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Legal Support

Lawyer Fees

How do I pay the lawyer fees?

When a lawyer is hired by an individual or a group to file a claim under the IAP,  the Government will provide an extra 15% on top of the compensation awarded to the former student as a contribution towards his or her legal fees.

Lawyers are not allowed to charge former students more than 30% of the compensation received. Any amount beyond the 15% covered by Canada can be reviewed by an adjudicator to ensure the fee is appropriate.

Here is an example of the lawyer fees a former student might end up paying:

“Annie receives an award of $50,000.  Annie has a contingency agreement with her lawyer to pay 30% of the award. [Not all lawyers charge 30%].  That means that the lawyer will be paid $15,000 (i.e. 30% of the award).

In this case half of the lawyer’s fees (15% of the award or $7,500) is paid by Canada.  The balance is paid by the former student from her award. Let’s work out the math together…….

She starts with $50,000, she needs to pay her lawyer 30%, which is $15,000,

The Government will pay half of the fee ($15,000 / 2 = $7,500).
Annie is left paying $7,500, the other half of the fee, out of the final amount she received. ($50,000 – $7,500 = $42,500).

At the end of the day Annie receives $42,500

Lawyers across Canada

A list of lawyers is available under the Indian Residential School Service Agreement website at;
http://www.residentialschoolsettlement.ca/lawyers.html

Lawyers That Assist IAP Applicants Specifically in Nunavut

An IAP applicant can choose any lawyer in Canada. However, the following law firms specialize in assistance with IAP applications in Nunavut.

a)

Ahlstrom, Wright, Oliver and Cooper (AWOC)
Barristers and Solicitors
Suite 200, 80 Chippewa Road
Sherwood Park, AB
T8A 4W6

Toll Free: 1-800-994-7477
Telephone: 1-(780)-464-7477
Fax: 1-(780)-467-6428
lawyers@awoc.ca

Steven Cooper
Donna Oliver
Keith Macey
Teri Lynn Bougie

The law firm AWOC also hires Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun interpreters should a former residential school student requires Inuktitut interpreting when speaking with a lawyer privately;

b)

Nelligan O’Brien Payne
Barristers and Solicitors
50 O’Connor, Suite 1500
Ottawa, ON
K1P 6L2 Canada

Toll-free: 1-888-565-9912
Tel: 1-(613)-238-8080
Fax: 1-(613)-238-2098
http://www.nelligan.ca/e/contact.cfm

Raymond Murray
Deborah Hawken
Sutheat Tim
Jessica Fullerton

Nelligan does not have Inuktitut interpreters. However, Nellligan has extensive experience dealing with Inuit clients and have worked with Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada and Inuit counsellors in Ontario.

c)

Fulton and Company LLP

#300-350 Landsdowne St
Kamloops, BC
V2C 1Y1

Toll-free: 1-877-385-8665
Telephone: 1-(250)-851-2364
Fax: 1-(250)-851-2300
Lmarchand@fultonco.com

Len Marchand

Len Marchand also hires Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun interpreters should a former residential school student requires Inuktitut interpreting when speaking with a lawyer privately;

d)

Duboff Edwards Haight & Schachter Law Corporation
1900 – 155 Carlton Street

Winnipeg, Manitoba

R3C 3H8

Toll-free: 1-866-646-2539
Telephone: 1-(204)-942-3361-ext. 212
Fax: 1-(204)-942-3362
gilson@dehslaw.com

Kimberley Gilson

Duboff does not have Inuktitut interpreters. However, Ms. Gilson is open to any IAP applicant contacting her for legal services. Ms. Gilson can also direct other IAP applicants to other lawyers at Duboff who specifically assists with IAP applications, such as male lawyers.

e)

Cabott and Cabott
Barristers and Solicitors
#101-2131, 2nd Ave.
Whitehorse, YT Y1A 1C3

Toll-free: 1-877-456-3105
Telephone: 1-(867)-456-3100
Fax: 1-(867)-456-7093
Laura.cabott@northwestel.net

Laura Cabott

Laura Cabott also hires Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun interpreters should a former residential school student requires Inuktitut interpreting when speaking with a lawyer privately;

Inuit economic, social and cultural well-being through the implementation of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.