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regional wrap-up ATlANTiC D-I-V-O-R-C-E MADE EASIER BY NOVA SCOTIA LAW FIRM New Glasgow, N.S., law firm plans to open its new Family Centre for Conflict Resolution in June. The centre's aim is to provide options for couples outside the traditional legal approach. "We are saying there are ways beyond the adver- sarial model," says Mac Mac & Mac law- yer Leisa MacIntosh. "For most couples B Cox & palmer appoints new chairman managing partner, has been named chairman of the board of directors. He replaces Thomas O'Reilly, a part- ner in the St. T here's a new face at the helm of Cox & Palmer. Peter Forestell, the firm's New Brunswick John's, N.L., office. Forestell's roots run deep in both New Brunswick and the practice of law. He is a University of New Brunswick grad who has more than 30 years' experience in corporate and commercial law. In other news, Daniel F. Gallivan, firm's managing partner Nova Scotia, has been re- appointed chief execu- tive officer. Gallivan brings firm management the in a wealth of experience to the role, as well as demon- strated leadership in continuing the firm's mandate of excellent client service. — DM Peter Forestell, the firm's new chairman. I Family law revamped in N.B. pilot t is not legal business as usual for the Court of Queen's Bench, Family Division. A new $350,000 family law pilot project designed to streamline the judicial pro- cess has been launched in Saint John, N.B. In part, the three-year pilot is intended to provide more timely resolution of family cases, reserve court time for the most complex cases, and provide self- represented litigants with the necessary information to navigate the family court system. "It will be a new way of doing things, and will go a long ways towards improving the family court system," Justice Minister Bernard LeBlanc said in a public announcement of the project. The new family court model includes greater access to public information, forms, and other assistance for self-represented litigants; more efficient streaming of cases by prioritizing them; a mediation service; and enhanced case management. A central part of the new process is a triage co-ordinator whose role is to meet with parties to help them identify what issues need to be resolved, determine whether those issues qualify for mediation, and track the progress of each case. As well, two part-time advice lawyers will provide preliminary advice to self- represented litigants at the entry point to the judicial system. — DM 6 ApRil 2010 www. C ANADiAN law ye rmag.com reaking up is not going to be as hard to do thanks to MacIntosh MacDonnell & MacDonald. The that model doesn't work. It takes too long, it's too expensive, and children end up suffering." The centre, located across from Mac Mac & Mac's office, will bring together psychologists, financial planners, and other experts whose insight can make divorce easier on families. It does not, interestingly, include lawyers. "We take off our lawyering hat," says MacIntosh. "We do not act in a legal capacity. We're using our lawyering skills and our expe- rience. Many clients will retain legal counsel outside the family centre, but usually only for an hour or two." Mediation, collaborative law, and arbi- tration are the centre's three primary ser- Get more info on the Family Centre for Conflict Resolution at solutionsbeyondcourt.com vice offerings, although a hybrid approach is often used. "The key to the model is offering more alternatives, and it's cus- tom-made to meet the clients' needs," says MacIntosh, who gave up practising family law two years ago because of what she saw happening every day in the stan- dard approach to the practice. "Clients are referred to the centre, often by law- yers," she notes. "Our approach is geared to helping other lawyers with their files." Initially, the centre, which was two years in the making, will be based in Nova Scotia and serve clients predomi- nantly from the northern area of the province as well as Prince Edward Island, although clients are welcomed from any- where. Next up may be a second location in Halifax and eventually a move to a more fully online service. — DONALEE MOULTON donalee@quantumcommunications.ca