spook
1/5
Understand first and foremost this: I only got a lawyer as I was a father seeking sole custody as I had never had an arrangement prior to my ex hitting rock bottom. Again.
I could have walked in and out of court without a lawyer, but as I have the money and I AM a SINGLE FATHER in a community that sides often against good dads and favours moms as has been the historical norm, I went for the sure thing. I "lawyer-ed up"
I hired a jr lawyer NICOLA TY who at the time was in the employment of Murray & Thomson.
I went through the process of them learning the details of everything they needed to know to represent me. You can infer from this that this was not a free service, unless you have never hired a lawyer before.
After court dates were set and respondents served notice, the jr. lawyer left the firm. After hearing nothing from her, I contacted the office to inquire if there was anything I needed to do, or know, as I had expected to hear something from them.
I was informed at that time(and later received written correspondence) that NICOLA TY was no longer with them.
I was informed that Thomson would be taking over what she(NICOLA TY) had left unfinished.
After paying what anyone who has hired a lawyer can relate to, numerous fees, I thought ridiculous as it may seem, that I should make sure that this would not be at my expense.
I was repeatedly informed that Mr. Thomson does not work "for free".
When they said for free, they were making me aware that Mr. Thomson is a senior lawyer paid at $300 an hour.
Any work that he takes on, despite that I, a customer of theirs in my eyes, of his firm, left high and dry by their employee at the time(who was ONLY $150 an hour), would now be charged at the rate of $300 an hour by Mr Thomson, who in the goodness of his heart was filling in for his absentee employee.
I was assured that he would represent me the same as she had, of course though at twice the amount I hired for.
As I knew mine was an open and shut family law case, I didn't worry much.
However, although not worried, I was upset to learn that Mr Thomson wanted to meet his "new" clients one on one and get familiar with the cases, and that they wanted to know when we could arrange that.
I said "I assume that Mr Thomson will be doing this at his own expense of time, as I have already paid his firm for this with NICOLA TY"
I was told that Mr Thomson "does not work for free" (keep in mind I already paid HIS firm the fees to do all this with the junior lawyer I hired through them...RIGHT?
I was made to feel that I was stupid for feeling that this should be a good will gesture by Mr Thomson as I had been left high and dry days before court.
I refused to pay anymore stating that this was an open and shut case anyways.
In the end, I was asked by Mr Thomson to arrive an hour early to discuss my case right before court.
I arrived early, he did not.
In the end although I walked in and out of court as I knew I would, I payed him a few hundred dollars to say the word "yes" two times.
Bad business, but what does he care, he's rich, why should he care considering he wont get my business again if I need representation?
