General Questions

Consultation fees vary by the type of matter and the lawyer involved, and we discuss the applicable rate when you book. Many consultations are billed, and you should budget for that unless we tell you otherwise. For some personal injury inquiries, an initial consultation may be offered at no charge where it is appropriate; that does not apply across every practice area. Call or email the office for current consultation rates before you book, so there are no surprises.

Call our Edmonton office during business hours or send us an email, and our staff will match your matter to the right lawyer and find a time that works. Tell us briefly what the issue is and whether there are any deadlines or court dates, since that helps us prioritize. We offer in person, telephone, and video consultations for clients across the Edmonton area and elsewhere in Alberta.

Bring government issued photo identification and any documents connected to your matter: court papers, letters from another lawyer, contracts, police or insurance paperwork, financial statements, and correspondence with the other side. A short written timeline of what happened is often more useful than a thick stack of paper. If you are not sure whether something matters, bring it anyway. We would rather review a document and set it aside than miss it.

You are allowed to represent yourself in most Alberta proceedings, and for very simple matters that can work. A lawyer becomes valuable when the other side has counsel, when children, property, your criminal record, or your immigration status are at stake, or when the deadlines and paperwork are unforgiving. Even a single consultation can tell you whether this is a matter you can manage yourself and what the real risks are.

It depends on the type of matter, how much the parties disagree, and court scheduling. An uncontested agreement may be wrapped up in weeks, while a contested family or criminal file can run many months. Delay usually comes from disclosure, expert reports, and waiting for court dates rather than from the drafting itself. After reviewing your file we can give you a realistic range and explain what tends to speed things up or slow them down.

Yes. Solicitor client privilege protects what you tell your lawyer for the purpose of getting legal advice, and it applies from the first consultation, whether or not you go on to retain us. The protection belongs to you, not to us, so we cannot waive it without your instructions. Narrow exceptions exist, such as a serious and imminent risk of harm. Being candid, including about unhelpful facts, almost always produces better advice.

You will be told who is handling your file and how to reach them. We confirm advice and important steps in writing, send you copies of the significant documents filed or received, and contact you whenever something changes or a decision is needed from you. Between milestones there may be quiet stretches while we wait on the court or the other side. If you have not heard from us and want a status update, call and ask.

You explain the situation, we ask questions and review whatever documents you have brought, and then we tell you where you stand: the legal issues involved, the options available, the realistic outcomes, and the deadlines you need to watch. We also explain how fees would work for a matter like yours so you can decide whether to proceed. You are under no obligation to retain us at the end of the meeting.

No lawyer can promise a result, and you should be cautious of anyone who does. Outcomes depend on the evidence, the applicable law, the position the other side takes, and the judge or decision maker. What we can do is give you a candid assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of your position, explain the range of realistic outcomes, and tell you how similar matters generally resolve in Alberta so you can make informed decisions.

We act for clients in family law, criminal defence, personal injury, wills and estates, real estate, immigration, and business law. That range means many clients can bring related problems to one firm, since a separation often touches property and estate planning, and a criminal charge can affect immigration status. If your matter falls outside what we do, we will say so early and try to point you toward someone who handles it.

Yes. We regularly act for clients in St. Albert, Sherwood Park, Leduc, Spruce Grove, Fort Saskatchewan, Stony Plain, Beaumont, and communities further out in Alberta. Telephone and video meetings, electronic document exchange, and remote court appearances mean many files run without frequent trips into the city. Some steps, such as certain court attendances or signing particular documents, still need to happen in person, and we will tell you which ones.

Yes. You are entitled to choose your own counsel and to change counsel, though timing matters. Your current lawyer must transfer your file, and may hold documents until outstanding accounts are dealt with. If a trial or hearing is close, the court may not permit a change that would cause significant delay. If you are thinking about switching, speak with us before ending the existing retainer so the handover is orderly.

Tell us as soon as you call. Arrests, bail, court dates within days, limitation deadlines, safety concerns, and immigration removal issues are treated as urgent, and we will do our best to see you quickly or arrange a telephone consultation the same day. If we cannot take an urgent matter on the timeline you need, we will say so promptly rather than leave you waiting, so you have time to find other counsel.