The Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia (LISNS) in Fall 2017 launched the Small Claims Court App, designed to assist people representing themselves and considering an action in Small Claims Court. A first of its kind in Nova Scotia, the app provides clarity and easy-to-understand legal information for self-represented individuals during often stressful and sometimes complex situations.“Our goal at LISNS is that individuals dealing with a real or potential legal issue will feel confident and informed through accessing our many offerings, including our telephone help line, online resources and innovative apps, such as the Small Claims Court App,” says LISNS Executive Director Heather de Berdt Romilly. “Research shows that when clearly explained legal information is accessible at an early stage it helps address potential litigation problem areas in a significant majority of cases.”
The app, available on the LISNS website (smallclaims.legalinfo.org), is the result of many individuals and organizations collaborating in the spirit of access to justice. The Small Claims Court Adjudicators, LISNS, Saint Mary’s University and Dalhousie University have all played significant roles in bringing this LISNS initiative to launch.
Gavin Giles, Q.C., the Chief Adjudicator of the Small Claims Court, recognized a need to better assist the many self-represented individuals and reached out to LISNS for its expertise and assistance. With contributions from Adjudicators Eric Slone and W. Augustus Richardson, LISNS turned to Saint Mary’s University Computer Science Graduate Kislay Trivedi to develop the app. For more information see https://www.legalinfo.org/legal-information-topics/new-small-claims-court-app
