LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that JKB Law is located in the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina Nation, the Iyarhe Nakoda Nations (including the Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations) , the Otipemisiwak Métis Government of the Métis Nation within Alberta District 6. We further recognize that land acknowledgments are only one step in the process of reconciliation, and we are committed to ongoing reflection, work, and improvement in our decolonizing work.
JKB Law Fees
Lawyer
$400/hr
Mediation/Non-Binding Parenting Coordination (Virtual)
$200/hr
Mediation/Arbitration, Arbitration, or Binding Parenting Coordination (Virtual)
$250/hr
In-person surcharge (for virtual services)
$50/hr
All fees are subject to GST.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
I offer a free 20-minute consultation for mediation, arbitration, and parenting coordination to assess whether your matter is suitable for these processes. I do not offer free legal consultations because there is no such need to assess suitability — if you need legal advice, it is better to book a paid consultation and get actual legal guidance.
Yes. I require a retainer for all services, and we can discuss the required amount at your initial consultation. I understand that a retainer can be prohibitive, and we can discuss options such as splitting the initial retainer into two payments.
A retainer is a security deposit held in a lawyer’s trust account. Fees for work completed are billed against the retainer, and you will receive receipts for each invoice. Any unused funds are returned to you when your file is closed. The retainer is generally over-estimated, and I will provide you with a quote during your consultation so you have a clear idea of the anticipated costs.
I accept email transfer and credit card payments. A 3% non-refundable surcharge applies to credit card transactions to cover processing fees.
Unfortunately, due to capacity, I am not able to accept clients at a reduced rate. My fees are already set competitively lower than many other professionals. Please check my Resources page for some potential free supports.
No.
No. GST is added to all fees and services.
Not exactly. I require a retainer and then I bill against it as work is completed.
Yes. Any work completed outside of sessions is billed at my hourly rate and detailed on your invoice. I will include this in the estimate for the retainer as part of your consultation.
This depends on the file. For lawyer matters, I charge for all time, including travel time. For mediation, arbitration, or parenting coordination, I do not charge for travel time if the meeting is in Calgary at one of the lawyers’ office locations (please note that the in-person surcharge of $50/hour will still apply). I will communicate beforehand so you can make decisions accordingly.
Yes. Document review is billed at my hourly rate unless otherwise stated.
When your retainer balance becomes low, I will ask you to top it up so work can continue without interruption.
Yes. I offer a flat fee of $800 for Independent Legal Advice (ILA), which includes up to 2 hours to review the drafted agreement, up to 1 hour to review it with you, and up to 15 minutes for signing. This offers a bundled discount compared to hourly billing. For other services, I do not offer flat fees. Flat fees often require charging toward the higher end of an average file, which can be unfair — simpler files end up subsidizing more complex ones. With hourly billing, you pay for the actual complexity and time required. I strive for efficiency and will aim to be as quick as possible. I also provide time and cost estimates so you can choose what makes the most sense.
Time is recorded in 0.1-hour (6-minute) increments and detailed on your invoice. For example, a 24-minute phone call is billed as 0.4. Time is rounded up to the nearest 0.1-hour increment.
There is no refund for work completed, but any unused retainer funds are returned to you once all final invoices are cleared.