Employment Lawyers That Can Help
A skilled employment lawyer with experience in disability law can help you evaluate your case, gather evidence, hire experts, and represent you in court to get all the necessary accessibility benefits that you require.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Employment Lawyer in Canada?
A Canadian employment lawyer’s cost varies and depends on many factors related to the circumstances of the case, the lawyer’s skills, and the location. In general, Canada employment lawyers use three different types of fee schedules. These are:
- Hourly rates;
- Contingency fees; and
- Flat fee.
Many employment lawyers in Canada charge an hourly rate for handling employment cases if their client is the employer. The average hourly cost for a lawyer’s services in Canada is $100 to $400 per hour, depending on their location and experience level.
However, it is important to be aware that some lawyers may charge a higher rate per hour. Because of this, it is essential to discuss the hourly rate a lawyer charges before hiring them for a case.
In some cases, if a lawyer charges an hourly rate, they also charge a retainer fee. A retainer fee is a fee that is paid in advance and is based on the lawyer’s hourly rate.
A retainer is similar to a down payment, as future fees and costs are deducted from that amount. Once the amount is used, the hourly rate will apply. In most cases, a retainer fee is non-refundable.
In many cases, a lawyer will charge a contingency fee when their client is an employee. A contingent fee means that the lawyer does not charge a specific amount.
In this billing arrangement, the layer does not charge a regular hourly fee. The percentage that the lawyer will receive varies depending on the state and the details of the arrangement.
A contingency fee may range from 5% to 50% of the damages award. However, the lawyer will receive one-third of the settlement or judgment amount in most contingency fee arrangements.
When Do You Need an Employment Lawyer?
If you believe that your employer has violated your legal rights as a worker or other employment law, you should hire a local employment lawyer for further assistance. An experienced employment law lawyer can help protect your interests and defend your rights under the law. Your lawyer can also assist you in filing a lawsuit against an employer or colleague and can help you in recovering damages for any losses you suffered.
Alternatively, if you are an employer a worker is using, you should hire an employment law lawyer immediately to represent you in court. Your lawyer will be able to determine whether there are any defenses you can raise against the claim and can discuss the potential outcomes of your case.
What to Look for in an Employment Lawyer
Before hiring an employment lawyer, consider the following:
- Specialty: Does the lawyer specialize in employment law?
- Length of practice: How long has the lawyer practiced employment law?
- Outcome: Does the lawyer see a positive outcome for your case? What do they think is the likely outcome of your case?
- Similar cases: Has the lawyer handled an employment case like yours before?
- Communication: How will the lawyer communicate with you regarding your case? How often?
- Legal fees: What are the legal fees? How will they be paid?
- The necessity of litigation: Is litigation necessary to resolve your problem?
- Professionalism: Has the lawyer ever been sanctioned or disciplined for lawyer misconduct?
Where to Find the Best Employment Lawyers in Canada
LegalMatch offers a better way to find an employment lawyer. LegalMatch is a free service that matches lawyers with clients based on the facts of each case. You can present your case and get matched with a qualified employment lawyer in your area within one day.
The Canadian Bar Association also has resources for finding a lawyer and affordable legal aid.
You can find more information about your rights in Canada in the workplace here.
