Nova Scotia Legal Aid provides criminal-law services under its eligibility and service rules, while duty counsel can provide limited assistance in courthouse and telephone settings. Duty counsel is not automatically the same as having a lawyer retained for the entire case.
Primary legislation and official process sources checked October 5, 2026. Criminal law and court procedure can change; verify the current source before relying on a provision or deadline.
Criminal Legal Aid
An application for ongoing Legal Aid representation is assessed under Nova Scotia Legal Aid's rules and the nature of the case.
- application
- financial eligibility
- coverage
Courthouse duty counsel
Duty counsel can provide limited criminal-law assistance at Provincial Court locations, including immediate procedural advice and help with certain appearances.
- same-day advice
- bail or appearance assistance
- not permanent representation
Telephone duty counsel
A person in police custody can ask to speak with counsel and may be connected with available telephone duty-counsel services.
- police custody
- right to counsel
- telephone advice
Private counsel
People who do not qualify for Legal Aid or who choose private representation can retain a criminal defence lawyer.
- retainer
- scope of representation
- conflict check
Court self-help information
Official court and Legal Aid resources can explain forms and process but do not replace case-specific legal advice.
- criminal handbook
- court forms
- deadlines
Official and authoritative sources
- Nova Scotia Legal Aid — Criminal Law Resources
- Courts of Nova Scotia — Provincial Court
- Courts of Nova Scotia — Provincial Court forms