Lecture 6 Flashcards
What is a retainer?
- a business practice
- like a deposit or a payment/bill
- lump sum of money requested by the lawyer prior to the case
- it is often asked as an insurance
How much can the retainer be?
more or less than the actual cost.
What happens when the retainer is exhausted?
The lawyer requests more from the client.
How can you address fee disputes with your lawyer?
- talk to your lawyer
- have a discussion and it will be resolved accordingly
What is a solicitor?
responsible for paper contract things. They are non-court related, but can prepare cases for court
What is a Barrister?
Handles court cases.
Do we need both a solicitor and a barrister?
No. In Canada we can choose one or the other or even both.
What is a litigation counsel (lawyer)?
mainly a solicitor
What is called to the bar?
the barrister society
What are the 4 stages of litigation in civil litigation?
- pleading stage
- discovery stage
- pre-trial stage
- trial
What are pleadings?
documents filed in the court by each party to an action (a lawsuit).
those documents show what info you intend to prove in court
What is a statement of claim?
when legal action commences when the first pleading is filed to the court in the registry.
initiates a legal action
What info will a pleading contain?
- names of those involved
- remedies the plaintiff is seeking
- set out the material facts (basic most important facts)
- set out the basis of the claim
What are the remedies the plaintiff is seeking in a civil matter?
“damages” or money
What is included in the basis of the claim?
- what happened
- area of law involved
- breach of contract?
*if read as the defendant, it should be clear what exactly the defendant is being sued for and what facts that claim
What happens if the defendant fails to defend by filing the next pleading to the court?
- once the next period is up, the defendant will be noted in default.