Our Team

A native of Inverness, Cape Breton, Barb MacLellan has been practising law for almost a quarter of a century in real estate, wills and estates and family law. A graduate of St. Francis Xavier University with a Bachelor of Arts Honours in Psychology and the University of Windsor Ontario Law School, Barb articled with Miller Pate Campbell in Lower Sackville before opening her own practice Fall River Law Office in 1996 with lawyer Patricia Miller.

Barb has been trained in the Collaborative Law model since 2006, which assists couples in resolving potential disputes resulting from their separation in a respectful and compassionate way. In 2013 she decided and openly announced that she would no longer go to court for clients and now calls herself a Collaborative Family Lawyer and mediator.

Barb is the former president of The Association of Collaborative Family Law Professionals of Nova Scotia.

In 2011, Barb was one of the founding members of FRABA, the Fall River & Area Business Association.

Barb served as a long-time board member on the Cobequid Community Health Centre Foundation, has been past Chair of the Board, and continues to support the Planned Giving Committee at the Cobequid Foundation.

Inspired by her personal experience with her mother who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2012 and recognizing the importance of having access to education, support and resources, Barb co-founded the Fall River & Area Alzheimer’s Support Group in 2015.

Barb is an avid sports enthusiast who used to coach the girls’ volleyball team at Lockview High School. She has also been a founding member of the Fall River Fury Volleyball Club in Fall River since 2006.

Barb is a past member of the Co-ed Volleyball Association of Nova Scotia (CVNS) and played volleyball in this league for almost 15 years well as in a senior ladies volleyball league at Mount Saint Vincent University.

An avid sports enthusiast in the community, Barb has always financially supported various sports teams in their efforts to fundraise as well as various volunteer groups and churches in the local community.

Barb opened a second law office in Lower Sackville, Ceilidh Law, always wanting to turn to her “roots” in Sackville as this is where she got her start. You can see the proudly adorned Cape Breton tartan on her sign at 281 Sackville Drive and hopefully Cape Bretoners recognize she is from the west coast of Cape Breton. Ceilidh Law provides all of the services that Fall River Law offers.

Tara Wilcox
Associate Lawyer

Tara grew up in Wellington, and continues to spend a lot of time there with her family and friends. Before going to law school, she attended Saint Mary’s University, where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts with an honours in English. She then went on to study education at the university of Maine, Fort Kent. She spent the following year teaching English at Lockview High School in Fall River. 

While she enjoyed teaching, she was interested in a different kind of challenge, so she went to Dalhousie Law School in 2011. Tara was called to the NS bar in 2015, and worked at Cox and Palmer in Halifax, NS, practicing residential and commercial real estate and wills and estates. After her first maternity leave, Tara left private practice and worked with the Department of Justice, NS. 

Tara has roots in the Annapolis Valley and in Inverness, Cape Breton. As a proud Nova Scotian, Tara has a strong tie to her Scottish culture. She spent the majority of her youth as a highland dancer, dancing throughout Canada, the United States, and even parts of Europe.  Her other hobbies include reading, writing, and running. 

While Tara has had many interests over the years, these days her hands are full. She lives with her husband and their three young children in Fall River Village. She is looking forward to helping her community with their legal needs. 

Miranda FitzGerald
Legal Assistant

Miranda is from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. She attended Mount Saint Vincent University after high school. She then graduated from the Paralegal program at Maritime Business College in 2020 and has been employed in the legal field since graduating. She has worked at both large and small law firms. She has experience working in Litigation, Property, Wills and Estates. Miranda has been a Property Paralegal with Fall River Law since May of 2023. When Miranda is not at the office, she is usually spending time with her partner and their two daughters.

Haley Doyle
Legal Assistant

Haley graduated from the Paralegal program at Maritime Business College in 2020 and has been with the firm since February of 2024. She has previous experience in Criminal, Property and Family Law but her focus at our firm is mainly on Wills and Estates. When she is not at work she is usually running around the yard with her two huskies or camping with her family.