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What is the purpose of a legal consultation?

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In this post, we explain what you can expect during an initial consultation with an immigration lawyer. We answer the questions: “what is the purpose of a legal consultation?” and “what can I expect during the initial meeting with a lawyer?” We also have links at the bottom to help you make this important decision.

At CIL, we get dozens of requests for a consultation every day. During the consultations, you will speak with an immigration lawyer and he will take comprehensive notes during these meetings. We love meeting new potential clients. You may bring family members, social workers, agents or friends to the consultation. These supporters may provide emotional support or they may also have questions. Everyone is welcome.

DEFINITION

According to online dictionaries, here is one definition of “consultation”:

a meeting with an expert or professional, such as a medical doctor, in order to seek advice.
Another definition:
the process of discussing something with someone in order to get their advice or opinion about it
You may book a consultation with a lawyer, a doctor, an accountant or other professionals. Hopefully, the specialist will have enough time, during the consultation, to review the relevant facts and provide useful advice on what you may, or may not, be able to do to remedy the problem or achieve your goals.
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WHAT HAPPENS DURING AN INITIAL CONSULTATION?

At the initial consultation with the immigration lawyer, you will have a chance to explain your situation. You can provide a brief description. The lawyer is not looking for you to recount your whole story. He needs a summary to assess the following points:

  • Understand the basic facts;
  • Determine the nature of the legal issue;
  • Assess your legal options;
  • Describe, in general, the steps involved in the different options;
  • Provide a general assessment on your prospects of success; and,
  • Provide a quote associated with the requested services.

At the end of the consultation, the lawyer will let you know if the team at CIL can assist. We are extremely busy and we serve hundreds of clients at any given time. If you have an emergency, please contact us as soon as possible to book a consultation.

CAN YOU RECORD THE CONSULTATION?

Yes, you can. Use your phone to record. Use your laptop. Use a recording device. We know that meeting with a lawyer can be stressful. We know that telling your story may be difficult and, potentially, quite stressful. Our goal is for your consultation to be a positive and useful experience. Bring family members. Record the consultation. Bring lists of questions.

We have had consultations where a potential client has described past trauma. We have tissue in our conference room. They brought a sibling to the consultation and recorded the entire meeting. The potential client was able to replay the consultation afterwards and listen to the legal options. Our goal is to help.

GETTING A LEGAL OPINION

An initial consultation with a lawyer is very similar to that of a doctor. When you first meet a doctor, they may do a brief examination and you may ask questions. You need to ensure that the doctor is the right doctor for your situation. Most matters involving lawyers or doctors are quite serious so you want to find the best professional.
We love meeting new people and we know you may have a high level of stress. We have met many people who have been “burned” by other immigration professionals. They are very cautious when they come and meet with us for the first time and they do not want another bad experience. Hopefully, during our consultation, we can have a useful conversation and you can decide whether the team at CIL is a good fit.
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HOW  MUCH DOES A CONSULTATION COST?

The team at CIL gets many (MANY!) requests for a “free” assessment and we know there may be shady agents who provide “free” consultations. CIL does not provide free consultations. Agents who do “free” consultations are not interested in giving any useful information. They give you a sales pitch. You get what you pay for – nothing useful. That is a waste of time for both the individual and the professional. In these cases, caveat emptor.
So how much should you pay for a consultation? In 2016, we published an article that includes 12 Tips for Choosing an Immigration Lawyer. As noted in that article:
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Consultation Fees range from CAD $150 to CAD $600, depending on the firm, and you should use this time well.
This information is, perhaps, out of date. We have not seen consultation fees at $150 for many years. Another website online provides this range of consultation fees:

You can see other quotes online for different fees for a consultation. The fees that lawyers charge are completely up to them and there is a huge range of professional fees from different immigration lawyers across Canada, in the same way, there is a huge range in the $$ that immigration lawyers charge for a consultation. For example, a lawyer in Alberta charges CAD $630.00 for a 50-minute consultation. From our point of view, that seems too high based on the level of service we can provide during a consultation.

GHOST REPRESENTATION

During a consultation, a lawyer cannot review applications, documents and provide legal advice so the individual may submit the applications on their own. This is called “ghost” representation and it is against the law. Lawyers cannot give comprehensive legal advice without being retained for many reasons, including requirements from their malpractice insurance carriers.

SIGNING A CONTRACT

OK – after the consultation, you may request a contract for a particular service. The contract will include a detailed section with Services and Fees. You should read the contract to understand the scope of the work.
Booking a consultation and meeting with a lawyer is not the same as retaining the lawyer or the law firm. The consultation does not mean that the lawyer is automatically your representative. For that, we must follow Law Society Rules. We need a signed contract that clearly outlines the services and fees. Once you have a signed contract and paid the deposit, you have retained legal counsel. We look forward to working with you.
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DO YOU NEED A LAWYER?

No, you are never required to hire a lawyer. That is your choice. In the same manner that, if you break your leg, you do not need to go to the hospital. It is recommended, but it is always your choice. Many people who come to CIL for a consultation do not sign a contract. The information from the consultation may be enough. From our point of view, that’s perfect. Hopefully, we were able to answer their questions and provide useful information.
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MORE RESOURCES

Here are a few articles for more information:
Bittersweet Success: PR ApprovedTrustAnalytica: CIL is #1 Immigration Law Firm