Nova Scotia Barristers' Society releases racial equity survey report

The Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society (NSBS) has published a racial equity survey report, which presents detailed findings on racial discrimination and harassment within Nova Scotia’s legal profession.

The report, commissioned by the NSBS Racial Equity Committee, serves as a key precursor to the forthcoming Regaining Trust: The Ruck Report, scheduled for release on October 29.

According to the NSBS, the racial equity survey gathered input from practising, non-practising, retired members, and articling clerks who identified as racialized, Mi’kmaq, Black, Indigenous, or of African Nova Scotian descent.

Douglas Ruck, who authored the upcoming regaining trust report, emphasized the significance of the survey data, noting its role in providing context for the broader findings on systemic discrimination. “The Racial Equity Survey provided key data and insights that informed many of the observations and recommendations in Regaining Trust,” Ruck explained.

The survey’s findings point to a challenging environment for racialized members of the legal profession, detailing experiences of discrimination and harassment. The NSBS has highlighted that the report’s publication is intended to bring these issues into the open and facilitate a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by marginalized legal professionals. The Racial Equity Committee acknowledged that some readers might find descriptions of race-based harassment distressing. In response, NSBS reminded members of available mental health support services through the Nova Scotia Lawyers Assistance Program (NSLAP).

In its message, the Racial Equity Committee underscored its ongoing commitment to monitoring and addressing issues of racism in the legal profession. The committee was established in response to the findings of the Royal Commission on the wrongful conviction of Donald Marshall Jr., which identified racism as a contributing factor in the justice system’s failure.

The NSBS report also emphasized the importance of considering the experiences of racialized lawyers and the broader impact on access to justice for racialized communities. “When racialized lawyers are negatively impacted by these forces, they are more likely to leave the profession,” the report stated, warning that this loss reduces the ability of racialized communities to access legal services from members of their communities.

The NSBS intends for the Racial Equity Survey Report to act as a benchmark for future initiatives and to help measure progress in reducing discrimination within the profession.

The full Racial Equity Survey Report is available on the NSBS website.