Something brought you to call our office. It is now time for your consultation, what do you need to bring?
Consultation: The Practical Steps
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. That is natural You need to speak with someone who has legal training and need to be able to get the most out of our meeting together. That is why you need a consultation.
A consultation with a member of our team provides you with the opportunity to tell your story and then learn about your options and your rights, given your circumstances. It all starts with the consultation.
In the legal system, there are sometimes many directions to take and options can be confusing when 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.
The Cost of the Consultation
To ensure that you get the most accurate assessment of your situation, complete honesty is the first requirement. We need to know the details about your case. Please be assured what you say is confidential, even if you don’t hire us, 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.
That said as you know time is valuable, including both yours and that of our staff. Consultations are not free. Invictus Legal charges $113.00 ($100 plus HST) for a 30-minute consultation. If you are bringing a significant volume of paperwork, say thicker than half an inch then we need to charge $226 ($200 plus HST) for the consultation.
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 the Law Society of Ontario and other laws regulate our industry, personal ID is required for all people whom we meet with, even to commission documents. You will also be asked about your occupation (or usual occupation if you are currently unemployed). We must take a copy of ID, even if you do not engage this firm.
Documents needed for the Consultation
The documents you need to bring to us relate to the reason 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. It is better to bring too many documents than too few.
All Court Dates and Correspondence
If you have already gone to court, or had somebody else represent you, we need to know what happened. We need to know what steps have already taken place, or if there have been any orders issued by the court or tribunal.
It is important for us to know where your case stands currently. Every little detail matters. This ensures we can respond in a timely manner, especially if the court date is next week. All letters and correspondence from the court or tribunal are important for that same reason. Again it is better to bring too much than too little.
All Disclosure or Evidence
What you bring should 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. Remember, it is better to bring too much than too little. Our professionals will rapidly sift through and find relevant documents.
Any audio recordings, videos or photographs are also valuable evidence. 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 may be valuable. Have you put together a timeline of events? Have you kept a calendar of specific dates when incidents took place? If you haven’t, then take a little time before the consultation and do that now. 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 who 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 who came with you.