Consultation and Retainer
Consultation: We strive to understand the fact of the matter in order to provide an opinion with your legal issues. An initial consultation helps to achieve this purpose. Please feel free to call to schedule an appointment. We will schedule an appointment to suit your convenience and schedule.
The firm does not provide free consultations. We charge a fee of $450.00 per hour plus HST or alternatively accept legal aid certificates for opinion letters.
The Retainer Agreement: Our practice, as is the practice of law firms, is the client must enter into an arrangement with the firm before work is commenced. Thus a client is required to sign a retainer agreement to sets out the basis upon which our service will be provided and the client's expectation. An initial retainer, or security deposit, depending on the nature of the retainer, must also be provided at the time of signing the retainer agreement.
Trust Funds: The retainer fees will be placed in the firm's trust account, which does not bear interest. The retainer will serve as a source of payment for all or part of account when rendered.
HST, GST And Disbursements: All accounts are subject to HST on both legal fees and disbursements. HST are also collected on accounts. Disbursements are expenses associated with such things as photocopies, faxes, postage, courier service, etc.
The Payment Plan: Payment is due within 30 days upon receipt of our account. If, at any point, the fees incurred for our legal services exceed the amount of the retainer, you will be given 30 days notice in which to replenish the retainer.
Accounts for fees and disbursements remaining unpaid for more than 30 days after the account is delivered may bear interest at a prescribed rate as specified on the account in accordance with the Solicitors Act ( Ontario ).
Notwithstanding the above, our firm will make every effort to accommodate the financial situation of each client and will adjust the payment requirements accordingly. Please contact our office to learn more about the available payment options.
Termination of Retainer: You have the right to terminate our services upon written notice to us. If you terminate our services, you will be required to pay our fees and disbursements up until the time we stopped acting on your behalf.
Subject to our obligations to maintain proper standards of professional conduct, we reserve the right to terminate our services to you for good cause, which includes but is not limited to:
- your failure to cooperate with us in any reasonable request;
- your failure to pay our retainer;
- your failure to pay our accounts when rendered; or
- in the circumstances that you instruct us to act in a manner that is unethical or impractical
The Right To Assign: We reserve the right to assign your file to outside counsel and/or professionals if in our opinion that becomes necessary or desirable. However, we will advise you before undertaking any procedures that will substantially increase the amount of fees and will proceed only upon your instructions to do so.
We accept the following forms of payment:
- Legal Aid Certificates
- Cheques/ Money Orders
- Cash
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