DEREK M. LAND

dland@blackburnlaw.ca | (902) 835-8544 

Since joining Blackburn Law in 2003, Derek has operated a general practice of law with a focus on assisting clients with buying and selling homes and businesses. Derek also works with clients in planning and administering estates, and has served as an instructor with the Schulich School of Law’s pro bono Wills Project. Derek has represented clients at all levels of adjudication in the province, including the Nova Scotia Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, although the focus of his practice now is to find solutions that resolve matters prior to litigation.

Derek’s favourite part of his job is getting to help people through difficult, exciting or stressful experiences. He is grateful to have a job that affords him the chance to make a positive contribution to so many lives, and appreciates when people call him “their lawyer”, and then refer their kids, grandkids or parents to him.

Born in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Derek grew up in Mississauga, Ontario, attending the University of Toronto and earning a Bachelor of Arts, with honours, degree.  After attending Dalhousie Law school and articling at a larger law firm, Derek found that he wanted to work at a smaller, client-focused, firm and after his call to the bar in 2003, started his career at Blackburn Law.

Derek volunteers extensively within the profession and in the community as a whole. He has served on the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society’s governing council and on several of its committees including the Complaints Investigation Committee, Complaints Review Committee, Ethics and Professional Responsibility Committee, Real Estate Practice Standards Committee and the Task Force on Council Size and Composition. He has served as chair of the Solo and Small Firm Section of the Canadian Bar Association and on its Continuing Legal Education Committee. He is also a former Director of both the Point Pleasant Child Care Centre and the Testicular Cancer Awareness Society. Derek has also enjoyed coaching the Bedford Minor Baseball Association and the role of team manager with Bedford Minor Hockey.

Derek lives in Bedford with his wife, Jacqueline, and their three children, who are all very active in multiple sports. When he is not working, he is usually shuttling them around town or watching them in action.