Simon Shields

1. You Need to Understand How This Online Law Practice Works
   
2. ID Information
   
3. Fact Summary
   
4. Payment

Details below (you need to read them).
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1. You Need To Understand How This Online Law Practice Works

First things first. Just to be sure we're not wasting our time - check that your legal issue falls into my Areas of Practice. If not, sorry - I can't help you - and I am unaware of any other 'online-only' lawyers to refer you to.

If you're still with me, here are the practice details. I don't provide conventional representation like 99.9% of lawyers out there. I used to do that for 20 years (most of that was ODSP appeal work), but now I travel most of the time and ONLY practice online. So I won't be there 'on-record' to stand up in court or before that Tribunal for you. You'll have to do that yourself, along with document assembly, filing and serving. Formally, you would remain what you are now: a 'self-representing litigant'.

What I can do for you is just about everything else: assessment, explanation, advice, preparation of document and letter content and on-demand litigation support (sometimes called 'coaching'). Check out the "Types of Legal Services" link at the sidebar for more details. We do this all by email, fax and scan.

The downside of this for you is the extra work you will have to do, and the challenge of standing up for yourself - sometimes against experienced lawyers. But don't let that stop you: read the "Advantages of Self-Representation" link at the sidebar. They won't be expecting you to be prepared, so you can use their over-confidence against them - surprising them with your preparation and knowledge. Plus, judges and other adjudicators tend to 'bend over backwards' to make sure that self-represented parties are not bullied by lawyers.

The upside for you is the ability to benefit from my knowledge and experience through substantially reduced legal fees made possible by my low overhead. As well, you have the ability to personally present your case the way you want.

Plus - as of 01 July 2010 all Ontario lawyer bills have to charge 13% HST - but all my fee quotes are HST-already included. You do not pay a dime more than the figure I quote you.

2. ID Information

I need to explain this a bit. The Law Society of Upper Canada (my professional governing body) requires me to obtain the following information from all my clients: name, address, contact phone, occupation and whether you are over 18 years of age. It's all about good sensible stuff like fraud avoidance, conflict of interest, competency and such. However the information is for identification only, is not sent to the Law Society and remains confidential with me, even if you do not hire me.

If you do not have a home address, a phone, or find the 'occupation' requirement demeaning, say so (you must say so) when you email me and I will not insist on them - but otherwise I will insist on being told this information BEFORE I deal with you seriously. And remember, this may be the internet but if you lie about any of this you will be probably be committing a fraudulent act - and I will drop you like a hot rock (yes, without refund) - so DON'T LIE! (sorry to say that, but this is the internet and people try to pull all sorts of weirdness).

3. Fact Summary

Give me a concise, one-page organized and chronological statement of your fact situation. At this point I only want this information to determine the complexity of the case to give you a fee quote. Don't worry, I'm not going to assess your case just on that one page - but if you send me anything much longer at this preliminary stage you run the risk that I may ignore it (you would not believe the volume of some of the unsolicited stuff that I get).

Do not send copies, scans or faxes of documents until I ask for them. If I need more information or documents before I quote a fee, I will ask for them. Work-up of the case after I'm hired will always involve more questions, investigation and document review.

Dos and (please) Don'ts When Writing Me For the First Time
4. Payment

The short version of this is: it's cheap, but it's not free. The main website, which has taken me many hundreds of unpaid hours to create and maintain, is free of charge to eligible users and is my very large and ongoing contribution to public legal education. But I have to make a living just like you and if you want personal professional attention, you have to pay for it. So sorry, don't waste your time and mine with requests for free legal services (or 'information' or 'just a simple question' or whatever else you want to call it).

As well, while my rates are well below what you would pay a lawyer for conventional representation, you can't get competent legal advice for $25 or $50 (so please don't ask). My minimum legal fee is $100, and most quotes I give out are in the $300 to $2000 range. Remember, the average hourly rate for a lawyer in Ontario is over $275 an hour, so be realistic (though note that OW and ODSP cases receive special reduced rates).

And you have to pre-pay. This is the internet, and offering credit or contingency payment arrangements exposes me to huge fraud potential. Most of my OW and ODSP clients deal with the pre-payment requirement by having relatives pay the fee, as they can benefit themselves by the reduced need to constantly bail out their family members.

Ok, lecture over. Some examples of fee ranges are set out in the "Typical Fees" link at the sidebar.

Within 48 hours of getting your email with all the info that I need, I will write back - typically with a firm fee quote for initial assessment and advice (an 'opinion'), and the timeframe in which I can provide it. After that is done we will know the situation and our options (I will explain it all to you in detail) and then I can quote for executing those options. Typically I will break a litigation matter down into stages, with correspondingly staged fee quotes, so you don't have to pay for all of it at once.

If you accept the quote I will email a Paypal invoice (you can use a credit card to pay this without becoming a paypal member). When this is paid I will provide the legal services as agreed. Prepayment is mandatory - no exceptions.
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Have you read and understood the above requirements?
Ready to request a no-obligation fee quote?

Ok, time to
Talk to the Lawyer
simonshields@isp.com

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Important Points:

1. If you don't hear from me within two business days, check your spam filter. If necessary, list my email address as exempt from your spam filter.
   
2. All communications are by email unless otherwise arranged.
   
3. All communications between us for the purpose of obtaining legal advice are subject to solicitor-client privilege and confidentiality, even if you do not hire me.

Simon Shields, LLB
Toronto, Ontario

Email: simonshields@isp.com
Fax: (416) 850-3282 (fax)
Address: Technically Toronto, but I have no office or residence there and I travel around the world most of the time.
Phone: None, and yes I know about Skype. I prefer email for legal work as it leaves a convenient and precise record of communications.

You can confirm my status as an Ontario lawyer through the Law Society website, linked at the footer (below). The address and phone listed there are for administrative matters only. If you try to contact me there for client matters you will only be referred to my e-mail.