Canadian Lawyer

22 A P R I L 2 0 1 9 w w w . c a n a d i a n l a w y e r m a g . c o m them navigate through the process, are having an impact upon those who do, says Richard Gabruch of Gabruch Legal Group, which is a general practice with three lawyers in Saska- toon, Sask. "If we're on a list and there are three or four self-represented matters before us, all of a sudden, we're spending double or triple the time just waiting in court just to be heard. As a result, it's not directly related to our hourly rate, but the amount of time that we're spending there has increased substantially," he says. So, while family law and real estate law, which have been impacted by a slow market, are not seeing fee increases this year or last, civil litigation has been steady, resulting in a small increase in 2018, says Gabruch. In setting flat fees or hour- ly rates, most firms with fewer than four lawyers — 76.81 per cent — indicated they compared their fees to that of other lawyers in the same practice area. That was consistent with the larger firms, indicating an overall aver- age over all-sized firms of 80.35 per cent; although 56.77 per cent of respondents of all-sized firms indicated that the fees and rates are based on changes in firm costs and/or inflation. The result is that none expect to drop their fees this year and an almost equal number of respon- dents in all firm sizes indicated they would keep the charges the same — 47.64 per cent — in 2019 L A W O F F I C E M A N A G E M E N T Securing financing agreement $2,001 - $3,000 ( 26.51%) $1,000 - $2,000 ( 29.41%) Simple, small business incorporation $801 - $900 ( 22.22%) $700 - $800 ( 22%) Simple prospectus Less than $10,000 Less than $10,000 (8.16%) & $10,000 - $15,000 (10.26%) Civil action up to and not including trial (two days) $10,000 - $15,000 ( 21.18%) $10,000 - $15,000 ( 27.5%) Civil action up to and not including trial (five days) $25,000 - $35,000 (17.86%) $25,000 - $35,000 ( 25%) Civil action up to and not including trial (seven days) Less than $55,000 Less than $55,000 ( 22.5%) & $55,000 - $60,000 ( 28.92%) Civil action — appeal only $10,000 - $15,000 (18.07%) $10,000 - $15,000 ( 20%) Interlocutory motions, such as injunctions $5,000 - $10,000 (37.04%) $5,000 - $10,000 (31.58%) ADR, including mediation (up to three days) $8,000 - $10,000 (16.05%) Less than $8,000 ( 21.05%) Summary criminal offence (one-day trial) $2,500 - $3,500 ( 21.43%) $2,500 - $3,500 & $ 4,501 - $5,000 (47.06%) Bail hearing $500 - $1,000 ( 28.57%) $500 - $1,000 (35.29%) Criminal offence (one-day trial) $ 4,001 - $5,000 ( 21.43%) Less than $3,000 ( 23.53%) Simple plea of guilt $500 - $1,000 (30.7 7%) $500 - $2,000 (53.34%) Contested matter (day-long trial $ 4,000 - $5,000 ( 25%) $ 4,000 - $6,000 ( 27.06%) or day-long contested plea) Longer trial (longer than seven days) $14,001 - $20,000 $14,001 - $20,000 (17.65%) & $35,001 - $ 4 4,000 (35.72%) Summary conviction appeal $5,000 - $8,000 (35.71%) $5,000 - $8,000 (41.18%) Appeal to court of appeal $10,000 - $20,000 (46.43%) $20,001 - $29,000 ( 23.53%) Uncontested divorce $600 - $1,000 ( 23.26%) $600 - $1,000 (31.58%) Contested divorce $7,500 - $12,500 ( 29.07%) $7,500 - $12,500 (31.58%) Separation agreement $1,500 - $2,000 ( 26.74%) $1,500 - $2,000 ( 29.82%) Child custody and support agreement $1,500 - $2,000 ( 24.71%) $1,500 - $2,000 ( 28.07%) Trial up to two days Less than $13,000 ( 23.81%) Less than $13,000 ( 28.07%) Trial up to five days Less than $26,000 ( 23.80%) Less than $26,000 ( 28.07%) Marriage/co-habitation agreement 1,400 - $1,700 ( 21.69%) $1,400 - $1,700 ( 21.43%) Spousal support agreement $800 - $1,600 ( 25.61%) $800 - $1,600 ( 28.57%) Division of property/assets agreements $2,301 - $2,800 ( 23.17%) $2,301 - $2,800 (30.36%) Business Law Criminal Law Family Law NATIONAL NATIONAL (1 TO 4 LAWYERS) "…the smaller, mid-sized boutique law firms that can offer clients a lower bill rate are in a unique position to capture new business." Julia Valladao, Robert Half Legal 1700 11,000 4 $2,500 $27,501 28.75 % 600 $8,000

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