01.
Immigration law
Refusals, appeals and judicial review, plus sponsorship, work permits and study permits.
Legal consultation in Ontario
A legal consultation in Ontario should end with you knowing three things: where you stand, what the next step costs, and whether you need to hire anyone at all.
About this practice area
What does a consultation cost?
A consultation with Kapil Rathod, the principal lawyer, is $500. A consultation with an RCIC is $250. Both figures are inclusive of HST, so the number you are quoted is the number you pay.
Government filing fees are separate, and they are paid directly to IRCC, to the court or to the province rather than to the firm. Representation beyond the consultation is quoted per matter, so you know the figure before you commit to it rather than after the work has started.
Our approach
A clear path forward
The same four steps on every matter, whether it is a refusal at the Federal Court or a ticket at the Provincial Offences court.
Book a consultation01
Understand
We take the full history and read the documents before offering an opinion. Most bad advice comes from acting on half the facts.
02
Assess
You get a candid read on strength, timeline and cost, including when the honest answer is that you do not need to hire anyone.
03
Act
We prepare the application, the defence or the appeal properly the first time, because fixing a weak record later is harder and dearer.
04
Report
You hear from us at each stage, and you hear what a wait actually means rather than a date chosen to sound better.
Who we take
Are we the right firm for this?
3 reasons either way
Worth reading before you book. Turning away a matter we should not take costs us a file and saves you a retainer.
We are a fit if
- You want to know where you stand before committing to anything
- You want a second opinion on a file another firm is already running
- You would rather be told there is no good route than be sold one
We are probably not if
- You want free advice rather than a paid assessment
- You want a decision made for you without hearing the risks in it
- You want confirmation of something you have already decided to do
Where to go next
Book the meeting before a deadline rather than after one, because the range of options is widest early.
A legal consultation in Ontario is $500 with the lawyer and $250 with an RCIC, including HST, and you leave it knowing what the next step costs.
Also from Rathod Law Firm
Other practice areas
02.
Personal injury
Motor vehicle collisions, slip and fall, long term disability and accident benefits.
04.
Paralegal services
Small Claims Court, tribunal hearings and Provincial Offences, at paralegal rates.
05.
Notarization
Affidavits, statutory declarations, certified true copies and travel consent letters.
06.
Traffic tickets
Speeding, stunt driving, red light and careless driving charges under the Highway Traffic Act.
08.
Civil litigation
Contract and commercial disputes, debt claims, real estate litigation and Small Claims.
Common questions
What do people ask about legal consultation?
6 answered here
The ones that come up before somebody decides to ring at all. Each answer is the whole answer, not a teaser for a telephone call.
What happens in a first consultation?
We take the history and read the documents before offering an opinion, because most bad advice comes from acting on half the facts. You will then get an assessment of the realistic options, the likely timeline for each, and what representation would cost.
If your matter does not need representation, you will be told that. A consultation that ends with you filing something yourself is a successful one.
What should you bring?
Anything in writing that relates to the matter. For an immigration file that means the refusal letter and any correspondence from IRCC. For a traffic charge, the ticket and the disclosure if you have requested it. For a family matter, any agreement, court document or written offer.
Dates matter more than people expect. Deadlines in immigration and Provincial Offences matters are measured in days.
Which languages can you consult in?
English, Hindi, Gujarati and Punjabi. A large share of our clients explain their situation more precisely in the language they think in, and precision is the point of the meeting.
Can you give a second opinion on a file another firm is running?
Yes. Second opinions are a normal part of the work, particularly where a file has been quiet for a long period or where an unexpected request has arrived. Bring the file and the correspondence.
How long does a first meeting take?
Most run between thirty and sixty minutes. Immigration matters with a refusal on the record take longer, because the decision letter and any notes have to be read properly rather than skimmed.
You will leave with the position stated plainly, the options ranked, and any deadline written down. If a filing date is close, that date is the first thing we establish.
What if you need to speak to someone the same week?
Provincial Offences dates and Federal Court deadlines do not move for scheduling convenience. Where a date is close, say so when you call and intake will fit you in sooner. Bring the date itself, because a fixed deadline moves a file up the list in a way that urgency alone does not.
Speak to someone this week
A legal consultation in Ontario is $500 with the lawyer, including HST, and ends with the position stated plainly.
Law Society of Ontario licensedFederal Court filingsEnglish, Hindi, Gujarati and PunjabiFee quoted before you commit