Cost of services

Lawyers’ fees can, and often do, impose a barrier to the ability of Albertans and British Columbians to access justice in family law disputes.

Mediation, arbitration and parenting coordination processes with John-Paul Boyd Arbitration Chambers are designed to be fast and cost-effective, with abbreviated procedures and expedited dates often available for meetings and hearings. They are quicker processes for resolving family law disputes than court, and are significantly less expensive than court when people are represented by lawyers. However, we acknowledge that mediation, arbitration and parenting coordination will still be unaffordable for some individuals.

Special flat fees are available for children’s legal services, expert services, and for other work where the scope of the services to be provided is known or can be predicted in advance with reasonable certainty. Other considerations, including a reduction of our general hourly rates, may also be available to lower-income Albertans and British Columbians.

availability of services

Cost is not the only barrier to Albertans’ and British Columbians’ ability to access family justice. People living in the northern parts of both provinces often don’t have easy or speedy access to lawyers, never mind family law lawyers, or to the courts.

John-Paul Boyd Arbitration Chambers provides dispute resolution services largely by email and videoconference, which allows us to work throughout all of Alberta and British Columbia, including remote and rural areas, and the technology needed to participate in these processes is limited and affordable.

First, you need a reasonably good internet connection. Not a great connection, just a reasonably good one. And if you’re reading this online, you’ve got that.

Second, you need a computer with a microphone and a video camera. Your smartphone has those things built in, and so do most laptop computers and many desktop computers. If your computer doesn’t have a microphone and video camera, you can buy a pretty good webcam that includes a microphone for less than $75 from Amazon or Staples. Logitech is a fairly good brand.