Lawyers are trained professionals who can advise you about your legal issues. They can help with all or part of your case. Depending on your income, you may qualify for free or reduced fee legal services.
In Alberta, only lawyers registered with the Law Society of Alberta can give legal advice. Non-lawyers can provide information about the law, but they can’t tell you what to do about your case or represent you.
Need to know
- Lawyers are legal professionals who have completed law school and are licensed to practice law.
- Lawyers can give you legal advice about your case while non-lawyers can provide you with information about the law generally.
- You may qualify for free or reduced fee legal services depending on your income.
- Lawyers offer different types of services, depending on what you need help with and what you can afford to pay.
Who are lawyers
Lawyers are professionals who have completed law school and are licensed to practice law in the province where they work.
Only lawyers registered with the Law Society of Alberta can practice law in Alberta. Lawyers registered with law societies in other provinces can practice in Alberta in very limited situations.
Lawyers must follow a strict Code of Conduct. Some rules they must follow include:
- maintaining solicitor-client privilegesolicitor-client privilege A rule that keeps the conversations between a client and their lawyer private. A lawyer cannot share things their client tells them unless they have their client’s permission or the law requires them to share the information., meaning they cannot talk about your case with anyone else except if the law requires them to share it
- representing only you, not other people who are involved in the issue, except in limited situations where everyone agrees to have one lawyer represent them all
- acting in your best interests, not their own interests
Did you know?
People may say they have legal training and can help you with your legal issues. However, only lawyers licensed to practice law in Alberta can give you legal advice about your issue.
Non-lawyers can only give you information about the law. They cannot tell you what to do or represent you in court. If you are not sure if the person you are dealing with is a licensed lawyer, look them up on the Law Society of Alberta’s Lawyer Directory.
Types of lawyers
Lawyers can offer their services in different ways, from free or limited services to full paid legal representation.
Free legal help at pro bono clinics
Volunteer lawyers give 30 to 45 minutes of free legal support about your case. They do not become your lawyer. You must meet financial eligibility tests.
Duty counsel
Lawyers at some courthouses give free help on the day of your court appearance. They do not become your lawyer.
Legal Aid
Lawyers who work at Legal Aid or lawyers who contract with Legal Aid represent you for a reduced fee. You must pay back Legal Aid for their services, though you can set up a payment plan over time. You must meet financial eligibility tests.
Legal coaching or limited scope retainers
Lawyers can coach you on your case or they can provide specific services during your case, known as limited scope retainers. You must pay for these services but they can be cheaper than hiring a lawyer to represent you throughout the whole case.
Collaborative lawyers
This is when you and the other person each hire your own lawyer, but you and your collaborative lawyers agree to work together to come to an agreement outside of court. You all meet to discuss issues with the goal of resolving them. If you cannot resolve your issues and want to go to court, you must hire a different lawyer.
Retain a lawyer
You can hire a lawyer to represent you throughout your case. This is known as retaining a lawyer. Your agreement with them is called a retainer. The lawyer may require a deposit for their services, which is also called a retainer.
How lawyers can help
Lawyers can help from the beginning to the end of your family legal issues or you can get their help at different points along the way. They can also help whether or not you go to court.
They can perform many tasks, including:
- telling you what the law says and how it applies to your situation
- helping you prioritize and strategize your issues
- drafting a separation agreement
- preparing a consent order
- calculating child support or spousal/partner support
- figuring out how to divide your property
- helping you negotiate with the other person
- representing you in mediation or arbitration
- representing you at settlement meetings
- drafting court documents to file a divorce claim or property claim or to get or respond to a court order
- representing you in court
Find a lawyer
You can find a lawyer in many ways, including by asking friends and family for recommendations or searching online for a lawyer near you.
Some lawyers specialize in one or a few areas of law while others practice many areas of law. When looking for a lawyer, review their qualifications and experience to make sure they meet your needs.
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Prepare to work with a lawyer
You must feel comfortable talking openly with your lawyer. Before you hire a lawyer, you can ask them questions to decide if they are a good fit for you. You should also ask how they will charge you for their work.
Follow these tips for a successful working relationship with your lawyer:
- Be honest: Your lawyer cannot represent you effectively if they do not know all the facts.
- Be prepared: Bring all documents related to your case to your first meeting with the lawyer. If your lawyer asks for more information, get it to them quickly.
- Be focused: Arrive on time for your meetings. Try to arrange for childcare during the meetings. Take notes and ask questions if you do not understand.
- Manage your expectations: Your lawyer also works for many other clients. They may not be able to talk to you or return your calls as fast as you like. Your lawyer also cannot answer certain questions, such as how long things will take, how much things will cost and what the outcome will be. Every case is different and things come up that can change the speed, fees or outcome of a case.
Potential issues
You are unhappy with how your lawyer communicated with you or other aspects of their services.
The Law Society of Alberta receives complaints from the public about lawyers’ conduct. Learn more on the Complaints page on the Law Society of Alberta’s website.
You are unhappy with the amount of legal fees your lawyer charged you.
You can ask the Review Office at the Court of King’s Bench to review your fee agreement or lawyer’s charges and decide whether they are reasonable. Fill out the online request form to book an appointment.
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