Fees and Retainers
In writing, explained before work begins — no surprises.
LAW WISE PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION — MISSISSAUGA · BRAMPTON · TORONTO
Fees and Retainer Arrangements
Nobody should retain a lawyer without understanding how the fees will work. At Law Wise, every fee arrangement is explained at the consultation and recorded in a written retainer agreement before any work begins — including what is covered, what is not, and how disbursements and HST are handled.
Three Ways Legal Fees Can Be Structured
How it works
Where it fits best
Hourly retainer
You pay for time actually spent, billed against a monetary retainer
Litigation and negotiations where the amount of work depends on the
Flat fee
One agreed price for a defined piece of work, quoted before we
Real estate closings, wills, powers of attorney, notarizations,
Contingency fee
The fee is a percentage of what is recovered — if there is no
Certain claims where you are owed money and cannot fund hourly work
Every arrangement is recorded in a written retainer agreement before work begins.
Hourly Retainers
Most litigation and negotiation files are billed hourly. You provide a monetary retainer that is held in our trust account, and our time is billed against it in itemized accounts, so you can always see what was done and how long it took. When the retainer runs low we ask you to replenish it; any unused balance at the end of the matter is returned to you.
We discuss budget expectations honestly at the outset and warn you before costs escalate — for example, before a contested motion.
We discuss budget expectations honestly at the outset and warn you before costs escalate — for example, before a contested motion.
Flat Fees
For defined, predictable work — residential real estate closings, wills and powers of attorney, notarizations, incorporations, and similar transactional matters — we quote a flat fee before we start. In keeping with the Law Society of Ontario’s rules on fee advertising, when we quote a flat fee we will tell you clearly whether disbursements and HST are included, and if not, what those are expected to be.
The price you are quoted is the price you pay unless the scope genuinely changes, and if it does, we tell you before doing the extra work, not after.
The price you are quoted is the price you pay unless the scope genuinely changes, and if it does, we tell you before doing the extra work, not after.
Contingency Fees
In certain matters where you are owed money — for example, some employment claims — a contingency fee arrangement may be available: the fee is an agreed percentage of what is actually recovered, and if nothing is recovered, no fee is payable. Ontario law regulates these arrangements closely.
Contingency agreements must follow the mandatory standard form under the Solicitors Act regulations, and we will give you the government’s consumer guide and walk you through the percentage, how disbursements are treated, and the rare circumstances in which you could still owe costs, before you sign. Not every matter is suitable for a contingency arrangement, and we will tell you candidly whether yours is.
Contingency agreements must follow the mandatory standard form under the Solicitors Act regulations, and we will give you the government’s consumer guide and walk you through the percentage, how disbursements are treated, and the rare circumstances in which you could still owe costs, before you sign. Not every matter is suitable for a contingency arrangement, and we will tell you candidly whether yours is.
What a Legal Bill Is Made Of
Legal fees — the lawyer's time or the agreed flat fee
Quoted up front
Disbursements — amounts we pay out for you (filing fees, searches, process servers)
Pass-through cost
HST — 13% on fees and most disbursements
Added by law
Your invoice
Fees + disbursements + HST
When we quote a flat fee we tell you at the same time what disbursements to expect, so the all-in number is clear before you commit.
A Note on Value
The least expensive lawyer is not always the least expensive outcome. A closing handled carelessly, a severance package signed unread, or a separation agreement drafted badly tends to cost far more to fix than it would have cost to do properly. Our goal on every file is the same: do the work right, keep you informed, and make sure the fee always makes sense against what is at stake.
Questions About
Fees
Ask us anything about fees at your consultation — it is the part of the meeting clients are often most reluctant to raise and the part we most want to be clear about. Call 647-948-7819 or email info@lawwise.ca.
The price you are quoted is the price you pay unless the scope genuinely changes, and if it does, we tell you before doing the extra work, not after.
Speak with a lawyer about your situation
Consultations at Law Wise are detailed and unhurried — we take the time to understand your circumstances and give you a clear path forward. We serve Mississauga, Brampton and the Greater Toronto Area.