Client Info · Fees & Billing
Fees, Retainers, and Financial Arrangements
Clear numbers, in writing, before the work starts. How we structure fees, how retainers are held in trust under Law Society of Alberta rules, what disbursements are, and how invoices are explained.
Uncertainty about cost is one of the main reasons people delay getting legal advice, and it is entirely avoidable. Before any work begins on your matter you receive a written retainer agreement that sets out what we will do, how the fee is calculated, what deposit is required, and what expenses you should expect. If the scope of the work changes materially, we discuss it with you before the extra work is done rather than explaining it afterwards on an invoice.
Legal fees in Alberta are also regulated. The Law Society of Alberta requires that fees be fair and reasonable, that they be disclosed in a timely way, and that client money be held in a trust account separate from firm money. Those rules exist to protect you, and they shape how our accounts are structured. This page explains the mechanics so that nothing about your bill comes as a surprise.
How legal fees are structured
Different matters call for different fee models. The right structure depends on how predictable the work is and on how much of the process is within anyone's control.
Hourly fees
Time actually spent is recorded and billed at the applicable rate for the lawyer or staff member doing the work. Common in contested family and civil matters where the volume of work depends on the other side.
Flat or block fees
A single agreed price for a defined piece of work, such as a straightforward will, an uncontested matter, or a specific court appearance. You know the fee before the work starts.
Staged fees
The matter is divided into phases, each with its own estimate and deposit. You can review progress, cost, and strategy before authorising the next phase.
Contingency fees
Used in personal injury and some civil claims. The fee is an agreed percentage of the amount recovered and is payable only on success, under a written agreement that meets Alberta requirements.
Limited scope retainers
You retain us for specific tasks, such as drafting a document, reviewing an offer, or attending one application, while handling the balance of the matter yourself.
Disbursements
Out of pocket expenses paid on your behalf to third parties. These are separate from fees and are charged at cost, with GST applied where it is payable.
Retainers and the trust account
A retainer has two meanings that are easy to confuse. The retainer agreement is the contract that defines our relationship and the terms of the work. The retainer deposit is the money you pay in advance, which is held in the firm trust account and used to pay your invoices as they are rendered.
Under Law Society of Alberta rules, client funds must be deposited into a designated trust account that is kept entirely separate from the operating money of the firm. Trust accounts are subject to detailed record keeping requirements and to Law Society oversight, including audit. Money is transferred out of trust and into the firm only after an invoice has been rendered to you, so you always see the account before the funds are applied to it.
The money stays yours until it is billed
Funds sitting in trust remain your money. If your matter concludes with a balance in trust, that balance is refunded to you. If we ever hold client funds for an extended period in circumstances that attract interest under the applicable rules, that is governed by Law Society of Alberta requirements rather than by firm preference.
Disbursements, taxes, and other charges
Disbursements are amounts we pay to others so that your matter can move forward. They are billed at what they cost, and on larger items we will ask for funds in advance rather than carrying the expense.
- Court filing fees and registry search fees.
- Process server and courier charges for documents that must be formally served.
- Land title searches, corporate searches, and other registry retrievals.
- Medical records, clinical notes, and reports from treating practitioners in injury matters.
- Expert reports, including valuations, accounting analyses, and medical legal opinions.
- Transcript costs for court proceedings and examinations.
- Agent fees where an appearance is required in a courthouse outside Edmonton.
- GST at the applicable rate on legal fees and on taxable disbursements.
Understanding your invoice
- 01
When accounts are rendered
Most files are billed monthly while work is ongoing, and at the conclusion of the matter. Flat fee work is generally billed at agreed milestones set out in the retainer agreement.
- 02
What appears on the account
Each invoice shows the work performed for the period, the fees charged, disbursements listed separately, GST, any amount applied from trust, and the remaining balance.
- 03
How trust funds are applied
The invoice is delivered to you, and funds held in trust are then applied to it. Your statement shows the trust balance before and after the transfer, so the movement is traceable.
- 04
Topping up the retainer
If your trust balance falls below the level agreed for the next stage of work, we will ask you to replenish it. Doing so promptly prevents interruptions at inconvenient moments.
- 05
Final accounting
When the matter ends, you receive a final account and a trust reconciliation. Any unused funds are returned to you, and we confirm what is being kept in your file record.
Payment methods and controlling cost
We accept the common payment methods used by Alberta law firms, including electronic transfer, certified funds, and cheque. Cash is restricted: Law Society of Alberta rules limit the cash a firm may accept in a matter, and those restrictions exist to guard against the misuse of legal services. Ask the office which methods are currently available before making a large payment.
- Send documents organised and complete, so time is not spent assembling material you already hold.
- Group your questions into a single call or email rather than sending several short messages a day.
- Answer requests for information promptly, since delay usually means repeated follow up work.
- Be realistic about what is worth fighting over. Disputes over items of modest value can cost more than the item.
- Consider negotiation, mediation, or another resolution process before litigation where it is safe and appropriate.
- Ask for an updated estimate whenever the matter takes an unexpected turn.
- Tell us early if paying an account will be difficult. Options are easier to arrange before an account falls behind.
If you disagree with an account
Raise it with us first. Most billing questions are resolved in a single conversation, because they usually arise from work that was necessary but not visible to the client, or from a disbursement that was not expected. We will walk through the entries with you and explain what was done and why.
You also have a formal right. In Alberta, a client may have a lawyer account reviewed by a review officer of the Court of King's Bench of Alberta, who assesses whether the charges are reasonable in the circumstances. There are time limits on that process and the rules govern how it is started, so if you intend to pursue a review, do not delay. The Law Society of Alberta can also provide general information about the options available to clients.
Frequently asked questions
For defined work such as a simple will or a single appearance, we can quote a flat fee in advance. For contested matters the total depends on how the other side behaves, how much evidence is involved, and whether the case settles or proceeds to hearing. We give a realistic range with the assumptions behind it, and we update that range as the matter develops.
A trust deposit confirms the engagement and ensures funds are available to cover fees and disbursements as they are incurred. It is standard practice across Alberta firms. The money remains yours in trust until an invoice is rendered, and anything unused at the end of the matter is returned to you with a final trust reconciliation.
Fees are what you pay for legal work: time, judgment, drafting, negotiation, and court appearances. Disbursements are amounts the firm pays out to third parties on your behalf, such as filing fees, process servers, medical records, and expert reports. Disbursements are charged at cost and are shown as separate line items on every invoice.
On hourly matters, time spent on your file is recorded, and that includes correspondence and calls that involve legal work. Brief administrative exchanges with staff, such as confirming an appointment, are generally not billed as legal time. Grouping your questions together is the simplest way to keep this part of an account down.
Arrangements can sometimes be structured to spread cost, most commonly by staging the work so each phase is funded separately as it is authorised. What we cannot do is carry an open ended balance indefinitely. Raise budget constraints at the outset, because a plan agreed at the start is far easier than a solution attempted after an account is overdue.
It is returned to you. At the conclusion of the matter you receive a final account and a trust statement showing every deposit, every transfer applied to an invoice, and the closing balance. Any remaining funds are refunded by the method you request, and the trust records are retained in accordance with Law Society of Alberta requirements.
Related pages
The information on this page is general in nature and is not legal advice. Every matter depends on its own facts. Contact Bhalla Law Offices to discuss your situation with a lawyer licensed in Alberta.