Nobody should hire a lawyer without knowing how the fee will be worked out. At Law Wise, your first consultation is free for 15 minutes, by appointment, and when you retain the firm we explain the fee and confirm the arrangement with you in writing before the work starts. This page explains how legal fees in Ontario are usually set and what to ask.
How legal fees are set
Lawyers in Ontario generally charge in one of three ways. Which one applies to your matter, and the amount or rate, is settled before the work begins.
- Fixed fee. One price for a defined piece of work. It suits work with predictable steps, such as a home purchase or sale, a will and powers of attorney, an incorporation, or many immigration applications. It is sometimes called a flat fee.
- Hourly rate. Time spent is recorded and billed at an agreed rate. It is used where nobody can know at the start how much work there will be, for example in a contested family case.
- Fee by stage. A set fee for each stage of a matter, such as the steps up to a first court date, a motion or a trial. It is common in criminal defence.
What a lawyer’s account includes
An account has three parts. Fees are the charge for the lawyer’s work. Disbursements are out-of-pocket costs paid on your behalf, such as court filing fees, government application and registration fees, title and corporate searches, and couriers. HST is charged on fees and on many disbursements. When we quote a fee, we tell you whether disbursements and HST are included and, if they are not, what we expect them to be.
Retainers and money held in trust
A retainer is money paid in advance for work to be done. It is held in the firm’s trust account, which is kept separate from the firm’s own money, and is applied to your accounts as they are issued. If the retainer is used up and the matter continues, we ask you to add to it. Money left over at the end is returned to you. Funds for a real estate closing or a settlement are handled through the same trust account.
Your protections
- A lawyer may not charge or accept a fee or disbursement unless it is fair and reasonable and has been disclosed in a timely fashion.
- What is fair and reasonable depends on matters such as the time and effort required, the difficulty and importance of the matter, the amount involved and the results obtained.
- A client can ask the Superior Court of Justice to have a lawyer’s bill reviewed, a process called assessment. Time limits apply, and some run from one month after the bill is delivered, so raise a concern promptly.
Sources: Law Society of Ontario, Rules of Professional Conduct, r 3.6-1 and commentary; Solicitors Act, RSO 1990, c S.15, ss 3, 4 and 11, as they read on 10 October 2026.
What affects the cost
Two matters that look alike can cost very different amounts. The main factors are how complicated the facts and the law are, how much is in dispute, how the other side behaves, how many court dates or meetings are needed, and how urgent the work is. We tell you at the start what we expect, and we tell you before a step that would change it.
Ways to keep your costs down
- bring your documents in date order, with copies
- send one message with all your questions, not several short ones
- answer requests for information promptly and completely
- tell the lawyer everything relevant at the start, including what you think hurts your position
- stay open to a reasonable settlement where one is available
Why there is no price list on this page
The fee for a matter depends on the work it needs, so we give quotes for your matter in place of a general price list. For a real estate closing, ask for a closing quote, which shows the legal fee, the disbursements and the taxes separately. For other matters, the fee is discussed at the consultation and then confirmed in writing.
Common questions about legal fees
Is the first consultation free?
Yes. Your first consultation is free for 15 minutes, by appointment, in any of our practice areas. A longer meeting or a review of documents is charged. The fee for a document review depends on how complex the documents are, and we tell you the amount on the spot, before the review starts.
Do you offer fixed fees?
For many kinds of work, yes. Ask when you call and we will tell you whether a fixed fee is available for your matter and what it covers.
What is a retainer?
Money paid in advance and held in trust for you. It is applied to your accounts as work is billed, and any balance is returned at the end.
What are disbursements?
Costs paid to others on your behalf, such as court and government fees, searches and couriers. They are shown separately on your account.
Will I have the fee arrangement in writing?
Yes, when you retain the firm. We confirm in writing what we will do and how the fee is calculated before that work starts. The fee for a one-time document review is told to you on the spot.
What if I have a question about my account?
Ask us. Most questions are answered by going through the account together. You also have the right to ask the court to assess a lawyer’s bill, within the time limits in the Solicitors Act.
Ask about fees for your matter
Call us or send a message. The first consultation is free for 15 minutes, by appointment.
This page is general legal information for Ontario, current as of 11 October 2026. It is not legal advice and does not create a lawyer-client relationship. For advice about your situation, please speak with a lawyer.