We Do It Differently
Human rights law is the heart and soul of our firm. Our co-founder and senior counsel, Lisa Teryl, was the senior legal counsel for the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission for six years. Lisa was also manager of legal services at the Human Rights Commission and of the Board of Inquiry administration. These positions make her uniquely qualified to counsel employers and employees who are trying to navigate the difficult terrain of human rights complaints.
- She understands the board of inquiry system and the best way to protect your interests
- Her deep knowledge of administrative and human rights law reduces the time and resources required to resolve a complaint
- Her familiarity with the broad range of tensions between employers and employees results in solutions that create effective and sustainable outcomes
Lisa Teryl
Former Senior Legal Counsel for the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission
Book Now
Our Halifax human rights lawyers, who serve all of Nova Scotia, can see you within the week. Your first meeting can be by video, in person or by telephone.
Select your booking preference:
by phone (902-706-5030)
or through our on-line calendar
Our Services In Human Rights
Human rights complaints are often complex and can include:
- emotionally charged accusations
- mismanaged complexities
- false allegations
- well-meaning, but misguided, interventions
- unequal accountability
- intense intra-office politics
- forgotten organizational values
- damaged reputations
- poisoned relationships
Not all of these complaints are in need of a hearing by the human rights tribunal (called a Board of Inquiry), which at its most basic is a small claims court for human rights. If a complaint is brought to the Commission by an employee, for example, the Commission will investigate it and it decides if their complaint goes to adjudication (court).
This process can take years (three is not unusual) and can result in extensive legal fees if the parties retain lawyers. The adversarial approach can aggravate damaged reputations and a poisoned work environment.
If matters escalate, Teryl Scott human rights lawyers offer both legal coaching—no retainer required—or full representation on matters regarding human rights.
Teryl Scott human rights lawyers also offer alternate services such as neutral mediation services for low and high conflict human rights workplace issues.
Our human rights lawyers are also available to provide independent 3rd party workplace investigations.
The following are some of the tools we use to resolve human rights complaints:
Teryl Scott human rights lawyers can facilitate resolution of human rights complaints with effective, non-binding mediation or binding mediation. This approach works to repair working relationships and pre-empt formal complaints or grievances by providing neutral legal information to all of the parties to assist them to come to fair and reasonable outcomes.
The parties may also opt for a binding mediation process, which will mandate fair and reasonable outcomes at the end of the mediation.
Teryl Scott human rights lawyers offer three-week low conflict and five-week high conflict mediations. We offer these services typically on a flat fee basis at reasonable costs.
Lisa is particularly skilled in this process as she was part of the development of the collaborative (restorative justice principles) Board of Inquiry pre-hearing process for broad systemic complaints. This successful program avoids expensive litigation costs and repairs and resolves broad-based workplace harm.
When a Human Rights Board of Inquiry is unavoidable, Teryl Scott human rights lawyers provide legal coaching (pay as you go, no retainer) or full representational services for their clients.
Teryl Scott human rights lawyers evaluate the root causes of institutional conflicts and recommend actions to address them. Then, we assist management in the development of conflict resolution processes aligned with the values of the organization. We train the institution to build the capacity to resolve its own conflicts with transparent, fair and reasonable outcomes that prevent future complaints. Well designed and implemented conflict resolution processes can resolve future complaints before they escalate to a human rights tribunal and resolve future grievances before they go to arbitration.
Legal Fees
Solicitor-client work: Our senior legal counsel provides this service billable at $550 per hour plus a 4% admin fee and HST.
Third-party investigations: As part of our commitment to provide better access to justice for lower income persons and organizations, a sliding scale is used for workplace investigations where nonprofits and small institutions are involved. See more information on our Workplace Investigations page under Employment Law.
Low conflict, three-week mediations are $3,500 plus $150 admin fee, HST and disbursements, after the initial consultation. See more information about these mediations on our Workplace Mediations page under Employment Law.
High conflict five-week mediations are $7,900 plus $150 admin fee, HST and disbursements, after the initial consultation. See more information about these mediations on our Workplace Mediations page under Employment Law.
Our Testimonials
We consulted Lisa Teryl this summer on a human rights issue, with a lot at stake. She was very much the correct lawyer. She was extremely knowledgeable, giving practical advice, and working late and over her lunch to help us find a way to approach a solution. The issue is not yet decided and we continue to rely on her kindness, patience, and hard work. Her fees are reasonable, as well. Thank you Lisa!
Lisa is a dedicated professional who cares about her clients needs and her friendly assistant Shannon keeps everyone on the same page. Because of the exceptional service and reasonable fee’s, I can only say to recommend her firm for anyone needing family law experts period!
Lisa is incredible. Kind, caring and compassionate. As well as knowledgeable. I couldn't have made it through to the end of my divorce without her support! I would highly recommend her!!!
