BC Lawyers
If you are trying to find a lawyer, Vancouver, BC has a seemingly endless list of options, and making the decision of who to hire is a daunting task. There are a large amount of experienced lawyers in British Columbia to choose from, which can be overwhelming and make you feel as if you do not know where to start. If you are looking for a lawyer in BC, you are already experiencing the stress of whatever legal situation you need assistance with and do not want the process of choosing a lawyer to add to that stress.
If you know how to go about picking the right lawyer for your case, finding a lawyer is a much smoother process and you will be more likely to hire a lawyer who is the right fit for your unique situation.
What Does a Good BC Lawyer Look Like?
A good lawyer will have all of the necessary credentials, a positive reputation, and experience. It is important to look for BC lawyers that have extensive experience in the field related to your situation. For example, if you are dealing with child support or divorce issues, you want to hire a family lawyer.
Founded in 2002, GK Thomas and Associates has more than 38 years of combined experience practicing family law. Our lawyers have expertise in family-law courts as well as appeals and wills & estates. Contact us to learn more.
How to Choose a Family Lawyer
Research
First things first, do your research–ask friends and family for BC law firm recommendations, read reviews of different family lawyers, and take a look through the websites of the firms you are considering.
Book a Consultation
It is advisable to go in for a consultation with any lawyer that you are thinking of hiring. This gives you the opportunity to get to know them, talk about your situation, and gauge whether they are a good fit. This will also give you a chance to ask for a fee estimate and can help you determine whether this lawyer will fit your budget (or give you a practical idea of how much of a budget you should be allocating to the process in the first place). Keep in mind that anything you say in a consultation is confidential and will not be shared with anyone outside of the law firm.
During your consultation, think about how you feel after talking to your prospective lawyer. Do they explain things in a clear, easy-to-understand way? Do you trust them? Are you comfortable? Go with your gut–it is probably right.
Disclose your situation fully to the lawyer during your initial consultation in order to get the best idea of how your case is likely to unfold and what the typical process looks like–remember, anything that you say is confidential! It is a good idea to write a point-form summary of your legal situation before you go in for a consultation. This helps you remember everything that you should say and makes it easier to know what to focus on when talking to the lawyers.
Lawyer Fees in BC
How Do BC Lawyer Fees Work?
There are typically a few different payment arrangement options, so be sure to talk to your lawyer about their fees and ask for specifics regarding billing. Here are a few common terms that you will hear in regards to legal fees in BC:
A retainer is an advance payment you will be asked to make before the lawyer starts working on your case.
Hourly rates are the most common way that lawyers charge, where you pay them per hour that they spend on your case.
Sometimes you will be asked to pay for disbursements, which are payments a lawyer makes to a third party on your behalf, and will then pass on to you.
Flat fees are sometimes determined if the legal situation is well defined, clear, and simple. Some common examples of matters that incur a flat fee are wills and uncontested divorces.
Some cases are charged on a contingency basis. This means that the lawyer charges a contingency fee based on a percentage of the amount the client wins in a lawsuit.
GK Thomas and Associates is one of the most highly rated law firms in Vancouver, BC. For more information on our experience and areas of expertise, read through some of our past cases or contact us to book a consultation.
Get Started
Contact our office at (604) 549-9961 or toll-free at (855) 311-9961, or submit our Contact form.
All consultations are offered at Mr.Thomas’s regular hourly rate.