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Lawyers: a necessary evil?

According to a study published by the Quebec Bar Association, several reports are to the effect that lawyers have a bad image in general and that the public is convinced that they seek confrontation to create litigation for billing purposes, while corporations think it is in their interest to be inefficient to bill more. In both cases, says the study, it is difficult for people to measure the added value of legal services, and lawyers are seen as a necessary evil (cf. Barreau du Québec, "La pratique du droit au Québec et l'avenir de la profession").

Upon being admitted as members of the Quebec Bar Association, all lawyers take an oath of office which notably stipulates that they will accomplish their professional duties with honesty and loyalty.

Furthermore, according to Quebec's Code of ethics for lawyers, a lawyer must execute his or her professional duties with integrity, must not foment dissension, provoke trials or commit procedural abuse and must, in the course of his or her mandate, avoid undertaking or multiplying professional acts without sufficient reason.

The Code of ethics also compels a lawyer to request just and reasonable fees, i.e. fees that are justified by the circumstances and proportionate to services rendered by taking into account his or her experience, the time allotted to the case and its importance, the difficulty and the urgency of the problem submitted, liability exposure and results obtained.

As to billing, the Code of ethics also specifies that a lawyer must inform his or her client of the approximate and foreseeable cost of services to be rendered and submit all necessary explanations so the client understands all statements of account as well as the methods of payment pertaining thereto.

Our guaranty

When a person consults an attorney, it is sometimes in litigious, tense, unpleasant and difficult circumstances.

On other occasions, particularly when a person is experienced and knows that the investment of a few hours beforehand often allows one to avoid that of numerous hours after the fact, the consultation is destined to prevent rather than cure.

Whatever the situation, Beaulieu Normandeau gives its clients objective advice, which contributes to their loyalty. We do not tell a person what he or she wants to hear simply because he or she wants to hear it. We do not seek discord, but we represent and defend our clients vigorously and tenaciously. If we cannot serve a person efficiently, we say so and refer that person to someone who can. With us, people know what to expect.

Our legal services are available throughout the province of Quebec, including Quebec City and Montreal.

Our fees and expenses structure

Beaulieu Normandeau's policy is to establish the parameters applying to our fees and expenses clearly and in a detailed manner before representing a client.

Thus, depending on the nature and extent of work to be done, as well as on prevailing circumstances, we offer up to three options to clients, which are very succinctly set out hereunder (clients receive a detailed, written explanation of each available option before we undertake any work on their behalf). Depending on the nature of the case at hand, these options may be combined in one manner or another.

Hourly rate

Here, the client is given a realistic forecast of the cost of services to be rendered, and it may be agreed upon that we will not allot more than a predetermined number of consecutive hours to the matter at hand without invoicing.

Flat rate

Here, within specific parameters, a predetermined, fixed and definitive amount is set for our work on a client's behalf and covers all such work whatever amount of time is spent on the matter at hand.

Contingency fee

In litigation circumstances, this option depends on elements such as case complexity and the solvency of an opponent.

Before meeting a lawyer

Here are a few suggestions on how to prepare for an interview with an attorney to facilitate his or her task and consequently reduce the cost of his or her services: put your documents in order, note the coordinates of potential witnesses, write a chronology of the facts of the case revealing all information, be it unfavorable or favorable and let the attorney determine which facts are relevant and which are not, so he or she may represent you and defend your interests efficiently.

Legal protection insurance

Just as they protect themselves by subscribing to an insurance policy against theft, individuals and small businesses may obtain insurance coverage against legal problems. For more information on this subject, see the Quebec Bar Association's Legal protection Insurance site.

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Montreal and the Province of Quebec.