Who’s Who in Regina Law Firms?
Some Regina lawyers work by themselves, while other lawyers work with other lawyers. Some of the people you might meet in Regina law firms may include:
- Lawyers: Regina lawyers have a degree from an approved university and have been approved by the Law Society to practice law in Regina. Regina law firms may assign some of the tasks they perform for you to other Regina lawyers or to staff in their office.
- Legal assistant and paralegals: These are specially trained staff who work under the Regina lawyer’s supervision.
- Law students: Law students may train with Regina lawyers in hopes of becoming a particular type of lawyer. They often do research and conduct interviews. Law students are also allowed to represent you on certain types of court matters.
How Do I Make a Financial Claim Against a Regina Lawyer?
If you believe you have suffered a financial loss from working with a Regina lawyer or as a consequence of the services provided by Regina law firms 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 Saskatchewan Law Society with the following information:
- The name of the Regina lawyer or Regina law firm
- The Regina 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 Regina 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 Saskatchewan 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.
Will Regina Lawyers Keep My File?
If you’re hiring a Regina lawyer, the lawyer may help you obtain a file from another Regina lawyer on your behalf. In some situations, a Regina lawyer may not keep your file. In other cases, Regina law firms can put a lien on your file.
For example, if you owe fees or disbursements that are not yet paid, your Regina lawyer might put a lien on your file. You may file a complaint if you think you are entitled to your file, but you and your Regina lawyer are having trouble obtaining it.
What Should I Talk About at My First Meeting With a Regina Lawyer?
If you are trying to hire Regina lawyers, your first meeting should be used to exchange information between you and the Regina lawyer.
Regina lawyers and Regina law firms will want to know:
- The facts of your legal matter
- What you want to be accomplished
- If you have documents or other materials related to your matter
- The names of people involved, determining the existence of a conflict of interest. This information is protected by the attorney-client privilege.
- If another Regina lawyer has previously dealt with your case
- If you can pay the estimated legal fees
You should find out:
- If you have a case worth pursuing
- If you are being realistic and reasonable in your expectations
- How much experience the Regina lawyer has in your area of law
- What kind of legal options you have
- What the law is relating to your problem
- The likelihood of achieving a successful outcome
- What services the Regina lawyer will provide
Can Regina Lawyers or Regina Law Firms be Paid on a Percentage Basis? What is a Contingency Fee?
A contingency fee depends on the outcome of your case. A contingency fee is a contract with a lawyer where the fee paid to the lawyer is a percentage of the amount recovered for your case.
Regina lawyers and Regina law firms cannot charge contingency fees for family files or criminal matters. Regina lawyers have an approved contingent fee agreement form and a maximum percentage allowed.
What Should I Do If My Regina Lawyer’s Fees Are Too High?
Your Regina lawyer’s bill should show the services provided, who did the work, and the costs associated with the service. A bill from a Regina lawyer should also show the cost of disbursements, which are expenses paid by your Regina lawyer while working on your case. You will be expected to reimburse your Regina 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 Regina lawyer to explain the charges. If you cannot agree with your Regina 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 Regina lawyer will have the bill taxed if the dispute over the amount of the bill cannot be resolved.
How Long Will Regina Lawyers Retain My Documents?
According to the Rules of the Law Society of Saskatchewan, Regina lawyers and Regina law firms must retain a record of the information and any documents obtained for the duration of the attorney-client relationship and for as long as necessary for the purpose of providing services to a client or six years following the completion of the work for which the Regina lawyer was retained.
What if I Have a Complaint?
If you have a complaint against a Regina lawyer that involves discrimination or harassment, you can contact the Saskatchewan Law Society’s Equity Officer. The Equity Officer can provide you with information and advice on various options for addressing your concern. They also may be able to resolve or mediate the dispute informally. The Equity Officer is available to speak with you confidentially at no charge. Even if you speak with the Equity Officer, you can still file a formal complaint against Regina lawyers. The Equity Officer cannot provide you with legal advice.
Regina lawyers cannot discriminate against clients based on political belief, religion, marital status, family status, income, physical or mental disability, physical characteristics, age, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The Code of Professional Conduct prohibits discrimination by Regina lawyers.
How Can I Find a Regina Lawyer Near Me?
Use LegalMatch to find the best lawyers in Regina. Your lawyer can provide you with the legal guidance and advice needed for your particular case.