Changes To or Information About My Bill
The Law Society does not set legal fees and there is no standard fee for legal services.
Before hiring a lawyer or limited licensee, discuss the type of fee arrangement and make sure you understand what it means.
Some lawyers or limited licensees use alternative fee arrangements that rely on a combination of fee structures or a payment plan. Fee arrangements can include:
- Hourly Rate Fees: This type of fee is commonly used by lawyers and limited licensees. Hourly rates usually reflect the skill and experience of the lawyer or limited licensee. Senior lawyers or limited licensees often charge more per hour than those who are starting out in practice. Hourly rates include more than just the time the lawyer or limited licensee spends with a client. Fees can include time spent by your lawyer or limited licensee:
- on the phone or in meetings
- doing research
- preparing documents
- responding to correspondence
- appearing in court
- other aspects involving your file
- Fixed or Flat Rate Fees: This type of fee is a set amount that you will pay to your lawyer or limited licensee for a particular transaction or service. Examples of transactions or services include:
- incorporating a business
- purchasing a house
- court appearances such as defending a client on a minor criminal charge or a small claims matter
- Contingency Fee Agreement: A portion of any financial award or settlement you receive as a result of your legal action is paid to your lawyer or limited licensee. This means you only pay legal fees if you receive money because you win your case or get a negotiated settlement. This fee arrangement is common in personal injury claims and class actions. If you have a contingency fee agreement with your lawyer or limited licensee, it has to be in writing and it has to be signed by you. For limited licensees, the contingency agreement cannot require payment directly to the limited licensee. The client must receive the funds first and then submit payment to the limited licensee.
You may also have concerns relating to billing in an Estate situation. Estates have specific rules relating to billing by lawyers and limited licensees.
What type of fee arrangement or matter are you concerned about?
Common Questions
There is no standard fee for legal services.
The Law Society of Saskatchewan does not set lawyers’ or limited licensees’ fees.
With some limited exceptions, lawyers and limited licensees are required to charge GST and PST on legal fees and GST on all expenses. Some types of expenses may also have PST applied.
Disbursement fees are expenses paid for by your lawyer or limited licensee on your behalf such as land titles fees, court filing fees, courier charges, photocopying costs or fees paid for expert reports from people such as doctors, psychologists or engineers. It is common for lawyers or limited licensees to ask clients to provide the money to fund a disbursement before it is incurred, especially in relation to more costly expenses, such as expert reports. In a contingency fee arrangement, you will have to pay disbursements even if you lose your case.
Retainer fees are a sum of money you pay to your lawyer as a deposit for the future services the lawyer will perform for you and the future expenses the lawyer will incur on your behalf. Your lawyer will send you accounts, which will be paid out of the retainer. You may be asked to “refresh” the retainer, meaning to provide a further deposit.
Limited licensees are not allowed to take retainer fees. In other words, limited licensees should not request money up-front to hold onto for them to pay your future bills.