Canada lawyers and law firms, family law, divorce lawyer

How to choose a lawyer in Canada

Lawyers (also known as attorneys and solicitors) come in many flavours including those who practise family law, divorce lawyers, commercial lawyers, bankruptcy, tax law, immigration, employment, etc. There are also paralegals and legal assistants.

Why do you need a lawyer?

Some of the reasons you might be looking for an attorney in Canada are as follows:

• you are doing a real estate transaction and need a real estate lawyer
  
• you are considering bankruptcy and need legal advice
  
• you have been charged with a crime and require a criminal lawyer
  
• you are looking to immigrate to Canada and need the services of an immigration lawyer
• you have been injured and require an injury lawyer

Whatever your legal requirements, a good lawyer is your guide in navigating the ins and outs of Canada's laws and legislation.

In order to practise law, lawyers in Canada must have a law degree and have been admitted to the law society in their province. Common law, derived from the British legal system, is practised in all provinces except Quebec, where civil law, derived from the French legal system, is practised instead.

Considerations for choosing a lawyer

Billing structure: some lawyers charge a monthly retainer, others charge by the hour. Depending on your requirements and the expertise of the lawyer, you might be better choosing a lawyer with a higher rate who can do the job quicker. Also, don't underestimate the administrative costs such as photocopying documents and answering enquiries by telephone. These can add up quickly.

Rapport and ethics: you must feel comfortable with your lawyer. He should speak to you in language that you understand, without using too much legal mumbo jumbo. You should feel like your questions are being answered in a thoughtful and considerate manner. Your lawyer should not pressure you into signing documents without fully explaining what they mean.

Expertise: the lawyer's specialization and experience you seek will be based on the complexity of the task at hand. For business law, you want a lawyer who has other clients in the same industry. Ask for references that you can contact.

Documentation: if you have any existing documentation pertaining to your legal matter, bring it along to your consultation visit and ask the lawyer to review it.

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