Q: I have a legal problem, but I don't know which lawyer to ask for. What should I do?

A: Call our receptionist at 385-1383 and explain briefly what kind of problem you are having. Our receptionist will forward you to a lawyer who can assist you.

Q: I would like to meet with a lawyer, how much will it cost?

A: We offer our clients an initial, 30 minute free consultation. During that time we listen to you outline your situation and offer you advice on whether you have a problem that requires legal representation. If you require our services, we then discuss your legal options and our fee structure so that you can make an informed choice.

Q: What is your fee structure?

A: Depending on the type of legal problem you have, we are pleased to offer a range of fee structures. Generally, we require a retainer which is a deposit you make to our trust account. As work is done on your file, we are able to deduct our legal fees and disbursements from the money you have given us. The size of the retainer required depends in all cases on the type of legal services you need and the specific facts of your case.

Our legal fees are comprised of the work our lawyers perform on an hourly basis as well as disbursements which include taxes, filing fees, long distance charges, photocopying charges, courier fees and other fees charged to us in the advancement of your matter.

Q: What is a contingency fee?

A: A contingency fee allows us to work on your matter and not charge you legal fees until we receive money on your behalf. In these types of matters, because we are assuming some of the risk of recovering money on your behalf, we will negotiate with you what percentage of recovery we will take as our "contingent" fee. However, even when we take a matter on a contingency fee basis, you will remain responsible for payment of disbursements incurred on your behalf.

You should be aware that we are not allowed to offer you a contingency fee option for criminal or family law matters. We can offer clients a contingency fee arrangement in situations such as personal injury and civil litigation matters.

We encourage you to contact us to discuss whether this option is right for you.

Q: How can I pay my legal bill?

A: We accept cash, credit cards and debit. Please contact us if you would like more information on our fees.

Q: What does a lawyer need from me when we meet?

A: Your lawyer will need to see any documents related to your issue and you should be prepared to describe the history of events leading up to and since the issue occurred. Often, we recommend that our new clients prepare a chronology of events prior to the meeting which we then review together. This step frequently saves you time and money as we are quickly able to understand your legal matter.

Q: Where are you located?

A: We are located in the heart of Victoria, on Douglas Street at Courtney Street. We are pleased to offer our clients one hour free parking if they park at the City of Victoria parking lot located under the Victoria Library - Main Branch.