Something brought you to call our office.

Perhaps your landlord is trying to get you evicted, or somebody is suing you for money you owe them or you were charged with a serious traffic offence that may cause you to lose your license or even serve time in custody.

You are frightened, concerned and nervous as you enter the unknown world of the legal system.  You need to speak with us and need to be able to get the most out of our meeting together.

A consultation with myself or a member of our team would provide you with the opportunity to learn about your options and your rights, given your circumstances.  In the legal system, there are sometimes many directions to take and they can be confusing to someone who is suddenly forced to deal with it.  With the information we give you, you have a number of options:  hire our team to assist you, seek assistance from somebody else, pay the ticket or the claim, or perhaps act on your own behalf.

To ensure that you get the most accurate assessment of your situation, complete honesty is the first requirement. We need to know everything about your case, even if you think the other party can use it against you.   We are on your side.  Anything you tell us will be kept strictly confidential.  Knowing the whole picture of your case helps us decide what would be your best path to resolution.

Below we have listed some additional things that assist us during the consultation:

Photo Identification

Be prepared to provide your identification at the time we first meet.  As we are regulated by the Law Society of Ontario, personal ID is required for all people who we meet with, even for a free consultation or to commission documents.  You will also be asked about your occupation (or usual occupation if you are currently not employed).

Documents

The documents you bring to us would relate to the reason why you called us.  This might mean bringing in your tickets or summons, a copy of a Plaintiff’s Claim, a denial letter from the disability office, or whatever else triggered you to contact us.

All Court Dates and Correspondence

If you had already gone to court on your own behalf, or had somebody else represent you, we need to know what happened.  We need to know what steps had already taken place, or if there had been any orders issued.  It is important for us to know where your case stands currently, so that we can ensure that we can respond in a timely manner. All letters and correspondence from the court or tribunal are important for that same reason.

Disclosure/Evidence

This would include anything that the other party or parties provided to you, such as their invoices, witness statements, disclosure (for provincial offence or summary criminal cases), or submissions from the government or insurance agency that denied your claim.

Any Recordings, Videos or Photographs

These items can also help us argue your claim or defend against a case brought against you.  It is best if these items are date stamped.

Any notes you’ve made

Have you put together a timeline of events?  Have you kept a calendar of specific dates when incidents took place?  Have you made notes of a discussion you had with a particular person who might become a vital witness?  Have you thought about third party agencies or individuals that might have additional documents or evidence that would support your claim or defence?  We can discuss how we can obtain this information.

Yourself!

No one is more important for saying what happened than you!

You can come in with a friend or family member for your consultation, but please note that YOU are the client (or prospective client).  If we take on your matter, only YOU will be able to discuss your matter with us.  We do not normally have a right to discuss your case with others, even with the friend or family member that came with you.