People should avoid representing themselves in family court unless they have absolutely no other options.
It is not a surprise to anyone that hiring a lawyer can be extremely expensive. Many people struggle to make ends meet and they’re living payday to payday. The thought of adding another big expense to their budget seems almost impossible for many people. Unfortunately for most people, not having the financial resources that are needed to hire a lawyer does not make their legal problem disappear.
In family law cases, the working class and low-income people usually scramble to borrow money from friends, family members or the bank to hire a lawyer and to pay for their legal fees. People that are lucky enough to find a way to pay for a lawyer truly benefit from the help that lawyers provide to them both in court and behind the scenes. Paying for a lawyer is like paying for peace of mind. The lawyers know their stuff, answer the tough questions and handles difficult situations with ease. People that can’t afford the luxury of hiring a lawyer and having legal representation may still have other options for legal support.
People with a “low income” have some options when it comes to finding legal help at an affordable rate.
Legal Aid Alberta can appoint a lawyer for people that meet their income-based criteria. If approved, Legal Aid will hire a lawyer to help with an approved legal matter. Legal Aid will pay the lawyer as the legal work is completed then collects payment from the client over a period of time interest free in installments (ie, $50.00 per month) until the bill is paid in full. For more information, contact Legal Aid to see if this is an option for you.
Student Legal Services of Edmonton is another option that can help low-income people with family matters in the Alberta Court of Justice that meet their program criteria. The Student Services team can provide legal information and act as an agent in the Alberta Court of Justice. For more information on their services, contact Student Legal Services directly to see if this could be an option for you.
Edmonton Community Legal Centre is another option that can provide some support to people that meet their criteria. If approved, volunteer lawyers can provide support with court preparation and advice. For more information on their services contact Edmonton Community Legal Centre directly to discuss.
People that have “too much†income for low-income programs but not enough money to hire a lawyer have some options to find legal help at a lower cost.
If you have some money, it is possible to hire a lawyer to do piecemeal work. This is often referred to as a “limited scope” agreement. There is a full directory full of lawyers in Alberta that are willing to only take on only a task or two in a legal matter to help keep the costs affordable for people that can’t afford the traditional full representation services that are usually offered by lawyers. For more information on available options, check out this Alberta Legal Coaching and Limited Services Directory.
Legal coaching is another noteworthy type of service that has developed to provide professional support to the many people that can’t afford the expense of hiring a lawyer to help. Legal coaches consist of both lawyers and paralegals that teach self-represented people how to navigate the court system without a lawyer. Lawyers charge more than paralegals for their coaching services which usually makes paralegals more desirable. To find a certified legal coach, check out the Legal Coaches Association Directory.
Independent paralegals are another great budget friendly option. It is possible to hire an independent paralegal to do piecemeal tasks like drafting documents, preparing calculations and other miscellaneous tasks. Paralegals often provide services similar to lawyers when it comes to legal coaching and self-represented support; however, paralegals can’t give legal advice and hiring a paralegal is risky because paralegals are not unregulated in Alberta. Despite the risks, paralegals are a great resource for people that need experienced legal support but just don’t have the money to pay for a lawyer.
What should you take from this?
You are not alone. You have options. Money is usually the main factor that prevents people from hiring a lawyer to represent them in their legal matters. Being broke sucks. Not having the money needed to pay for a lawyer puts people in an extremely difficult situation. They can either borrow money to pay for their legal representation or they can represent themselves in court.
The Edmonton Family Network was designed to be used as a resource to anyone dealing with a difficult family situation. The Edmonton Family Network is familiar with the current limitations of the legal system and the barriers many people face trying to access and afford legal services. The Edmonton Family Network aims to educate and connect people with affordable resources and service providers that can help.
