Practice 02

Paralegal representation,
Ontario

Most disputes are lost on preparation rather than argument. I take the file seriously from the first letter, and I tell you early when the case is not worth what it will cost to run.

Describe your matterWhat I can act on

What I can act on

Scope of practice
ClaimsSmall Claims CourtDebt recovery, contract disputes, unpaid invoices, property damage, and defence of the same.
OffencesProvincial offencesMatters under the Provincial Offences Act, including traffic and regulatory charges.
HousingLandlord and Tenant BoardApplications and hearings for landlords and tenants.
TribunalsAdministrative tribunalsBoards and tribunals where paralegal representation is permitted in Ontario.
AdvisoryCommercial disputesDemand letters, settlement negotiation, and document preparation ahead of a claim.

Paralegal licensure in Ontario does not cover every matter. Family law, criminal indictable matters, real estate conveyancing, wills and estates, and Superior Court proceedings fall outside my scope. If your matter sits there, I will tell you at the first call and point you toward a lawyer rather than take a retainer I should not take.

The advantage

A file that is also a financial file.

Commercial disputes turn on numbers as often as they turn on law. Quantum of damages, the accounting behind a broken contract, whether the other side can actually satisfy a judgment — these are financial questions attached to a legal proceeding.

That combination is unusual and it is the reason most of my legal work is commercial. The analysis and the representation happen in one place instead of being handed between two firms.

How a matter runs

Four steps
  1. Step 01

    Intake

    What happened, what you want, and what documents exist. Conflicts are checked before anything else.

    30 minutes · no charge
  2. Step 02

    Assessment

    An honest read on merits, likely cost, and whether the amount at stake justifies the fight.

    Written where useful
  3. Step 03

    Retainer and filing

    Engagement terms in writing, then demand, claim, or defence, with settlement pursued wherever it beats a hearing.

    Fees agreed up front
  4. Step 04

    Hearing

    Preparation of evidence and submissions, and representation on the day.

    Timeline set by the tribunal

Questions

Before you call
What does it cost?

Quoted per matter after intake, either as a flat fee for defined work or hourly where the scope cannot be fixed in advance. You will have the terms in writing before I start.

Is a paralegal different from a lawyer?

Yes. Paralegals are licensed and regulated by the Law Society of Ontario, and can represent clients in a defined set of forums — Small Claims Court, provincial offences, and certain tribunals. Lawyers have a wider scope. For matters inside paralegal scope, the cost is usually materially lower.

Can you act for me if you did the financial analysis?

Sometimes, and it has to be assessed file by file. The roles carry different duties and a conflict can arise. I will raise it at intake rather than after a retainer is signed.

Tell me what happened.

Bring the documents you have. Thirty minutes will usually tell you whether you have a matter worth running.

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