Canadian Lawyer

REGIONAL WRAP-UP ATLANTIC Save gaS, call into court L foundland and Labrador. The province's ife is getting a little easier — and a little less expensive — for law- yers and their clients in New- Supreme Court has launched a pilot proj- ect that will enable legal counsel to call in rather than making an appearance at the Judicial Centre of Grand Bank. CourtCall, a service provided by a Los Angeles-based technology firm, lets law- yers and clients take part in legal proceed- ings via teleconference. In Newfoundland, the Supreme Court has given the green light for the technology to be used for all short causes and motions, including inter- locutory applications and status updates; case management meetings; pre-trial con- ferences; and other matters as counsel and the court agree. The "telephonic court" service, as it is called, is not new to the island. It's been savings which can be passed on to clients, reducing the cost of litigation and improv- ing access to justice. The service, she adds, "allows for direct s. hassle free. Apart from one call to open the line, courtroom staff are freed of schedul- ing telephonic appearances, says Colman- Sadd. Participation in the program is volun- " It's also relatively plore on a new web site launched by the pro- vincial government and its partners includ- ing the Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia (LISNS). The new site, nsfamilylaw.ca, does what no other in the province does: It brings all the relevant information together in one location. "It's one stop for information on family law, S — these are a few of the family law subjects that Nova Scotians can ex- eparation, divorce, custody, access Maria Franks. The site also extends beyond the narrower confines of " says LISNS executive director family law to provide a context for issues that visitors are facing. Information on domestic violence, elder abuse, and mental health, for example, are included. Nova Scotia is not the first province to launch a family law website, but it is be- lieved to be the first to provide this expanded information. While the intent of the site is not to promote self-repre- sentation, it will provide a helping hand for litigants with- out legal counsel. "This will give them the background they 6 OCTO BER 2012 www.CANADIAN Lawyermag.com FAMILY LAW WEB SITE ONE-STOP DESTINATION need and links to the court web site, which has annotated forms," notes Franks. Lawyers and their clients over, the site is still useful. Clients can be referred to the site to reinforce the information provided by their lawyer and to help clarify any areas of confusion, says Franks. Indeed, says Tim Daley, president of the Nova Scotia will also benefit from the new site. "It will help clients to be more informed. Prior to meet- ing with a client, [the lawyer] could recommend this site. Clients can then come with questions," she adds. Once the client meeting is up and running successfully in the Newfoundland and Labrador Pro- vincial Court since 2010. "The Pro- vincial Court has reduced the need for lawyers to make unnecessary trips to court for non-evidentiary appear- ances. Instead, a lawyer can conduct other business and simply call into the court at the appointed time, Colman-Sadd, director of communica- tions with the Department of Justice in St. John' " says Vanessa tary for lawyers, who pay a fee directly to CourtCall (roughly $55 per call). More of them are taking advantage of the service. In the first year the service was in opera- tion in Newfoundland, it was used 1,166 times including for circuit court cases. Last year, this figure rose to 1,682. The Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador is building on the success of the lower court. If the current pilot project goes well, the service is expected to be of- fered in other judicial centres in the prov- ince. donalee@quantumcommunications.ca — DONALEE MOULTON Barristers' Society, "This web site and the range and depth of information it provides Nova Scotians is a game changer. Family law was an obvious topic. "This is consistently the single biggest issue for LISNS callers," says Franks. " — DM

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