News Release Archive
JUSTICE--ACCESSIBILITY TO LEGAL COUNSEL IMPROVED ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Nova Scotia Legal Aid Commission is putting in place a new service that will ensure arrested or detained persons have access to legal advice 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The service is designed to satisfy the individual's right to counsel under Section 10(b) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Basically, the service means that after hours duty counsel is available through a phone referral service. Once a police officer has an individual in custody, the officer places a call to the service, advising of the individual's name, and the nature of the charges. The service then contacts an on-call member of the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society. In turn, the lawyer contacts the individual, to provide confidential legal advice. The service ensures that there is rapid response to requests for legal counsel, benefiting the accused, and ensuring that police investigations are not hampered by delays in contacting legal counsel. The service could guard against future difficulties in the courts, as police officers will have an opportunity to note when calls were made, and duration of calls to legal counsel. "I believe this system is in the best interests of all concerned," said Justice Minister Bill Gillis. "It helps those on the front end of the justice system, and ensures accessibility to counsel for the accused." Bill Digby, Executive Director of the Legal Aid Commission said the commission "is pleased to provide this necessary and valuable service." The service is provided under contract to the commission, and funding will come from within the Commission's existing budgets. Legal counsel is being provided by members of the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society who reside in the province. The administrative functions are the responsibility of Lawline Nova Scotia, a division of Lawline (Canada) Incorporated. Lawline (Canada) Incorporated currently provide a similar service to Ontario Legal Aid. The contract is in place until March 31, 1996. -30- Contact: Bill Digby 902-420-6555 trp Oct. 16, 1995