Legal assistance: When in doubt, consult a lawyer

Are you in a tricky situation and unsure if you need a lawyer? 

When in doubt, it is always best to contact a lawyer as soon as possible following an incident, even if you believe you won’t need one because the incident involved “a regular” customer or even a cousin who works for the business. You just never know a person’s motivation and resources.

Did you know? CFIB has partnered with LawVo to bring you best-in-class legal support.

Lawyers come in all shapes, sizes and levels of expertise. They are often mocked in popular culture as very smart but less than ethical professionals. The reality is they are usually highly trained individuals looking out for their client’s rights, attempting to give good service when called upon. 

Before choosing a lawyer consider the following:

• Never expect a lawyer to make a business decision for you - A lawyer’s job is not to run your business but to counsel you on the expectations of the law. Take the advice and make the best choice possible.
• Choose wisely; the law is complicated - If you have a patent issue, don’t go to a lawyer specializing in family law; if it’s a tax matter, don’t go to an environmental lawyer. Remember, “the law” is a mix of all kinds of stuff made up by:
  • Politicians trying to please multiple voters (through legislation);
  • Bureaucrats trying to please politicians (through regulations); and
  • Judges trying to please previous judicial decisions (through binding cases).
  Basically, the law is far too complicated and even contradictory to rely on any one lawyer to know it all.
• If you need an expert, ask your family lawyer first - If you already have a lawyer, ask him to recommend an expert in patent or tax. If not an expert himself, he may be able to recommend someone who is.
• If no family lawyer, ask a business friend - If you have never consulted a lawyer, ask a successful business friend for a recommendation. It is rare that a business doesn’t owe at least a part of its success to the wise counsel of a smart, ethical lawyer at crucial moments in its history.
• If no business friend, ask the provincial law society - The provincial law society will have a list of certified lawyers practicing in your area of interest. Google “law society Ontario” or whichever province you are in.
• Remember, the best advice is insured - You may have a family friend or relative who talks a big game on the law. Unlike your friend or relative, a lawyer is held accountable for his advice. If you act on a lawyer’s advice and are harmed by it, or the lawyer doesn’t fulfill professional obligations, a formal written complaint can be made to the law society. If the facts support your complaint, restitution may be possible. If the advice comes from someone other than a lawyer, you’re probably out of luck.

LawVo

CFIB has teamed up with LawVo to provide legal support for your business!

CFIB’s Business Advisors can provide legal information using LawVo’s tools.  

If you need legal advice, CFIB’s Business Advisors will put you in contact with LawVo’s lawyers to provide independent legal advice. 

• Discuss a complicated end-of-employment situation
• Review your commercial lease (whether you’re a landlord or tenant)
• Get help writing a debt collection letter
• And so much more!

The lawyers are available from 8am to midnight local time, and there is no time limit on the length of the call.

75% of issues are resolved with just one phone call, and 90% are resolved with two phone calls!

In complex situations where legal representation becomes necessary, access a 30-minute no-obligation consultation and receive a 25% discount on legal fees if you decide to retain the lawyer. 

LawVo is included in the cost of your membership and can help you save money - up to $4,800!

Law Associations

There are law associations in most jurisdictions that offer legal assistance over the phone at a discounted price—often as little as $25 for a 30-minute consultation. 

To get the most out of your 30 minutes, here are a few things to have prepared:

• Know what type of lawyer you need: there are lawyers who specialize in different areas; human rights, labour laws, real estate, etc. Do a little research beforehand to understand what kind of lawyer you need to request.
• Research your issue before calling. There is a lot of information on the internet that is just a search away. Educating yourself before your discussion will help you get the most out of it.
• Have your issue narrowed down to concise notes, and stick to facts rather than ‘he said, she said’ scenarios, and feelings (i.e., what can I prove, what will they claim). 30 minutes may seem like a lot, but when you’re talking shop, it tends to go quickly.
• Don’t accept “legal advice” from anyone who isn’t a lawyer. Not only are they not educated/experienced in law (there is a reason there’s a whole school of education dedicated to this), but their advice isn’t insured. If you act on bad advice from a lawyer, it is insured.

To access the services of the law society/legal information association in your area, click on your province or territory below:

• British Columbia
• Alberta - no lawyer referral service available
• Saskatchewan - no lawyer referral service available
• Manitoba        
• Ontario
• Quebec
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• New Brunswick - no lawyer referral service available
• Nova Scotia
• Prince Edward Island
• Yukon      
• Northwest Territories - no lawyer referral service available
• Nunavut - no lawyer referral service available