Before you call a lawyer
A plain guide to hiring a litigation lawyer.
What litigation means in plain words, what to ask about fees, and how to check that a lawyer is licensed in British Columbia.
The word itself
What litigation means
Litigation is the court process for settling a dispute. A litigation lawyer is one who works on cases headed for court, which is different work from drawing up a contract or closing a house sale. Most disputes end in a settlement before a trial, and a litigation lawyer handles that part too.
Four questions
What to ask on the first call
Check the licence
Lawyers in British Columbia have to be licensed by the provincial regulator to practice. The regulator keeps a public directory, so you can look a name up before you hand over any money.
Ask how the fees work
Ask whether the work is billed by the hour or as a flat fee, what the retainer is, and what happens to it if the case runs longer than expected. Ask for the answer in writing before you sign.
Ask who handles the file
The lawyer you meet first is not always the one who does the day to day work. Ask who will be on the file, who you call with a question, and how long a reply usually takes.
Ask about the alternatives
Court is one route and it is rarely the fastest. Ask what the other routes are for a dispute like yours, what each one tends to cost, and how long each one tends to take.
Plainly
No law firm runs this site
This is a guide, not a law practice. Nothing here is legal advice, and nobody here can take your case. For advice about your own situation, speak to a licensed lawyer.