Lawyers & Legal Help - Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia

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Complaints about a lawyer

Finding a Commissioner of Oaths or a Notary Public

Finding a lawyer in private practice (lawyer you would pay)

This page is about finding a lawyer in private practice (a lawyer you would pay). It has:

8 tips for doing a lawyer search
answers to common questions about finding a lawyer
some suggestions for how to find a lawyer

In many ways, finding a lawyer is the same as finding any other service provider. Lawyers advertise their services online, in print, on billboards, on buses, and at community events, just like other businesses.

However, there are some ways that lawyers are different from other service providers. So here are some tips specifically about finding a lawyer:

Tip 1: Find out what kind of lawyer you need

Most lawyers focus their practice on specific types of law. Even a lawyer who says they have a “general practice” will usually limit their scope of practice to certain areas.

Lawyers are not supposed to dabble in subjects they are not familiar with. So if you go to a lawyer with a case that is outside their scope of practice, expect them to turn it down.

Here is a list of some of the most common areas of practice along with some myths and realities you may encounter:

Administrative

The laws about decision-making by people in government and other public institutions. When a decision is made by someone who got their authority from a statute, it could fall within the scope of administrative law.

Myth: If you disagree with a government decision, you can just sue the government.

Reality: The law requires people to use whatever administrative review process is available instead of filing a lawsuit.

Civil litigation

The fancy term for lawsuits. Civil litigation is a broad category, there are lots of different types of lawsuits. If a firm advertises that it does civil litigation generally, without specifying case types, it usually means they will consider a fairly wide range of cases.

Myth: Civil litigation lawyers always work on contingency.

Reality: Up front retainers are required for most types of civil lawsuits.

Corporate/

commercial

The fancy terms for business law. Lawyers that do corporate/commercial help businesspeople with the legal aspects of their business.

Myth: Business lawyers find loopholes for businesses to exploit.

Reality: Business lawyers advise businesses on how to comply with the law.

Criminal

The more accurate term is “criminal defence”. Lawyers that do criminal law defend people in court who have been formally charged with criminal or regulatory offences.

Myth: A criminal defence lawyer can charge someone with a crime.

Reality: Criminal defence lawyers defend people from charges in court, they don’t have any special authority to press charges.

Family

The laws about family relationships. These laws are mostly about your relationship with your spouse (if you have one) and your children (if you have any). Family law usually comes up when relationships break down - for example, when a couple separates.

Myth: If the situation involves people in the same family, you should go to a family lawyer.

Reality: There are many disputes between family members that don’t have anything to do with family law. For example, disputes about wills (wills and estates law), disputes about property transactions (property law), or disputes about family owned businesses (business law).

Full Service

The broadest possible scope of practice. A law firm that advertises as full-service is implying that they can take on just about any type of legal matter.

Myth: If a firm is full-service, that means they’ll definitely take my case.

Reality: Full-service firms have capacity limits just like any other business and, like any other law firm, they can’t take cases if they have a conflict of interest.

Immigration

The laws about immigrating to Canada.

Myth: An immigration lawyer can give me advice about immigrating to a different country.

Reality: Immigration lawyers help people immigrate to Canada. If you want to immigrate to a different country, you should consult with an immigration lawyer in that country (unless you find an immigration lawyer in Canada that specifically advertises that they give advice about immigrating to the specific country you have in mind).

Labour/employment

The laws about the employer-employee relationship. “Labour law” usually refers to unionized workplaces. “Employment law” usually refers to non-unionized workplaces.

Myth: A lawyer can stop my employer from firing me.

Reality: A lawyer can help you respond if you are fired illegally (if you’re in a union, you first need to go through your union).

Personal injury

Lawsuits about personal injuries caused by motor vehicle accidents, slip and falls, and serious injuries from defective products. Sometimes it includes things medical malpractice and sexual abuse, but not always.

Myth: A personal injury lawyer can help me with whatever lawsuit I have in mind.

Reality: Personal injury lawyers usually have a limited scope of practice, meaning they focus on a few specific types of lawsuits.

Property

The laws about the use and ownership of personal and real property (land).

Myth: All property lawyers have the same scope of practice.

Reality: Not all property lawyers do dispute resolution or litigation. If you’re in a property related dispute, make sure the property lawyer you consult with does those things.

Wills and estates

The laws about supportive decision-making, end-of-life planning and what happens after death. This usually includes wills, trusts, powers of attorney, personal directives, guardianship and probate.

Myth: Getting help to make a will or other estate planning document is really expensive.

Reality: Most firms that do wills and estates law offer basic estate planning packages for a reasonable flat rate.

Those are the most common areas of practice. They’re not the only ones. There are other areas of practice that are less common in a market the size of Nova Scotia. For example, things like human rights, health law, professional regulation, or privacy law.

If you’re looking for a lawyer that focuses on a niche area of law, usually a good starting point is to check at a full-service law firm.

Tip 2: Learn some other common words used in the legal industry

If you visit websites for a few different law firms, you’ll notice they use lots of the same words. For example, there are words for the people who work at the law firm:

Partner	A lawyer who has a managing/ownership interest in the law firm.
Associate	A lawyer who works for the law firm.
Articled Clerk	A recent law school graduate who is completing their legal training with the firm.
Paralegal	A member of the firm’s support staff who performs tasks that require knowledge of the law, but not the full expertise of a lawyer.
Legal Assistant	A member of the firm’s support staff who provides administrative, scheduling, and clerical support to the lawyer and paralegals.

Other frequently used terms that are helpful to know are:

Administrative tribunal	Like a court, but the decision-maker isn’t a judge, instead it’s someone who was given legal authority by the government to make a specific type of decision.
Barrister	A lawyer who goes to court, engages in advocacy, and is prepared to litigate.
Levels of court	There isn’t just one court. The court system is divided into different levels. Go here for more information about that.
Litigator	A lawyer that does lawsuits.
Mediator	Someone who helps people reach an agreement. Go here for more information about mediation.
Notary	Someone who is authorized to formally witness signatures on legal documents.
Solicitor	A lawyer who works out-of-court, provides advice, and assists with paperwork, but who does not litigate.

It’s also very helpful to know:

the terms lawyers use for their areas of practice, so make sure you read Tip 1.
the terms lawyers use for billing, so read this page about how lawyers charge for their work.

Finally, there are also lots of commonly used initials and acronyms:

BA	Bachelor of Arts. An undergraduate university degree, usually completed in 4 years.
BSC	Bachelor of Science. An undergraduate university degree, usually completed in 4 years.
LLB	Bachelor of Laws. A law degree, usually completed in 3 years.
JD	Doctor of Law. Another term for a law degree, usually completed in 3 years.
LLM	Master of Laws. A graduate level university degree that takes a minimum of 1 year to complete. Not required for the practice of law.
KC	King’s Counsel. A designation issued selectively by the government to recognize senior lawyers with at least 15 years of distinguished service.
TEP	Trust and Estates Practitioner. A person who is a fully certified member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. Implies that wills, estates, and trusts is a core part of their practice.

Tip 3: Get the most out of the lawyer’s website

Tip 4: Do some extra research on the lawyer

Tip 5: Prepare a 2 line summary of your case

When you start contacting law firms, it’s important to be able to quickly state what your case is about and what you’re looking for.

You don’t need to give a full case history right away. At first you just need to give enough information for the lawyer or their support staff to assess whether the case might fit within the lawyer's scope of practice. If the lawyer or their support staff need more information from you, they’ll ask for it.

Even if your case is complicated, you should be able to summarize it in just two sentences:

Sentence #1 - a brief description of what’s going on (for example, “I fell in a store’s parking lot and hurt myself.”)
Sentence #2 - a brief description of what you want (for example, “I want to know whether I’m entitled to any money.”)

If your case is very complicated, you can add one more sentence just to identify that it’s a complicated matter. For example, you could state your 2 line summary and then also say, “That’s just a general description, it’s a complicated situation and I have lots more to add.”

If you end up having to contact more than one law firm, you’ll save lots of time if you have a 2 sentence summary of your case. It will prevent you from having to tell your whole story over and over again.

Keep in mind that you might not talk to a lawyer at first. You might start off by talking to a legal assistant or another member of the lawyer's support staff like a paralegal.

The law firm must run a conflict check before speaking with you on your matter in depth. You can expect them to ask your full name and the names of the people or companies involved in your matter. They will check these names against any other client files they have to ensure that they are not in conflict with existing matters.

If you’re having trouble summarizing your case, doing a bit of research about the law might help. Researching can help you learn key terms and identify specific issues that are involved in your case.

Tip 6: Ask about the intake process

Tip 7: Be prepared to shop around

Tip 8: Prepare for your initial interview

FAQs

How much will it cost?

How do I find an affordable lawyer?

Can I get a lawyer on contingency?

Can I hire a paralegal?

Is it true that big firms are more expensive?

What does it mean when a lawyer says they have a conflict?

Ways to find a lawyer

When it comes to finding a lawyer, you can apply many of the same strategies you would use to find any other service provider that you might need. That includes:

searching online or in the Yellow Pages
reading the website for the lawyer or their law firm
checking for reviews on google, social media, or other ratings sites
asking for recommendations from friends, family, colleagues, or other professionals that you work with (like realtors, accountants, mortgage brokers, etc.)

Personal recommendations

Search online

Telephone Directories

Your Employee Assistance Program

Your insurance provider

Your union

Francophone lawyers

Legal Info Nova Scotia's Lawyer Referral Service

Last reviewed: May 2024

Free and low cost legal help in Nova Scotia

Guide to a successful interview with a lawyer

This information will help you prepare for a first interview with a lawyer.

Introduction

This guide describes 4 steps to take before you see a lawyer. Before you see your lawyer, try to organize all your important information or documents so you and your lawyer can make the best use of your time together and focus on the legal parts of your problem.

This guide provides general information on preparing for an appointment with a lawyer. It does not explain the law. Legal advice must come from a lawyer, who can tell you why you should do something in your case or whether you should take certain actions.

The better prepared you are for the interview, the better advice the lawyer can give you.

Step 1: Fill out the Information Sheet

Step 2: Prepare your Documents List

Step 3: Prepare your written statement

Step 4: Going to the interview

There are four “S’s” to a successful interview with a lawyer:

slow,
straightforward,
specific, and
systematic.

1. Slow

People tend to talk too fast in a lawyer interview. This is natural. Many of us are nervous when we have to see a lawyer. We want to tell all.

Think about it this way: hearing your story is like eating dinner. If the lawyer is eating too fast, they won’t be able to digest it properly. If you tell your story slowly, this gives the lawyer time to digest and understand your story. If you talk slowly, you give the lawyer time to ask questions. You will avoid missing important facts.

2. Straightforward

All of us want to be seen in a good light. When talking to others, we usually emphasize the favourable things about ourselves. There is nothing wrong with this. It helps us all get along. However, when you’re talking to a lawyer, things are different.

You need to give the lawyer both good and bad information. If you did something wrong, admit it to the lawyer. The opposing party will likely bring it to their attention later anyway.

The lawyer needs to know good and bad information at the beginning. That will help the lawyer give you good advice and save time and money in the long run. Unless the lawyer knows everything, they cannot give you good advice.

Here’s a situation that illustrates the point. It’s about a person who was fired for being late for work. He does not want to answer the lawyer’s question.

Q. Were you late for work on March 13, 2015?

A. Late! You should talk to Margo Smith. She is never on time. She gets away with murder.

Q. But on March 13, 2015, were you late?

A. Is it my fault there was a car accident on the Port Mann Bridge? These things happen!

Q. On Mar 13, 2015, were you on time for work? (FIRM VOICE)

A. Don’t you listen? I’ve explained that! (LOUD VOICE)

The lawyer asked the person, “Were you late for work?” But the person did not answer the question. Instead, they gave excuses for being late. This uses up time at the interview.

A good exchange goes like this:

Q. Were you late for work on March 13, 2015?

A. Yes!

Q. What was the reason?

A. There was a car accident on the Port Mann Bridge. I was stuck in traffic for thirty minutes.

Q. Were you ever late before?

A. No.

Q. Were other people ever fired for lateness?

A. No. Marge Smith was late all the time, and she wasn’t fired!

This exchange goes to the heart of the problem.

Always be straightforward. Answer the questions directly. Many of the questions the lawyer will ask require simple answers.

The simple, straightforward answer is best.

3. Specific

We all tend to talk in generalities. For example:

This person is good.
That movie is terrific!

Generalities are not helpful when you are dealing with the law.

The law requires specific information. If you are asked a question such as: “On what date did this happen?” it is best to give the exact date, e.g., “It happened on March 15, 2015.” If you can’t give a specific date, be as specific as possible, e.g. “It happened the week of March 12, 2015.”

When asked about a conversation, tell the lawyer exactly what was said (if possible). For example, “Mr. Jones said…and then I said…” The more exact you are in the interview, the better advice the lawyer can give you.

4. Systematic

When you tell your story to the lawyer, do so chronologically. You cannot tell everything at once. Here is an example of what can go wrong.

A person is describing to her lawyer how they got fired.

Q. Did your boss call you into their office?

A. Yes.

Q. What did they say?

A. They said, “Please sit down.” I sat down. Then they said, “This is difficult, but I’m going to let you go because of the Atlantic mix-up. Well, I can tell you, I can swear on my mother’s grave, I had nothing to do with the Atlantic mix-up.”

The information in bold type breaks the flow of the story because the person has begun to talk about something new, “the Atlantic mix-up.”

The flow of the story is important. The explanation of “the Atlantic mix-up” can wait until later in the interview. It may also be important, but it is confusing to mention it now.

Keep your story in chronological order. Do not skip from one time period to another.
If you have papers and documents, get them in order before seeing the lawyer.

Quick Summary

This page was adapted, with permission, from Access Pro Bono BC.

Last reviewed: May 16, 2024

How lawyers charge for their work

When you first meet with your lawyer, or soon afterwards if you decide to hire them, your lawyer should give you information about:

their legal fees and how they are calculated
out-of-pocket expenses (disbursements)
interest that may be charged if you do not pay your bill on time

A lawyer must not charge or accept a fee or disbursement, including interest, unless it is fair and reasonable and has been disclosed in a timely fashion. ( Rule 3.6-1 Code of Professional Conduct for NS Lawyers)

Do not be afraid to ask questions. You need to have a good, professional working relationship with your lawyer, which includes being comfortable talking about the expected costs and bills you get. Lawyers must explain the basis of fees and disbursements they charge.

Tight budget? Ask your lawyer about flexible fee arrangements like flat fees, a contingency fee, or a Limited Scope Retainer.

What are legal fees and what are they based on?

What are disbursements?

How Lawyers Charge for their Work

Hourly rates

Retainer fee: Full Scope or Limited Scope?

Most lawyers will ask you to pay a retainer fee upfront when you hire them unless you have agreed on a flat fee, contingency fee, or other fee arrangement. A retainer is a lump sum of money provided to a lawyer when you hire them. The retainer is kept in the lawyer’s trust account and covers legal fees and other expenses for the legal work. It is also sometimes referred to as a retainer fee.

The retainer fee varies from lawyer to lawyer and depends on the case. The lawyer will do work until the retainer runs out and ask for a new retainer if more work needs to be done. After the legal work is done, any balance left after the lawyer's bill is paid will be returned to you.

You may also be asked to sign a retainer agreement, sometimes also called an engagement letter. A retainer agreement is a contract with your lawyer.

A retainer agreement establishes the lawyer-client relationship and may cover things like:

how much you can expect to pay (ballpark estimate)
fees, disbursements and other costs
retainer amount (if applicable)
billing format, when bills are due, and interest charged if you do not pay your bill on time
scope of the retainer: what you have hired the lawyer to do, and what you have not
whether work may be delegated (for example, to a paralegal, articled clerk, associate, or administrative support staff)
withdrawal, transfer or termination of services
how communication will happen (for example, email, phone, letters, etc)
confidentiality.

Full Scope Retainer or Limited Scope Retainer?

Full Service/Scope Retainer: The lawyer will provide full representation, dealing with all aspects of the matter from start to finish to resolve the client's legal problem.

Limited Scope Retainer: The lawyer provides legal services for part of a client’s legal problem, not the whole thing. This is sometimes also called 'unbundled legal services'.

Examples of a limited scope retainer are where a lawyer:

drafts or reviews court documents, like pleadings or a brief, as a 'ghost-writer'
only does part of a court process, like questioning a witness (direct or cross-examination) or doing a sentencing hearing
advises about whether a client should accept a proposed settlement or transaction, like giving independent legal advice on a proposed separation agreement
provides outside court logistical and strategic help to a self-represented litigant, sometimes called 'coaching'.

Representing yourself? A limited-scope retainer may be a good option.

Flat or fixed fees

Contingency fee agreements

Disputes about a lawyer's bill

Last reviewed: May 2024

Introduction to Laws in Canada and Nova Scotia

Lawyer Referral Service

Legal Advice vs Legal Information

The difference between information and advice

Information is general. It applies to everyone. Legal information can help you understand:

general laws and legal processes
your general legal rights and responsibilities
when and where to get more legal help, including legal advice.

Advice is tailored. It applies just to you and your situation. Legal advice can help you understand:

how the law applies to your specific situation
the best way to act on your legal rights and responsibilities
the most likely outcome of your case in that lawyer’s opinion.

Legal information can come from lots of different sources, but legal advice can only come from a lawyer.

The line between information and advice

The line between legal information and legal advice is not always clear. If you’re getting legal information from someone, it’s up to them to draw that line and tell you when you need to get a lawyer’s opinion.

Our organization provides legal information, not legal advice. Our staff answer questions about the law, but they are educators whose mission is to educate and inform, not give advice. As a result, there are limits to the nature and number of questions that we can answer.

By law, there are certain things that only a lawyer can do for you in Nova Scotia. For example, only a lawyer can:

Give legal advice
Represent you in court
Represent you in negotiations that affect your legal rights and responsibilities
Review, select, draft or complete legal documents or agreements that affect your legal rights or responsibilities
Coach you about what you should say in court or write in a legal document
Coach you through an entire legal procedure
Provide you with highly detailed legal information (zooming in) on a specific law, legal issue, or legal process that affects your case.
Give you a case assessment, for example, by:
- expressing a legal opinion about your case
- telling you what you should do about it
- giving you an estimate of the value of a claim
- or offering a prediction about the outcome of your case

Here is more information about free and low-cost legal help in Nova Scotia.

And here is more information about how to find a lawyer in private practice (a lawyer you would pay).

Annapolis	902-742-0500	Pictou	902-485-7350
Antigonish	902-863-7312	Port Hawkesbury	902-625-2665
Amherst	902-667-2256	Sydney	902-563-2085
Bridgewater	902-543-4679	Truro	902-893-5840
Halifax	902-424-5616	Windsor	902-679-6075
Kentville	902-679-6075	Yarmouth	902-742-0500

Supreme Court Family Division (family law)	www.nsfamilylaw.ca/court-forms
Provincial Court (criminal law)	https://courts.ns.ca/operations/forms-documents/provincial-court-forms/criminal-court-forms
Supreme Court General Division (civil)	courts.ns.ca/Supreme_Court/NSSC_forms.htm
Small Claims Court (civil)	Notice of Claim form (form to start a claim): https://www.courts.ns.ca/sites/default/files/courts/Small%20Claims%20Court/Small_Claims_Court_Interactive_Form_19_09.pdf Small Claims Court Forms & Procedures Regulation
Probate Court (wills & estates)	https://courts.ns.ca/operations/forms-documents/probate-court-forms
Court of Appeal NS	courts.ns.ca/Appeal_Court/NSCA_forms.htm

Annapolis	902-742-0500	Pictou	902-485-7350
Antigonish	902-863-7312	Port Hawkesbury	902-625-2665
Amherst	902-667-2256	Sydney	902-563-2085
Bridgewater	902-543-4679	Truro	902-893-5840
Halifax	902-424-5616	Windsor	902-679-6075
Kentville	902-679-6075	Yarmouth	902-742-0500

THANK YOU TO OUR FUNDERS

AND OUR SUPPORTERS

Complaints about a lawyer

Making a complaint about a lawyer

Disputes about a lawyer's bill

Finding a Commissioner of Oaths or a Notary Public

Finding a Commissioner of Oaths

Finding a Notary

Authentication of Canadian documents for use outside Canada

Finding a lawyer in private practice (lawyer you would pay)

Tip 1: Find out what kind of lawyer you need

Tip 2: Learn some other common words used in the legal industry

Tip 3: Get the most out of the lawyer’s website

Tip 4: Do some extra research on the lawyer

Tip 5: Prepare a 2 line summary of your case

Tip 6: Ask about the intake process

Tip 7: Be prepared to shop around

Tip 8: Prepare for your initial interview

How much will it cost?

How do I find an affordable lawyer?

Can I get a lawyer on contingency?

Can I hire a paralegal?

Is it true that big firms are more expensive?

What does it mean when a lawyer says they have a conflict?

Personal recommendations

Search online

Telephone Directories

Your Employee Assistance Program

Your insurance provider

Your union

Francophone lawyers

Legal Info Nova Scotia's Lawyer Referral Service

Free and low cost legal help in Nova Scotia

African Nova Scotian Justice Resources

African Nova Scotian Justice Institute

Land Title's Initiative

902 ManUp

Civil law (lawsuits, Supreme Court, Court of Appeal)

Free Legal Clinic: Halifax Law Courts

Free Legal Clinic: Sydney Courthouse

Free Legal Clinic: Truro Courthouse

Free Legal Clinic: Yarmouth Court

Free Legal Advice for Sexual Assault Survivors

Free Legal Support for Surviviors or Workplace Sexual Harassment

Common Questions about the Free Legal Advice Service

Is this service confidential?

What can I expect?

Is there a cost?

Do I have to take legal action if I get your support?

I want a referral. What are the next steps?

Copyright, Trademarks, Patents

Canadian Intellectual Property Office

Criminal law (see also: Prison law)

Free Legal Advice for Sexual Assault Survivors

Help with Applying for a Peace Bond

Nova Scotia Legal Aid Advice and Representation

Nova Scotia Legal Aid Duty Counsel for all Nova Scotians facing criminal or drug charges

Mi'kmaq Legal Support Network

Debt and credit issues

Bankruptcy Assistance Program-Superintendent of Bankruptcy

Credit Counselling

Debtor Assistance Program, Service Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia Legal Aid

Employment, Employment Insurance, Workers’ Compensation

Labour Standards Nova Scotia

Employment Insurance Appeals

Free legal services for Workers' Compensation issues

Information, advocacy, support on Workers' Compensation issues

Employment Law Legal Information-Halifax Workers' Action Centre

Environmental

East Coast Environmental Law

Family law

Nova Scotia Legal Aid Advice and Representation

Free Brief Legal Advice at Family Courts

Dalhousie Legal Aid Advice and Representation

General

Nova Scotia Legal Aid Information, Advice, Representation

Dalhousie Legal Aid Services

Lawyers in private practice: flexible fee options

Housing

Dalhousie Legal Aid Tenant Rights Advice

Nova Scotia Legal Aid Tenant Rights Advice