Canadian Lawyers and Law Office Personnel

Canadian law office personnel have many different roles. Clients can streamline communications with their law firms by learning the positions and responsibilities of the people who work there. They can select the Canadian lawyer best suited to handle their legal matter based on the position the lawyer holds in the firm.

Partners

Partners in Canada represent the most senior lawyers of a firm. The partners own the law firm and generally make the major decisions regarding the practice. As senior lawyers, partners are the most experienced lawyers in the firm, and usually charge the highest fees.

Associates

Associates in Canada are lawyers employed by the law firm. Less experienced than the partners, they usually practice at the firm for a number of years before the partners decide whether to include them in the partnership. They charge lower fees than partners and may be willing to take on smaller cases.

Law Clerks and Paralegals

The law clerks and paralegals who work at a Canadian law firm have legal training but aren't lawyers. They perform routine legal tasks, do legal research and prepare files. They work at basic tasks that lawyers would otherwise have to do. This benefits clients since their fees are substantially lower than those of lawyers.

Legal Secretaries

Legal secretaries assist lawyers in the numerous administrative tasks that make up much of every practice. They answer questions for clients, prepare documentation, and handle requests for information from other law firms, as well as scheduling lawyers' appointments and handling banking requirements. Essential to successful Canadian lawyers, good secretaries maintain the day-to-day flow of the firm.

Receptionists

Receptionists deal with people who call or attend at the law firm. They greet clients arriving to see lawyers, deal with couriers, meet salespeople, give directions and hand out brochures. Their telephone manner plays a role in encouraging clients to retain lawyers at the firm, making them a critical part of a successful Canadian law firm.

Administrators

Law firms usually have administrators who manage the internal workings of the business. These include accountants, bookkeepers and billings and accounts receivable personnel. Larger Canadian law firms may include marketing and human resources personnel, as well as librarians.

Students

Many Canadian law firms hire students to perform basic tasks. Articling students, in training to become Canadian lawyers, provide invaluable assistance with client communications and file preparation while developing their legal skills. Co-op students from legal administrative programs in Canada assist secretaries with document preparation and appointment scheduling. High school students can make bank deposits and courier runs, as well as open and close files. Students often form a vital part of a law firm.

All law firms in Canada will retain some or all of these types of workers, and clients who recognize their differing roles will be able to communicate with the firm more effectively. It can also help clients keep down the cost of their legal bills. For example, knowing the difference between partners and associates helps clients choose a lawyer who best suits their budget. As well, many questions can be answered effectively by office personnel other than the lawyer working on the file, and by contacting those other office personnel instead of their lawyer, clients in Canada can keep fees to a minimum. By maintaining a working relationship with the legal secretary or paralegal working on their file, clients can offer to do some of the legwork required to complete the file, further saving on expenses.

By understanding the different roles of law office personnel, clients can ensure speedy processing of their files and lower legal bills when hiring a Canadian lawyer.

Natalie Fraser practised law in Whitby, Ontario for seventeen years and is now a freelance legal writer. She often writes for The Lawyers Weekly.