What Are Unbundled Legal Services and How Can They Benefit You?

What Are Unbundled Services?

In British Columbia, unbundled services (also known as “limited scope services”) offer a flexible way for clients to work with a lawyer on just part of their family law matter rather than paying for full representation from start to finish. With this customized approach, your legal issue is divided into smaller parts and you only pay for the help you need. You and your lawyer decide which specific tasks the lawyer will handle, such as drafting an agreement, giving legal advice, or providing coaching for negotiation or mediation, while you have the option to take on some tasks yourself. Or maybe you are just looking for a one-time phone consultation to have some questions answered or receive strategic advice. Regardless of the type and amount of assistance you would like, unbundled services are often available on a fixed-rate basis.

What are the Benefits for Clients?

Flexibility: You decide where you want legal support, from a quick phone call to settlement negotiations, document drafting or agreement review.
Affordability: Compared to hiring a lawyer for your whole matter (which generally requires paying a large upfront retainer fee), you can reduce costs by focusing legal help on key tasks.
Billing transparency: Legal services offered on a fixed-rate or flat-fee basis mean that there are no surprises at the time of invoicing.
Empowerment: Keep more control of your legal matter by being involved and making decisions along the way.
Accessibility: Unbundled services, which can usually be offered remotely, help break down barriers by making quality legal support more accessible to more people, wherever they might be in the province.

How We Can Help

If you have a family law issue or matter with a connection to British Columbia, we at Waterview Law can help by offering unbundled services such as:

consulting with you, by phone, video or in person, to answer your questions and provide legal advice;
drafting, reviewing and/or revising family agreements like cohabitation, separation or parenting agreements, and providing “Independent Legal Advice” in regard to family agreements;
preparing settlement proposals and/or engaging in direct discussions with your ex-partner or their lawyer to resolve issues;
preparing for and attending mediation, and converting minutes of settlement into a binding agreement with Certificates of Independent Legal Advice;
conducting legal research and drafting opinion letters about your rights and responsibilities in regard to support, parenting, or division of property and debts.