fostering employment equity and diversity in the nova scotia legal
fostering employment equity and diversity in the nova scotia legal
fostering employment equity and diversity in the nova scotia legal
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PROVINCE OF NOVA SCOTIA<br />
EMPLOYMENT EQUITY AND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION POLICY FOR<br />
CROWN LAW AGENTS<br />
1. BACKGROUND<br />
Employment <strong>equity</strong>, as a broad pr<strong>in</strong>ciple, ensures a fair <strong>and</strong> representative workforce.<br />
Employment <strong>equity</strong> is achieved through <strong>employment</strong> practices that prevent <strong>and</strong> correct<br />
disadvantages <strong>in</strong> <strong>employment</strong> through special measures, reasonable accommodation of differences<br />
<strong>and</strong> programs to remove barriers to equitable <strong>employment</strong> opportunities.<br />
This policy also <strong>in</strong>corporates an affirmative action requirement to promote <strong>the</strong> hir<strong>in</strong>g of<br />
Indigenous Black <strong>and</strong> Mi'kmaq lawyers with <strong>the</strong> goal of achiev<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g a<br />
representative workforce with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> law firms reta<strong>in</strong>ed to perform <strong>legal</strong> work for <strong>the</strong> Prov<strong>in</strong>ce of<br />
Nova Scotia.<br />
Where it is appropriate to use a private law firm, <strong>the</strong> Prov<strong>in</strong>ce will:<br />
1) use law firms that are <strong>in</strong> compliance with this policy; <strong>and</strong><br />
2) look for opportunities to direct <strong>legal</strong> work to lawyers of colour <strong>and</strong> aborig<strong>in</strong>al<br />
ancestry.<br />
2. POLICY STATEMENT<br />
Law firms that wish to be reta<strong>in</strong>ed as Crown Law Agents must:<br />
(a)<br />
(b)<br />
provide equal access to <strong>employment</strong> <strong>and</strong> career opportunities to ensure equitable<br />
representation at all levels with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> law firm; <strong>and</strong><br />
develop, implement <strong>and</strong> ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> an affirmative action plan to ensure <strong>the</strong> equitable<br />
representation of Indigenous Black <strong>and</strong> Mi'kmaq lawyers with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> law firm.<br />
To this end, law firms must, as a condition of <strong>the</strong>ir reta<strong>in</strong>er, comply with <strong>the</strong> requirements set out<br />
<strong>in</strong> this policy.<br />
3. APPLICATION<br />
This policy applies to all Nova Scotia law firms perform<strong>in</strong>g <strong>legal</strong> work for <strong>the</strong> Prov<strong>in</strong>ce of Nova<br />
Scotia.<br />
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