Find the Right Lawyer in Yukon

Government

Executive power in Yukon is vested in the Territorial Commissioner. The Territorial Commissioner plays the role of a provincial lieutenant governor. The Commissioner generally acts upon the advice of the Premier of Yukon and the elected Legislative Assembly. Unlike governors, commissioners are not direct representatives of the Queen. The federal government appoints commissioners.

Yukon has numerous political parties and candidates who vie for election to the 19 seats in the Yukon Legislative Assembly. Those elected to the legislature are known as members of the Legislative Assembly.

The vast majority of Yukon’s landmass is unorganized with no municipal or other levels of government like other parts of Canada. The unorganized area covers the majority of Yukon and represents 98% of Yukon’s landmass. Only 1,688 people live in a nearly 180,000-mile radius, meaning there are 0.008 people for every square mile.

How Much Will it Cost Me to Hire a Lawyer in Yukon?

There is no standard fee for legal services. Yukon lawyers use various types of fees for their services.

The cost of having a Yukon lawyer represent you should be discussed during your first meeting. Lawyer’s fees should be fair and reasonable. Lawyer’s fees will be based on:

• The lawyer’s experience and skill
• The difficulty of the matter
• The time and effort it will take to complete the work
• The standard rate charged by other Yukon lawyers of equal standing in similar matters and circumstances

Some common types of lawyers fees are:

• Fixed or flat fees: fees that are charged for a certain type of legal work, such as a will or real estate transaction.
• Hourly rate fee: the rate a lawyer in Yukon charges for services on an hourly basis. The rates may vary depending on the lawyer and the nature of the work involved. You will be charged according to the number of hours your Yukon lawyer spends on your legal issue, which could include time spent on the phone, in meetings, conducting research, preparing documents, corresponding with others, appearing in court, or anything else involving your file.
• Retainer fee: a deposit made in advance to cover your early costs. Retainer fees are payments towards your final bill. As the work progresses, you may be required to pay another retainer to cover ongoing costs.
• Contingency fee: you will not be charged a fee 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, then the lawyer collects no fee. However, the contingency fee agreement may require you to pay your lawyer’s disbursements regardless of the outcome of the case.
• Expenses: expenses are paid for by your lawyer on your behalf. Expenses may include land title fees, court filing fees, courier charges, photocopying costs, and feeds paid for expert reports. Expenses are often referred to as disbursements. You are responsible for these expenses, and they will be included in your bill.

Find out from your Yukon lawyer:

• The types of fees they will charge
• The basis for their charges
• An estimate, in writing, of the cost to conclude your legal issue, including costs in addition to legal fees
• If another lawyer or expert will be involved in resolving your case and how much they charge
• The cost of a retainer if one is needed
• What the lawyer’s percentage will be if services are provided under a contingency fee arrangement
• The likelihood of anything happening that may increase the cost to resolve your case
• How you will be informed if your cost increases due to unusual or unforeseen circumstances
• The lawyer’s billing schedule and when you are expected to make payments
• Your options for payment of fees and other expenses
• The cost of interest on overdue accounts
• Suggestions for keeping your costs low

A Yukon lawyer will likely not be able to give you an exact price for their legal services during your first meeting. However, your lawyer should be able to provide an approximate amount based on the cost of resolving matters similar to yours. Be prepared for additional costs as the work proceeds on your case.

If your Yukon lawyer does not already do so, you should request a retainer agreement with a written estimate for the services that will be provided, along with a fee agreement. These agreements will help to avoid disputes later on. Remember, all conversations you have with your lawyer pertaining to your legal representation are protected by attorney-client privilege.

Sometimes, a Yukon lawyer will give you a statement of account while your matter is still ongoing. You may be expected to pay upon receiving the statement. In other cases, your lawyer will wait until your matter is resolved before billing you. You should discuss your bills with your lawyer and voice any concerns you have about the amount of the bill.

What Should I Do If My Lawyer’s Fees Are Too High?

Your Yukon lawyer’s bill should show the services provided, who did the work, and the costs associated with the service. Your lawyer’s bill should also show the cost of disbursements, which are expenses paid by your lawyer while working on your case. You will be expected to reimburse your 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 Yukon lawyer to explain the charges. If you cannot agree with your lawyer on the amount you owe, you may have your account taxed. When your account is taxed, a Clerk of 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 Yukon lawyer will have the bill taxed if the dispute over the amount of the bill cannot be resolved.

To get your account taxed, you must contact the Clerk of the Yukon Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is located at the Court Registry, Law Courts Building in Whitehorse.

How Can I Find a Lawyer in Yukon?

If you are trying to find a lawyer in Yukon, consider using LegalMatch’s attorney database. By using LegalMatch, you can search for a lawyer 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 a lawyer in Yukon today.