Inventory of Reforms
Nova Scotia Family Law Information Centres (FLICs)
Year:
2005
Description:
Information centres for self-represented litigants with family law issues located in the courthouses.
Status:
Ongoing pilot
Jurisdiction:
Nova Scotia
Court:
Supreme Court (Family Division)
Body Responsible:
Nova Scotia Department of Justice
Supreme Court, Family Division
Timeline:
March 2004: SRL Report released
January 2005: FLIC opened in Sydney
April 2005: FLIC opened in Halifax
Publications:
Anna Paton, Yetta Withrow & Nova Scotia. Department of Justice. Court Services, Self-represented litigants in Nova Scotia : Needs assessment study (Halifax, Nova Scotia: Department of Justice, Court Services, 2004). [SRL Report]
Department of Justice, Family Law Information Centre Opens in Halifax (Province of Nova Scotia, April 15, 2005).
Family Law Information Centres (FLICs) (website) (Province of Nova Scotia, 2009). [Website]
Development:
In March 2004, Nova Scotia Department of Justice, Court Services as part of a Needs Assessment Study on Self-Represented Litigants made a recommendation (Recommendation #20) that « Departmental support, including allocation of resources, [be provided] for the creation of an information centre for self-represented litigants at the Halifax site of the Supreme Court (Family Division) in the immediate future » (SRL Report at 50).
Following this recommendation, Family Law Information Centres (FLICs) were opened in 2005 on a pilot basis at the Family Courts in Sydney and Halifax. It is a joint project of the Nova Scotia Department of Justice and the Supreme Court, Family Division.
Purpose:
Enhance the effectiveness, efficiency of and access to courts.
Description of Reforms:
FLICs offers free legal information and occasional sessions related to family law issues. Legal advice is not provided.
FLIC goals are to:
- offer information about court processes, legal topics, and court services
- develop and offer family law information clinics
- make referrals to community agencies and programs
- offer computer access
You can get information at a FLIC about:
- court processes and forms
- how to find a lawyer
- alternatives to court
- effects of separation and divorce on children
- community resources
FLIC staff can:
- help you understand the court process
- provide you with court forms
- help you find free information about your particular legal issue
- explain how to get your own lawyer
- refer you to services and resources in your community (Website)
Revision History:
This summary was last reviewed in Aug 08, 2012