- Appearing as your counsel
- Representing you in any pleading for use in judicial proceedings
- Drafting wills, deeds of settlement, trust deeds, power of attorneys, or any other document relating to probate letters of administration or the estate of a deceased person
- Representing you under any document relating to proceedings under an Act of Gatineau or an Act of Canada
- Settling any instrument relating to property that is intended, permitted, or required to be registered, recorded, or filed in a registry or other public office
- Drawing any act or deed or negotiating for the settlement of any claim or demand for tort damages
- Agreeing to place at the disposal of any other person the services of a barrister or solicitor
- Giving you legal advice
When Should I Hire a Gatineau Lawyer?
There are many situations where hiring a Gatineau lawyer may be helpful. The following is a list of those situations:
- Buying or selling real estate property
- Creating or amending a will
- If you’ve been detained or arrested
- If you’ve been charged with a criminal offense
- If you have been unjustly fired from your job
- If you have been unjustly evicted
How Much Will it Cost Me to Hire a Gatineau Lawyer?
There is no standard fee for legal services because a Gatineau lawyer may utilize various types of fees or billings for their services.
The cost of having a Gatineau lawyer represent you should be discussed during your initial meeting. Gatineau’s lawyer’s fees must be fair and reasonable. Lawyer’s fees in Gatineau are based on:
- The lawyer’s experience and skill level
- The complexity of your legal matter
- The time and effort it will take to resolve your case
- The standard rate charged by other Gatineau lawyers
Some common types of lawyers fees are:
- Fixed or flat fees: Fees that are charged for certain types of legal work, such as divorces or contract disputes.
- Hourly rate fee: The rate a lawyer in Gatineau charges hourly for services. Hourly rates may vary depending on your lawyer and the nature of your case. You will be charged based on the number of hours your Gatineau lawyer spends on your legal issue, which could include time spent on the phone, in meetings, conducting research, preparing documents, corresponding with others, or appearing in court.
- Retainer fee: Retainer fees are a deposit made in advance to cover your early legal costs. Retainer fees count as payments towards your final bill. As the work on your case progresses, you may be required to pay another retainer to cover ongoing costs.
- Contingency fee: If your Gatineau lawyer charges a contingency fee, you will not be billed until your case is settled. Contingency fees are typically a percentage of the money you as a client receive. If no money is recovered during your case, your lawyer collects no fee. Contingency fee agreements may require you to pay your lawyer’s disbursements regardless of the outcome of the case. Keep in mind that contingency fees are most commonly used in personal injury cases.
What Should I Do If My Gatineau Lawyer’s Fees Are Too High?
Your Gatineau lawyer’s bill should show the services provided, who did the work, and the costs associated with the service. A bill from a Gatineau lawyer should also show the cost of disbursements, which are expenses paid by your Gatineau lawyer while working on your case. You will be expected to reimburse your Gatineau lawyer for these expenses.
If you think you have been billed an unreasonable amount or do not understand some items on the bill, ask your Gatineau lawyer to explain the charges. If you cannot agree with your Gatineau lawyer on the amount you owe, you may have your account taxed. When your account is taxed, the court reviews your bill and determines if the charges are fair and reasonable.
If you’d like your bill to be taxed, you should do so as soon as possible upon receiving your bill. It is also possible that your Gatineau lawyer will have the bill taxed if the dispute over the amount of the bill cannot be resolved.
What Should I Do During My Meeting With a Gatineau Lawyer?
When meeting with a Gatineau lawyer, be sure to tell your whole story. Everything you tell your lawyer to obtain legal advice is confidential through attorney-client privilege.
Talk to your Gatineau lawyer about their legal opinion. Get their advice on what you should do next. Some Gatineau lawyers may want to take time after your meeting before giving you their legal opinion.
Working with your lawyer is a relationship that requires professional communication and understandings of the expectations of one another. Talk to your Gatineau lawyer about timelines for your case. You should ask when they return phone calls, letters, and emails. Find out what obstacles could make your matter take longer.
Find out about your options and alternatives. Express to your Gatineau lawyer what you would like the outcome of your case to be. Make sure you and your lawyer agree to your plans and priorities and the outcome you seek. Your lawyer will likely tell you if your expectations are realistic and achievable.
Talk to your lawyer about fees. Find out how much your Gatineau lawyer expects your matter to cost. Sometimes, your lawyer may not assess the total cost, but your lawyer should give you a sense of how much it will cost to do certain tasks. Ask your lawyers what disbursements or fees will be charged in addition to their fees. Ask your lawyer when they want you to pay for the accounts sent to you.
What Should I Do After My Meeting With a Gatineau Lawyer?
After you meet with a Gatineau lawyer, collect all the information that your lawyer requested. Provide those documents to your Gatineau lawyer. Be sure to meet your lawyer on the dates they provide to you.
How Do I Make a Financial Claim Against a Lawyer?
If you believe you have suffered a financial loss from working with a Gatineau lawyer or as a consequence of the services provided by your lawyer due to negligence or theft, you may be entitled to make a malpractice claim.
To make a claim, you may write a letter to the Quebec Law Society with the following information:
- The name of the Gatineau lawyer and law firm
- The Gatineau lawyer’s file number, if you know it
- The legal service provided (i.e., estates and trusts, divorce, personal injury claim)
- The date of services
- What you think the Gatineau lawyer did wrong
- How the wrong resulted in financial loss to you
- Any documentation and explanation of the financial loss
- Your address and phone number
If the Quebec Law Society receives a letter from you, they will investigate your claim. This may take several weeks. Although you are not required to hire a lawyer to represent you in presenting your claim, it is recommended and encouraged.
How Can I Find a Lawyer in Gatineau?
If you are trying to find the best lawyers in Gatineau, consider using LegalMatch’s Gatineau lawyers list. By using LegalMatch, you can search for the best lawyers in Gatineau by name or based on the specific issues in your case. There is no fee to schedule a consultation, and our services are entirely confidential. Use LegalMatch to find the best lawyers in Gatineau today.