fostering employment equity and diversity in the nova scotia legal

NOVA SCOTIA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
LEGAL SERVICES DIVISION
EMPLOYMENT EQUITY AND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION POLICY
BACKGROUND
Employment equity, as a broad principle, ensures a fair and representative workforce.
Employment equity is achieved through employment practices that prevent and correct
disadvantages in employment through special measures, reasonable accommodation of
differences, and programs to remove barriers to equitable employment opportunities.
This policy also incorporates an affirmative action requirement to promote the hiring of
Indigenous Black and Mi'kmaq lawyers with the goal of achieving and maintaining a
representative workforce within the Legal Services Division.
POLICY STATEMENT OF THE LEGAL SERVICES DIVISION
It is the policy of the Legal Services Division to:
1. provide equal access to employment and career opportunities to ensure equitable
representation at all levels within the Legal Services Division;
2. develop, implement and maintain an affirmative action plan to ensure the equitable
representation of Indigenous Black and Mi'kmaq lawyers within the Legal Services
Division;
3. use private law firms in compliance with the Employment Equity and Affirmative Action
Policy for Crown Law Agents; and
4. look for opportunities to direct legal work to lawyers of colour and aboriginal ancestry.
The Legal Services Division fully supports employment equity and is committed to undertaking
special measures, where necessary, to eliminate disadvantages.
It is also the policy of the Legal Services Division to encourage respect for, commitment to, and
implementation of the principles of employment equity and affirmative action by law firms
retained to perform legal work for the Province of Nova Scotia.
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