SR Vol 27 No 3, July 2009 - Nova Scotia Barristers' Society
SR Vol 27 No 3, July 2009 - Nova Scotia Barristers' Society
SR Vol 27 No 3, July 2009 - Nova Scotia Barristers' Society
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the<br />
president’s<br />
view<br />
This is my first chance to communicate with you as president<br />
of the <strong>No</strong>va <strong>Scotia</strong> Barristers’ <strong>Society</strong>. I am humbled by the<br />
opportunity and look forward to an interesting year ahead.<br />
A bit of my background: I was admitted to the Bar in 1974 and<br />
joined Patterson, Smith, Matthews & Grant (predecessor to<br />
Patterson Law) in Truro. I started out in litigation but within two<br />
years, made the shift to our real estate group and my practice<br />
has had a focus in real estate ever since.<br />
My wife Valerie is from Sydney and we have four children: Ian,<br />
26, Tracey, who would be 24 (she passed away a number of years<br />
ago), Erin, 20, and John, 16. We live in the beautiful community<br />
of Tatamagouche.<br />
The thought of running for president was the farthest thing from<br />
my mind when I was approached by the three previous presidents,<br />
Phil Star, Cathy Walker and Joel Pink. The pitch: it takes a lot of<br />
time but it is very rewarding working with a great group of fellow<br />
Council and committee members and an exceptional staff to<br />
improve our profession. Their statements could not have been<br />
more accurate.<br />
This being an election year, I want to thank those Council<br />
members who completed their terms for giving so unselfishly<br />
of their time. I also welcome the returning and newly elected<br />
members and look forward to working with you, as we tackle<br />
together the issues facing the regulation of the legal profession.<br />
Over the past three years, Council made a considerable effort<br />
to develop a governance framework that improves the way it<br />
functions in regulating the practice of law in the public interest.<br />
We have established our vision, values, strategic directions,<br />
12-month activity plan and governance policies that define how<br />
we operate as a <strong>Society</strong>. Last year, a task force looked at Council’s<br />
composition and subject to government approval of changes to<br />
the Legal Profession Act, in the 2011 election year, Council will<br />
reduce from 35 to 21 members. This year, a new task force will<br />
review our committee structure.<br />
While the list of other priorities is long, here are a few initiatives<br />
under our approved Strategic Directions:<br />
(1) Enhancing lawyer competence: The <strong>Society</strong> will determine<br />
its proper role in assessing lawyers’ continuing competence<br />
and ensuring they understand their own requirements.<br />
(2) Access to justice: Through continuing and improved<br />
dialogue with government, there is a process to address<br />
broad issues of access to justice for <strong>No</strong>va <strong>Scotia</strong>ns.<br />
(3) Effective governance: The <strong>Society</strong> ensures effective<br />
communications and liaison with relevant stakeholders,<br />
such as the CBA, AJEFNE, LIANS and other organizations<br />
and communities relating to the administration of justice<br />
and governance of the legal profession.<br />
(4) Impact on the administration of justice: The <strong>Society</strong><br />
enhances member and public communications and ensures<br />
its role with government is appropriate to the <strong>Society</strong>’s<br />
purpose.<br />
This edition of the <strong>Society</strong> Record focuses on “youth.” We held<br />
our May Council meeting at Auburn Drive High School, in a<br />
tremendous opportunity to meet with students and hear their<br />
concerns related to the legal profession and justice system. The<br />
ability and interest of these young people was an inspiration<br />
to Council. The <strong>Society</strong> also offers “UnCommon Law,” which<br />
brings together youth, judges, police officers, social workers and<br />
lawyers in an annual forum for dialogue and exchanging ideas.<br />
These opportunities to connect with the leaders of tomorrow are<br />
invaluable to the <strong>Society</strong> as we shape the future direction of the<br />
regulation of the legal profession.<br />
In closing, I want to encourage two-way communication with<br />
our members, whether through meetings with County Bar<br />
Associations, larger firms or questions raised by you. I encourage<br />
anyone to contact me through the <strong>Society</strong> office. I will do my best<br />
to react appropriately to your concerns.<br />
Ron Creighton QC<br />
President<br />
<strong>July</strong> <strong>2009</strong> 5