trusted professional for a suggested referral
• go to Lawyers and Legal Help for more ways to find a lawyer.

If you cannot pay a lawyer

Start with nsfamilylaw.ca for family law information in Nova Scotia

More legal information about family law in Nova Scotia

• Contact the Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia by telephone, email or live chat to connect with a legal information counsellor and get free family law information
• Nova Scotia Legal Aid offers family law information and family law live chat on its website on Tuesdays from 3 pm to 5 pm
• Justice Canada Family Law Information
• The Court Services Division of Nova Scotia's Department of Justice has Family Law Information Centres at the Supreme Court-Family Division in both Halifax and Sydney.  Visit nsfamilylaw.ca or contact the court for more information
• A website called CANLII offers free access to Canadian laws and court decisions. You can also find Nova Scotia laws on the Nova Scotia legislature website - nslegislature.ca
• Information about the Supreme Court-Family Division, court forms, procedures and court contact information, is on the Nova Scotia Courts' website - www.courts.ns.ca
• Francophone Nova Scotians can get help from l'Association des juristes d'expression française de la Nouvelle-Écosse, or contact the Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia by email anytime, or by telephone on Monday mornings or Friday afternoons for legal information in French.

Last reviewed: August 2022

Go to courts.ns.ca for more information or contact us for more legal information.

Nova Scotia's Limitation of Actions Act gives time limits for starting a civil lawsuit.  The new Limitation of Actions Act became law on September 1, 2015.

Limitation periods prevent a claimant from starting a lawsuit after a certain time period has passed.  The general idea is to give claimants a reasonable amount of time within which to sue, but at the same time respect the defendant's right to certainty and closure about potential claims.

The law says there is a two year basic limitation period (time limit) for suing in court. The two year time limit clock starts ticking from the date the person "discovers" that they have a legal claim. The new Limitation of Actions Act applies to claims to remedy an injury, loss or damage that resulted from something someone did (an act), or failed to do (an omission). Examples are a personal injury, medical malpractice or breach of contract claim.

There are some exceptions to the two year time limit rule.   For example, there is no time limit for making a sexual misconduct or abuse claim.  Depending on the type of claim, there may also be time limits in other statutes that would take precedence over time limits in the Limitation of Actions Act.

There is also a 15 year "ultimate" time limit for claims which may take longer to discover.  An example is medical complications from surgery which may take several years to find out about.

It is important to check with a lawyer for legal advice if you are not sure what limitation period may apply to your situation.

For more information:

• NS government news release: novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20150805001
• NS Department of Justice summary of Nova Scotia's Limitation of Actions Act: novascotia.ca/just/documents/Limitation-of-Actions-Act.pdf
• Read the new Limitation of Actions Act: nslegislature.ca/legc/bills/62nd_2nd/3rd_read/b064.htm