As you are all aware, our government is trying very hard to ensure that all citizens of the province adhere to the social distancing/isolation requirements to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
This means that everyone, including lawyers, should be working from home, if at all possible. There is a public interest element in continuing to have access to legal services during this difficult time and we believe that you can and should continue to provide these services as long as you can do so in compliance with the government’s recommendations.
Members should consider conducting routine meetings with clients by phone or using video-conferencing options such as Zoom, Skype, FaceTime and other platforms in order to comply with public health recommendations regarding social distancing. Where an in-person meeting is required, please continue to engage in social distancing techniques including, avoiding common greetings (including handshakes) and keeping a distance of two (2) meters from others.
Please remember that some individuals that carry COVID-19 may be asymptomatic or only have mild symptoms. The spread of the virus can occur unknowingly. Members and their clients may have contact with individuals who may be more vulnerable to the virus (i.e. those that are elderly, with underlying medical conditions, or who have compromised immune systems). It is, therefore, imperative that we make every effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as much as possible. Public health officials have stated that social distancing will help to mitigate the spread of the virus.
Both the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Newfoundland and Labrador Court of Appeal have advised that they will accept unsworn/unaffirmed affidavits or documents at the present time. Both Courts are also only accepting documents/filings via email or fax.
COVID-19 Pandemic FAQs
The Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to taking the health and safety of our staff, the public and the profession seriously. Staff remain available to assist you – you can contact them via telephone or email. We will respond at our earliest opportunity.
Please note that information on this page may be updated from time to time and that information provided here is guidance only.
February 15, 2021
Library Appointments – Update
Due to the renewed Level 5 lockdown, library appointments have been suspended.
February 25, 2021
Webinar – COVID-19: Loneliness & Isolation Fatigue – Self-Care Strategies
Date: April 13, 2021
Location: online
Seminar overview: As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, it prolongs the need to maintain physical distancing practices in tandem with adherence to lockdown protocols restricting in-person interactions in order to prevent and mitigate the spread of the virus. While these measures help to keep our communities, families and workplaces safe, it brings with it unique challenges such as loss of routines, isolation fatigue and loneliness. In the face of these challenges, it is even more important for us to practice self-care strategies and to nurture the positive relationships and connections in our lives.
Tuesday, Apr 13th @ 7:00–8:00 pm EST – register here
Tuesday, Apr 13th@ 7:00–8:00 pm PST – register here
Members are reminded and encouraged to check the Supreme Court’s website for up-to-date information on how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting its operations.
February 18, 2021
Operations for February – March 2021
In response to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the Province and the Special Measures Order (General – Alert Level 5), issued on February 12, 2021, all Supreme Court Judicial Centres across the Province suspended normal operations for the week of February 15-19, 2021, maintaining only essential public service.
For more information, please see the attached notice.
Notice to the Profession and General Public – Supreme Court Operations for February-March 2021
February 13, 2021
All Supreme Court Centres Suspending Normal Operations for Week of February 15-19, 2021
In response to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the Province and the Special Measures Order (General – Alert Level 5), issued on February 12, 2021, all Supreme Court judicial centres across the Province will be suspending normal operations for the week of February 15-19, 2021. Essential public service will be maintained.
Please see here for more details.
February 12, 2021
St. John’s General Division and Family Division Suspending Normal Operations for Week of February 15-19, 2021
In response to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the St. John’s metropolitan area, the St. John’s General Division (309 Duckworth Street) and Family Division (68 Portugal Cove Road) centres will be suspending normal operations for the week of February 15-19, 2021. Essential public service will be maintained. Details are provided here.
February 1, 2021
Updated Guidelines
Supreme Court of NL – COVID-19 Guidelines
Members are reminded and encouraged to check the Court of Appeal’s website for up-to-date information on how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting its operations.
February 18, 2021
Court of Appeal Operations for Week of February 22-26, 2021
The Court of Appeal has suspended hearings scheduled for the week of February 22-26, 2021 in response to the current Covid-19 situation.
For more information, please see here.
February 12, 2021
Court of Appeal Suspending Normal Operations for the Week of February 15-19, 2021
Newfoundland and Labrador, particularly in the St. John’s metropolitan area, is experiencing an increase in cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and it is anticipated that the virus will continue to spread in the area. The Court is monitoring the COVID-19 situation closely. Essential public services will be maintained. Details are provided here.
Members are reminded and encouraged to check the Provincial Court’s website for up-to-date information on how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting its operations.
March 1, 2021
Update – Provincial Court Operations – Alert Level 4
Please be advised that there will be no change in Provincial Court operations as a result of areas outside the Avalon Peninsula moving to Alert Level 4. The notice that was issued on February 14, 2021 remains in effect.
February 16, 2021
NL Provincial Court – Civil Matters
Civil matters (Small Claims) are postponed indefinitely.
Non-urgent family matters are postponed for four weeks with the exception of applications to prevent the removal of a child from a jurisdiction. Those will proceed as originally scheduled. Note that when we say “non-urgent family matters” we are referring to matters that DO NOT involve CSSD.
All CSSD files will remain on the docket as previously scheduled.
February 15, 2021
NL Provincial Court – Scheduling
To protect the health and safety of all court users while ensuring respect for the legal rights of accused persons and civil litigants, the Provincial Court of Newfoundland and Labrador is limiting all regular operations, effective Monday, February 15, 2021, until further notice.
Please see here for details.
NL Provincial Court – Timelines in Criminal Cases
In criminal matters, if you have been ordered by the Court to file materials, timelines will not be extended without the Court’s permission. A written application is required to extend the timelines for filing.
February 12, 2021
St. John’s Provincial Court – Scheduling
In an effort to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 in the St. John’s area, and to protect the health and safety of all court users while ensuring respect for the legal rights of accused persons and civil litigants, the St. John’s Provincial Court is adjusting its docket.
Please see here for details.
January 20, 2021
Traffic Court and Contraventions Act Cases
St. John’s Provincial Court – Traffic Court and Contraventions Act Cases
Members are reminded and encouraged to check the Provincial Government’s website for up-to-date information on how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting its operations.
February 15, 2021
Update – Labour Relations Board
All of the Board staff are working remotely until further notice. Stakeholders and their representatives are reminded of the Board’s COVID operations notice on the Board’s website https://www.gov.nl.ca/lrb/
Please contact the Board by telephone or email if you have questions with respect to this.
Update – Department of Justice and Public Safety
Walk-in services are no longer available for various offices but email and telephone services are available for the following:
For information on other government departments, please see here.
February 12, 2021
Department of Justice and Public Safety
Until further notice is provided, if you wish to serve documents related to child protection or adult protection matters, please contact Jacqueline Pelletier at jpelletier@gov.nl.ca to make arrangements.
If you wish to serve documents related to other civil matters on Her Majesty in right of Newfoundland and Labrador not related to Family Court please contact either Philip Osborne at philiposborne@gov.nl.ca or Justin Mellor at jmellor@gov.nl.ca to make arrangements.
Children, Seniors and Social Development
The Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development is informing the children, youth and families served by the department in the metro St. John’s area (as described by the Chief Medical Officer of Health in the most recent Special Measures Order) that visitation arrangements may be modified as a result of the current outbreak of COVID-19.
Recognizing that this is a difficult time for children, youth and their families, social workers are contacting parents, caregivers, foster parents, and children/youth (where appropriate), to determine if alternate arrangements for ongoing contact during this two-week period are required. This may include the use of technology if in-person contact cannot safely occur.
For more information, please see here.
Members are reminded and encouraged to check the Federal Government’s website for up-to-date information on how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting its operations.
Canada’s Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic
March 19, 2020
Supreme Court of Canada – Filing of all documents by email
To assist parties in filing their documents within their respective timelines as set out in the Supreme Court Act and the Rules of the Supreme Court of Canada, documents may be filed by email, whether originating or otherwise. The original paper copies shall be filed subsequently within a reasonable time.