Firm: YLaw
Profession: Lawyer
Phone: 604 974-9529
Email: vivienne@ylaw.ca
Website: www.ylaw.ca
Address
101-1861 Welch Street
North Vancouver V7P 1B7
Primary Practice Location
North Vancouver
Vivienne Stewart
Fee Arrangements
§ Hourly rate - $200-$400
§ Discounted hourly rate – first half hour consultation is free
§ Flat fee – available for many steps in the family law resolution process. This will vary with the service to be provided. For example, a cohabitation or separation agreement can be provided at a lower flat fee than preparing a court application which includes a court appearance.
§ Flat fee with conditions
Remote Services
§ Phone
§ Zoom
Languages
§ English
§ Some French
Types of Unbundled Services Offered
§ Initial consultation
§ Providing a legal opinion
§ Drafting pleadings or other documents
§ Reviewing/organizing/listing documents
§ Drafting contracts / agreements
§ Negotiating settlement
§ Providing legal advice before, during or after mediation
§ Representing a client at mediation
§ Providing independent legal advice on an agreement or MOU coming out of mediation
§ Advising on courtroom procedures, behaviours
§ Advising on rules of evidence
§ Preparing exhibits
§ Preparing submissions or briefs
§ Making a one-time court appearance
Approach to Providing Unbundled Legal Services
I advertise unbundled legal services on my firm website in both family law and civil matters. Generally, I am guided by what the client wishes to accomplish, whether they feel able to carry out specific steps on their own (and whether I think that they are up to the challenge), and their financial concerns. I try to make sure that they understand that although there are advantages to unbundled services, there can also be disadvantages especially if they are dealing with aggressive counsel on the other side. I usually offer flat fee rates for things like ILA, separation, cohabitation or pre-nuptial agreements but include conditions where I think it is probable that the services required will greatly exceed what is involved in drafting these kinds of agreements. For unbundled services where there is litigation involved, my approach is to assess each client on a case-by-case basis.
Mediation
§ Does not have family mediation training
§ Acted as counsel in more than 5 mediations in the last 5 years – mediations are becoming more and more popular especially with the cost and difficulty of getting into court on longer applications
§ Does not act as mediator
Approach to Supporting Clients in Mediation
I have not yet had occasion to provide unbundled services to any clients for mediation but am certainly prepared to do so should they choose to go that route and should they require assistance. This might include organizing and preparing a mediation brief with documentary and caselaw support. Or it might simply involve attending at a mediation with a client to help them resolve their matter based on the case they have put together themselves.
Cultural Diversity Experience
Since I was called in 1991, I have had clients from all of the various ethnic communities in the Lower Mainland. I have also lived and taught in China and in Russia where I have learned how important it is to be attuned to cultural and social differences. Being able to identify a client’s stumbling block and to explain the process and the law in the context of their particular case has been very helpful to achieve resolutions in even the most difficult cases.