Is unbundled service right for you?

Many clients don’t know that they have the option of hiring a family lawyer on an unbundled basis rather than on a full retainer. “Unbundled service” can mean different things depending on the context. If you’re involved in litigation, it can mean hiring a lawyer to draft pleadings, for example, or hiring a lawyer to help complete a financial statement. The Toronto-Star recently wrote an article on the concept of unbundling. There are trade-offs to be made, however. Although the overall cost of unbundled service is less expensive, the reason it’s less expensive is because you’ll handling parts of the case yourself. Maybe you’ll be arranging for service and filing of the documents at the courthouse, or managing deadlines, or appearing on your own behalf at hearings. Maybe you’ll be negotiating directly with your ex, or with their lawyer. For people trying to get as much mileage out of their budget for legal fees as possible, unbundled service may be your best option.