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Family Law Team - Terry Sheppard

Born in Toronto, Ontario, Terry is a Partner and practices in the areas of Family & Divorce Law and Criminal Law. He is also Chair of the firm’s Family Law Team. He helps families going through separation and divorce. He has represented clients in all areas of Family Law throughout the province of Nova Scotia. Terry also assists families who are trying to have children. He does so through adoptions and has developed a thorough understanding of all aspects of surrogacy.

Through his criminal law practice Terry has represented clients facing charges under the Criminal Code, Motor Vehicle Act, Environment Act and various statutes. He has experience at all levels of court, including Provincial Court, Family Court, Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (Family Division), Nova Scotia Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Canada.

Terry is currently on the board of directors for New Start, and is a former Director of Work Bridge. He was also formerly on the Board of Directors for the Halifax Association for Community Living, and a member of the Executive, serving as Vice-President. He also volunteers with ReachAbility and is active with a number of professional activities through the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society, the Canadian Bar Association and Dalhousie Law School. Most recently he was appointed as a Board member of the Adoption Appeal Board for the Province of Nova Scotia (March 2007 – March 2010).

When he is not working or volunteering, Terry enjoys writing and has published six short stories, including one published in the 2007 edition of Midnight Tales.

EDUCATION

1998 LL.B., Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia
1993 Master of Arts - Political Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia
1990 Bahcelor of Arts (Honours) - Political Science, University of King's College, Halifax, Nova Scotia

EMPLOYMENT

2006 – Present Partner, Boyne Clarke Barristers & Solicitors, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
2002 – 2005 Associate, Boyne Clarke Barristers & Solicitors, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
2001 Instructor (Transportion Law), Nova Scotia Community College, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2001 Associate, Reierson Schurman, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2000 – 2001 Staff Lawyer, Nova Scotia Legal Aid, Halifax & Antigonish, Nova Scotia
1999 – 2000 Associate, Blackburn English Barristers & Solicitors, Enfield, Nova Scotia
1998 – 1999 Articled Clerk, Paterson Palmer Hunt Murphy Barristers & Solicitors, Truro, Nova Scotia

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & ACTIVITIES

Trainer for the Parent Information Program at the Family Division
Member – Nova Scotia Barristers Society’s’ Professional Standards Committee - Family Law
Appointed as a Board member of the Adoption Appeal Board for the Province of Nova Scotia (March 2007 – March 2010)
Volunteer Facilitator – Parent Information Program, Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (Family Division)
Member of the Self-Represented Litigants Bench & Bar Committee of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (Family Division)
Member of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society and Department of Justice joint committee to implement amendments to the Children and Family Services Act regarding adoptions
Appointed amicus curaie in Child Protection matters for the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (Family Division)
Appointed amicus curaie in child protection matters in the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal
Volunteer Mock Chambers Justice for the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society Bar Admissions Course
Volunteer Moot Justice for the 2nd Year Moot Court at Dalhousie Law School
Volunteer Coordinator for joint project of the Dal Pro Bono Student Association and the Canadian Mental Health Associayion on Human Rights issues
Member - Canadian Bar Association (Family Law Subsection)
Member - Nova Scotia Barrister's Society

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

Board Member - New Start
Former Chair – Halifax Developmental Pre-school
Former Board of Directors – Halifax Association for Community Living and a member of the Executive, serving as Vice-President
Former Director – The North American Chronic Pain Association of North America
Director of Work Bridge
Volunteer Lawyer with reachAbility
Former Chair of the Halifax Development Pre-School
Former Director of the North American Chronic Pain Association of Canada

UNIVERSITY ACTIVITIES

Member of the Smith Shield Mooting Team

AWARDS

Leonard A. Kitz Prize for Excellence in Mooting, Dalhousie University, 1998
Graduate Scholarship and Teaching Assistantship, Dalhousie University, 1993
President's List and University of King's College Scholarship, University of King's College, 1990

PRESENTATIONS

Mr. Sheppard speaks regularly for the Military Family Resource Centre on the subjects of Child Support and Custody & Access.
Preparing and Arguing Cases Involving Contested Shared Custody (Parenting and Child Support Issues) - Nova Scotia Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, January 2011.
Tax Principles for Family Law - Academy of Financial Divorce Specialists, June 2009
Lecture on Surrogacy - Regina Branch of the Saskatchewan Canadian Bar Association, March 2008
Uncontested Divorced – NSCC, April 2008
Lecture on Surrogacy – Nova Scotia Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, December 2007
Human Rights Act – Work Bridge, March 2004
Child Protection Proceedings – MISA, October 2002
Liability for Volunteer Boards of Directors – Cumberland County Historical Society, May 1998

PUBLICATIONS

BOYNECLARKE Lawletters:

• "Child Support"
• “Child Support: Special Circumstances”
• “Adoptions”

Publication of "The Right to Strike: Liberalism and the Charter" in the Dalhousie Journal of Legal Studies

About our Family Law Practice Family Law Team Resources Contact