Canadian Lawyer

REGIONAL WRAP-UP ATLANTIC a result, the organization is shelving most of its library services effective April 30. The move, says NSBS execu- tive director Darrel Pink, "was moti- vated primarily by council's direction that the society become much more focused on core regulatory work." A review of services conducted at NSBS LIBRARy T he Nova Scotia Barristers' Society is getting back to its roots — and saving money. As the request of council determined that lawyers do not rely on NSBS library services as they once did. In a memo to all members about the library cuts, Pink notes that, "Unfortunately, its current role has been eclipsed by the immediacy, accessibility, and aff ord- ability of legal information on the In- ternet and the changing ways that law- yers practise and access information they need for their practices." Most of the electronic publishing the society did for members is that being permanently unplugged and re- search services are also being reduced. letters to the editor As well, the number of staff will be re- duced to three from fi ve. Ironically per- haps, what will remain are the society's book collections, currently housed in three centres across the province. What will come as no surprise is that the reduction in library services amounts to a cost saving for the law society. The library and information services (L&IS) division eats up rough- ly 17 per cent of the organization's total budget and costs approximately $470 per practising lawyer to run. That's more than in most other provinces, Pink pointed out in a report to council earlier this year. "Few law society libraries have developed the extent of the publishing regime that we have in Nova Scotia, especially for the Nova Scotia Law News. This pub- lication was created in the 1970s in response to the demise of the Maritime Province Reports and has continued ever since, even though there are now many other report series publishing Nova Scotia Law. Though most law The plug is being pulled on most of the society's electronic publishing. societies continue to financially sup- port law libraries, few are as robust or as expensive as L&IS on a per lawyer basis." Money is clearly a concern. "We have been stagnant with respect to membership numbers," Pink told Canadian Lawyer. "Our records show there is no growth in the profession in Nova Scotia; 89 per cent of our income comes from fees, therefore, we're looking at long-term budgetary considerations. We have to become a much leaner organization." — DONALEE MOULTON donalee@quantumcommunications.ca Comments from canadianlawyermag.com Well done. I agree with Eugene [Meehan] and it has always puzzled me why judges can be considered of sound mind at 70 plus, but lawyers not. There are those of us who are useless with our hands and cannot take up carpen- try, or have no ball sense and are useless on the golf course. Sure, I would like to try some wine making in my garage. Senior lawyers have a lot to give. A former colleague of mine retired at age 70 last year. I was fortunate to do a criminal trial with him in Supreme Court and I was highly impressed by how sharp he was — as sharp as any young, bright lawyer. Unfortunately he had enough of younger (senile) judges. — online comment from ANDRÉ ROOTHMAN welcomes letters to the editor but reserves the right to edit for space, taste, and libel considerations. Please include your full contact information in all correspondence. Send your letters to: gail.cohen@thomsonreuters.com www.CANADIAN Lawyermag.com A PRIL 2012 7 UNpL U ggED R ch 2012 e: "Ne Mar w trick s" C anadian L a wy er

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