Choosing a lawyer is a deeply personal and significant decision. You will be spending a lot of your hard-earned money on this person, and you want to make sure you have a lawyer that is going to be the right fit for you. At JKB Law, we offer a free 30 minute consultation to help you make an informed decision before spending your money.
General factors to consider when hiring a lawyer:
Does the lawyer have expertise in your area? Do they specialize in this area or do they practice several other areas? You will want to find a lawyer that specializes in the issues that you are facing. One question to ask is whether the area is a primary speciality or a secondary speciality. At JKB Law, we have chosen to only provide services in two areas (family/divorce and residential real estate) so we can provide skilled/specialized services. We refer out other matters to other lawyers, who are similarly specialized in their area.
Are the office hours going to fit your work/childcare schedule? At JKB Law, we will provide evening and weekend appointments to help clients who are unable to come to the office during our regular office hours. Is the location going to be easy for you to access? Is it close to where you live? At JKB Law, we are conveniently located near 16 Ave and Deerfoot, so you can come to us from any direction of the city. We have free parking.
Do you want a lawyer that can accommodate virtual/remote appointments? At JKB Law, we offer video/phone appointments as much as possible, and require in-person appointments only when “wet” ink (physical) signatures are required, such as is common for land title transactions. Even for those transactions, we can accommodate signers in remote locations (our clients have closed on real estate transactions from many distant places, including the far North of Canada and Europe).
Does your lawyer prefer to litigate or resolve issues? At JKB Law, we consider litigation (lawsuit in Court) as a last resort. In family/divorce matters, we want to make as many efforts as possible to resolve, as this will save on costs and help your family move forward efficiently.
Does the way that the lawyer communicates fit your needs? Do you need a lawyer that speaks a different language? Do you want a lawyer that will communicate by email or phone or video? This is a harder one to judge at the beginning sometimes, but things that you want to consider is whether you need a lawyer that will take time to explain things in plain language, instead of legalese, if they will take the time to make sure that you understand instead of rushing you, etc. At JKB Law, we spend time to make sure that concepts are explained in as simple terms as possible so that clients are empowered by knowing the law in a way that makes sense to them. We are able to provide services in English, Punjabi, Hindi, and Urdu. We offer appointments by phone, in-person, video, and also answer questions by email. We try to give options that suit your needs.
Specific factors to consider when hiring:
A real estate lawyer
When choosing a real estate lawyer specifically, you often have less to risk because the work that a real estate lawyer does is fairly standardized (receiving realtor/mortgage instructions, preparing paperwork for signing, receiving and paying out funds, etc).
The differences between real estate lawyers come across when you want a lawyer that will take the time to explain the process to you, provide resources for you in navigating the process, as well as lawyers who will be available to respond to your questions/concerns if something goes wrong.
At JKB Law, we are proud to offer a special 20% discount for first time buyers, and we want to make sure you fully understand the process whether it is your first time or your tenth time buying. Our clients who have had real estate lawyers before have told us that working with us was the first time that they really understood what they were signing. We also provide outside of office hours availability, especially to address issues that may arise when it comes to a real estate closing. We go above and beyond to make sure that your real estate transaction goes smoothly. We limit how many real estate closings will be accepted per day to ensure that the lawyer is available to respond when emergencies arise.
Depending on what matters to you, you may also want to support a law firm that aligns with your values and/or provides a safe and inclusive environment. At JKB Law, we specifically serve LGBTQIA+ and polyamorous communities (which can help if you are buying property with more than one of your partners).
A separation/divorce lawyer
When hiring a separation/divorce lawyer, you should make sure to spend a lot of time finding someone who is going to be the right fit for you. I often joke, but it is sadly true for some clients, that you may end up having a longer relationship with your lawyer than your ex. So you want to make sure that your lawyer is someone that you can trust, who has your best interests at heart, genuinely cares about you as a person not just a dollar figure, and who respects and prioritizes your goals/preferences.
You want to consider all of the above, but really consider whether your lawyer fits your objectives.
For example, some people want to get out of a relationship as quickly as possible, even if it means giving up some of what they are entitled to receive. On the other hand, other people want to make sure they receive a fair settlement that is in line with the law.
At JKB Law, we believe that you are in the driver’s seat, and we guide you professionally on what you want as an end goal. Our role is to make sure that you understand the options available, the costs and risks associated with each option, and then it is your job to decide which way you want to go.
Click here to review our resource guide for additional links that have information on how to find a lawyer.