As a licenced Paralegal in good standing with the Law Society of Upper Canada, I must handle your matter according to the paralegal rules and by-laws. As a result, from my initial contact with you and onwards, I must follow the Law Society’s Rules, By-laws and Guidelines with respect to my duties to you, the client. These duties include, but are not limited to, paralegal-client confidentiality, but also to my handling of fees I collect with respect to your matter.
Prior to or during your first consultation, I will review my billing policies with you. Billing is dependent on the complexity of your matter which you will present in the first consultation. By the end of the first consultation, I will provide you with my billing policy for your matter. I will require a minimum of a 50% retainer at the initial consultation. The amount of the 50% retainer depends on the complexity of your matter and the full estimated amount you will be billed.
After the initial consultation a Retainer Agreement or Engagement Agreement Letter will be drafted and provided to you. This will be our contract detailing the services I will provide for your matter.
A retainer is a form of deposit which is placed in the trust account and remains your money. It reserves my services to you as agreed to in our Agreement. Only once I work on your matter and send you an Invoice will fees and/or disbursements be deducted from your funds in the Trust account. In other words, as your matter progresses and I work on your file, I will charge fees and major disbursements. Minor disbursements are charges including, but not limited to, phone calls, emails and faxes. Major disbursements can include such actions as consultations with expert witnesses, counsel or other officials made on your behalf. I am required to charge HST on fees and most disbursements.
I accept cash, cheques, as well as all major cards, including VISA, MasterCard, AMEX and Interac Debit for your convenience.
Prior to or during your first consultation, I will review my billing policies with you. Billing is dependent on the complexity of your matter which you will present in the first consultation. By the end of the first consultation, I will provide you with my billing policy for your matter. I will require a minimum of a 50% retainer at the initial consultation. The amount of the 50% retainer depends on the complexity of your matter and the full estimated amount you will be billed.
After the initial consultation a Retainer Agreement or Engagement Agreement Letter will be drafted and provided to you. This will be our contract detailing the services I will provide for your matter.
A retainer is a form of deposit which is placed in the trust account and remains your money. It reserves my services to you as agreed to in our Agreement. Only once I work on your matter and send you an Invoice will fees and/or disbursements be deducted from your funds in the Trust account. In other words, as your matter progresses and I work on your file, I will charge fees and major disbursements. Minor disbursements are charges including, but not limited to, phone calls, emails and faxes. Major disbursements can include such actions as consultations with expert witnesses, counsel or other officials made on your behalf. I am required to charge HST on fees and most disbursements.
I accept cash, cheques, as well as all major cards, including VISA, MasterCard, AMEX and Interac Debit for your convenience.
Hourly Rates
Any time spent working on the file may be recorded. Docketing of time includes, but is not limited to, consultations with you, conferences, phone calls, emails, correspondence and travel time which might be necessary.
Block Fees
For some routine tasks related to your matter, (such as the consultation with and recruiting of an expert witness) you may be quoted a block fee.
Flat Fees
At Bonafide Law, we are prepared to fix a budget for legal services and charge according to that budget.
Contingency Fees
In some cases we might be prepared to offer you a contingency fee arrangement. Please speak with us to find out more.