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w w w . C A N A D I A N L a w y e r m a g . c o m A P R I L 2 0 1 7 33 Halifax city report Halifax Collegiality is evident throughout the profession, but competition for work is still fierce By donalee Moulton Size defines and defies the practice of law in Halifax. Because the bar is not large, faces, personalities and practices quickly become familiar. But familiarity does not breed contempt. In fact, the opposite is true. "There is a focus on collegiality," says Melanie Comstock, a partner with McInnes Cooper LLP, which has roughly 200 lawyers throughout the four Atlantic provinces. "No matter what area you're practising in," she notes, "you're seeing the same group of lawyers. You really develop a rapport." That rapport often stems back to law school. Gilles Deveau, a sole practition- er in Halifax, notes that many of the city's lawyers earned their LLB at Dal- housie University. "We have this com- mon ground. We share a city and a law school. It is a comfort zone." Such comfort makes for better law- yering, many believe. Lawyers looking for a second opinion or a sounding board have a community they can call on. "The bar in Halifax is very supportive," says Deveau, adding, "It has always been my experience that I can pick up the phone. It's incredibly important when you're not part of a big firm." Support for colleagues is part of the fabric of life as a lawyer in Halifax. The reality is that an opponent today can be an ally tomorrow. At the very least, you can be arguing against a lawyer in court in the afternoon and having drinks together at a bar function that night. "Most counsel deal with each other with respect and courtesy. Battles are left in the courtroom and not brought to the streets," says Ray Wagner, founder of Wagners – a Serious Injury Law Firm. Professional courtesy is both a way of being and smart business. Burning bridges is dangerous at the best of times but particularly in a community where colleagues will continue to work with you long after the fire is out. "Reputa- tion is important," says Rebecca Satur- ley, Stewart McKelvey LLP's managing partner of the Halifax office. "You have to be extremely cautious when you're dealing with the same people all the time. You need to be respectful."