As you know, hiring a lawyer is not free. Below is some very important information that you should know before you hire any lawyer, and some specific information about my fee structure.

General Information

Retainer Fees: It is customary for lawyers to ask for some money from their clients before starting to do any work for them. This is mainly to allow the lawyer to work more efficiently on your file, without having to stop and wait for you to pay his or her bills. I generally ask for a retainer equiavalent to between 10 and 30 hours of my time, to ensure that I can do work on the file while covering my costs.

Other Charges: It is important to remember that your lawyer will charge you for ALL the time that he or she spends dealing with your file. In most cases, this will include all time spent talking to you on the telephone and speaking with opposing counsel on your case, as well as doing research, drafting legal documents, and attending at court. On top of his or her time, your lawyer will also charge DISBURSEMENTS to you. Disbursements are all expenses that are incurred by the lawyer in order to prepare your case, not including the lawyer's hourly rate. This category generally includes photocopies, faxes, long distance telephone calls, gasoline and mileage.

Disputes: If you have a problem with the bill you receive from your lawyer, you can contact the Law Society of Upper Canada to lodge a complaint: http://www.lsuc.on.ca/public/lawyers_complainabout_en.jsp

My Fees

Legal Aid: I accept legal aid retainers for some cases. If you do not yet have legal aid and you think you might qualify, contact the office nearest you to apply for legal aid. Infomation can be found on the leagl aid website: Legal Aid Ontario
I will NOT accept Legal Aid certificates to act on certain kinds of criminal charges where the accused requires an interpreter for himself, his sureties, or his alibi witnesses.

Hourly Rate: If you do not qualify for legal aid, I charge an hourly rate based on my experience and knowledge of the subject matter. This rate has been determined in accordance with the standard being charged in Toronto.

If your legal problem is of a non-criminal nature, please consult my Areas of Practice to determine if I am the right lawyer for you.