We sometimes tell clients the similarity is a fly bite or a small cut which you can treat yourself. But should you break your leg or be attacked by cancer you should have the services of a fully qualified, licensed surgeon.

Lawyers’ fees are established generally by an hourly rate or a unit price. All lawyers accounts can be "assessed"-meaning they can be reviewed by a court officer. Recent assessments have confirmed that the result achieved may be taken into account to increase or decrease fees calculated by hour or unit price.

With respect to the choice between hourly rate and unit price there is no simple answer. The gamble in "hourly rate" is that if through neither your fault nor your lawyer’s, the matter goes on for many more hours than anticipated, costs can accelerate alarmingly. Equally, a unit price usually takes into account some contingencies, so that an hourly rate may be a bargain. Whether building a house, repairing a motor vehicle, or defending an assault charge, I lean toward the unit price.

We are sometimes asked about cost savings through the use of paralegals. Certainly there is a place for their work and our firm often recommends paralegals for some Small Claims Court work and some hearings before administrative tribunals. Sometimes paralegals recommend us when the complexity of a lawsuit, seriousness of a criminal charge, or corporate re-organization merits consideration by the more highly trained professional.

Recent appeal court decisions have determined that if you use a paralegal for matters beyond their skills, you have no complaint. And, in certain areas some paralegals actually charge more than a lawyer.

A quite easily answered question is: "Are there cheaper lawyers around?" Of course there are. But, if your lawyer with experience completes your matter in 3 hours while a less skilled layer takes 7 hours, the difference in hourly rates will have to be spectacular to actually save you money.

Like all purchasers, when you are buying services, shop around, but not simply for the better quoted "price". Skill level should be an equally determining factor in choosing counsel to represent you in any matter.

And, on a lump sum basis, all of us in having our hair permanented or a suit made may often choose the higher "quote" as we value result. Superior legal services will merit a premium. So too will better hair permanents, sea doos, kitchen renovations, and automobiles. All things we purchase may consume our resources, but, just as our purchases of other goods and services, we should seek out value in hiring legal counsel.