Bill Too High
The Law Society does not get involved in matters involving the amount of a legal bill except in the most exceptional circumstances. There must be a clear and extensive over-billing or prohibited fee arrangements. The Law Society does not have the authority or jurisdiction to:
- review the accounts of a lawyer or limited licensee to determine if they are appropriate; or
- order a lawyer or limited licensee to reduce the amount or review whether the amount is justified.
A few things to note about your bill:
- You may be charged fees even if you do not agree with the outcome.
- Your bill may include disbursement fees. For example, even if you are charged a flat fee for legal fees, there may also be disbursement fees on top of that.
If you disagree with the amount of the bill, the registrar of the Court of King’s Bench can review the bill. This is a process called assessment. The registrar will:
- review the work done by the lawyer or limited licensee;
- hear from both you and the lawyer or limited licensee in an assessment hearing; and
- decide if the work done justifies the fees charged.
Assessment may result in an order directing the lawyer or limited licensee to reduce the bill and reimburse you if you have already paid. If you disagree with the registrar’s decision, you may appeal. You may wish to seek legal advice.
Have you already been through the assessment process for this bill?
Common Questions
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. You will have to pay disbursements even if you lose your case.
To find legal assistance, see the Finding Legal Assistance page on the Law Society website.
If you and your lawyer or limited licensee can’t resolve your fee disagreement, there is a procedure called assessment, where the lawyer’s accounts are reviewed by the registrar of the Court of King’s Bench.