Nova Scotia has announced additional funding of $3.98 million for 2024-25 and $5.6 million annually starting in 2025-26 to increase compensation for private lawyers used when Nova Scotia Legal Aid staff lawyers are not available. The maximum number of billable hours will also increase. The province hopes the additional funding will encourage private lawyers to accept legal aid cases.

According to the Chair of the Nova Scotia Legal Aid Commission, the announcement represents “the largest single increase to hourly rates for private bar lawyers in Nova Scotia Legal Aid’s 47-year history, and…is very good news for low-income Nova Scotians with legal matters”.

The press release is available in English here: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2024/05/16/more-funding-legal-aid-services.