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Legal Guides

Plain-language guides to hiring a lawyer and understanding your options, written for the public.

A diverse group of young lawyers at a desk in a Canadian law office.

Data & Trends How Canada's Law Firms Describe Themselves Some firms tell you they are woman-owned, LGBTQ affirming, or accept legal aid. In our directory these signals are self-declared, which is exactly what makes them worth using.

Winnipeg, Manitoba panorama at twilight.

Family Law How to Hire a Family Lawyer in Winnipeg Manitoba's family law is built to keep you out of court, and the law says so. What that means in Winnipeg, and how to hire a lawyer for a resolution-first system.

A colourful map of Canada, depicting each province in a different hue.

Data & Trends More Than Half of Canada's Listed Law Firms Are in One Province Ontario holds 55 percent of the firms in our directory; the three territories hold 23 between them. The map of legal help is as lopsided as the map of where Canadians live.

A distraught couple argues on a sofa while seated in a family lawyer's office.

Family Law How to Hire a Family Lawyer in Vancouver In Vancouver you don't need a wedding, or even a house, to have a property fight. BC's 2-year common-law rule, which court to use, and how to hire a lawyer.

An unhappy couple faces away from each other on a couch in a professional office setting.

Family Law How to Get a Divorce in BC A plain-language walkthrough of divorce in BC: the one-year rule, the Supreme Court process, BC's 2-year common-law property rule, the forms and fees, and the timeline.

A female lawyer in a blue suit engaging in a handshake with a man in a burgundy shirt. Set in a bright office with a wooden table, potted plant, and organized shelves, it conveys a positive, collaborative mood ideal for business, meetings, or successful negotiations.

Data & Trends What Canadian Law Firms Actually Do The most common service in our directory is not the courtroom. It is wills and estates, then real estate and business law. Here is the real map of what lawyers work on.

Kiweki Point park in Ottawa, Ontario showcases families descending steps amidst vibrant foliage and beautiful scenery

Family Law How to Hire a Family Lawyer in Ottawa An Ottawa family case has three local twists: one unified court, the federal pension question, and the right to proceed in French. How to hire for each.

A mobile phone screen displaying a search results with a perfect 5.0 star review.

Data & Trends Why Almost Every Law Firm Has a 4.5-Star Rating Nearly two thirds of law firms in our directory sit at 4.5 stars or higher. When almost everyone is near the top, the rating barely sorts anyone. Here is what to read instead.

View of Bramalea Bus Terminal in Brampton, Ontario. The Peel Region Municipal Offices building dominates the background.

Family Law How to Hire a Family Lawyer in Brampton In Brampton the family home is often shared with parents or in-laws, and the right lawyer may need to work in your language. How to hire for a Brampton case.