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St. Catharines and Welland Employment Lawyers St. Catharines and Welland Employment assistance and legal advice Have an Employment matter in St. Catharines, Welland, or Niagara Region? Not sure what to do and need help? Our firm has lawyers who can assist on Employment matters, with our rate being $300+HST/hr (for work completed by our Lawyers). Employment Scope You may find that our Lawyers can be useful in your matters pertaining to: wrongful termination; wrongful dismissal; termination packages; discrimination; human rights complaints; human rights tribunal of Ontario; Where Do I Begin? Some of the most important things to remember are: usually, you have to commence a claim within a limited period of time since the incident. There are various Rules regarding timelines that all parties must adhere to, otherwise you risk the Court making orders against you, including orders to pay the other side costs (ex. legal costs). You may wish to consult a lawyer to decide whether you can represent yourself or prefer to hire a representative. Call us for a free 15- minute consultation. Ontario-Wide Assistance Employment Litigation matters can proceed virtually (via Zoom or videoconferencing). We can work on your matter in Ontario, wherever you are. If travel is required for the matter, we charge reasonable travel fees. COURT LOCATIONS NEAR US: Welland Courthouse 102 East Main Street Welland, Ontario L3B 3W6 St. Catharines Courthouse 59 Church Street St. Catharines, Ontario L2R 7N8 Hamilton Courthouse 55 Main St. W. Hamilton, Ontario L8P 1H4 Hamilton (John Sopinka) Courthouse 45 Main St. E. Hamilton, Ontario L8N 2B7 Let’s Work Together Get in touch so we can start working together. Leave your email or phone number and we will get back to you. First Name Last Name Email Message Send Thanks for submitting!

Landlord and Tenant Lawyers St. Catharines and Welland Landlord and Tenant Assistance Have a Landlord and Tenant Board matter in St. Catharines, Welland, or Hamilton? Not sure what to do and need help? Our firm has lawyers who can assist on Landlord and Tenant Board matters in the area. Our fee for Landlord and Tenant Board matters is $250+HST/hr (for work completed by our Lawyers). Lawyers vs. Paralegal? Lawyers in Ontario have 7 years' education prior to licensing, while Paralegals typically have about 2 years' education.* Landlord and Tenant Board Scope In Ontario, you can go to the Landlord and Tenant Board for evicting a tenant, requesting that your Landlord complete maintenance, refunds on extra rent paid, increasing the rent you charge your tenants, etc. For anything where the total sought may go over $35,000, you would go to the Superior Court of Justice unless you are willing to waive the excess costs. Where Do I Begin? Some of the most important things to remember are: usually, you have to commence a claim within a limited period of time since the incident. There are various Rules regarding timelines that all parties must adhere to, otherwise you risk the Tribunal making orders against you, including orders to pay the other side costs (ex. legal costs). You may wish to consult a lawyer to decide whether you can represent yourself or prefer to hire a representative. Call us for a free 15- minute consultation. Ontario-Wide Assistance Landlord and Tenant Board matters usually proceed virtually (via Zoom or videoconferencing). We can work on your matter in Ontario, wherever you are located. *Education and licensing varies. Lawyer licensing information is current as of 2025. Tags: LTB Landlord and Tenant Board Lawyer Niagara lawyer in Welland Lawyer in St. Catharines Niagara Region lawyers near me COURT LOCATIONS NEAR US: Welland Courthouse 102 East Main Street Welland, Ontario L3B 3W6 St. Catharines Courthouse 59 Church Street St. Catharines, Ontario L2R 7N8 Hamilton Courthouse 55 Main St. W. Hamilton, Ontario L8P 1H4 Hamilton (John Sopinka) Courthouse 45 Main St. E. Hamilton, Ontario L8N 2B7 Let’s Work Together Get in touch so we can start working together. Leave your email or phone number and we will get back to you. First Name Last Name Email Message Send Thanks for submitting!

Legal fees should not be a secret. We provide cost-effective services. FEES Hourly Rates Sage Legal Solutions bills according on who is working on your matter. Matters such as Litigation and Employment are charged at $300/hour for most of our Lawyers. For Smalls Claims, Landlord Tenant Board matters, and Human Rights Tribunals, the rate is $250/hour for most of our Lawyers. Legal services performed by junior lawyers, students, paralegal students, and clerks are charged at a lesser rate which is specified in your retainer agreement. Deposit Prior to beginning work, a $3,000 to $5,000 retainer is due, depending on the complexity of your case. This is held in trust, and once work begins on your case, you are billed periodically with the funds coming from your retainer deposit. Top-ups are due when required. After your case is completed, any funds remaining in trust will be returned to you. Additional Information We offer unbundled legal services, or full service. In those cases, the retainer deposit may be lower. *Disbursements, third-party charges and taxes (HST) will be charged in addition to our fees. *Currently, we are not providing contingency or pro bono fee arrangements. Applicable rate to be confirmed during consultation.

This is a no-cost, 15 minute consultation with a Lawyer to see if we are a good fit for you. Please request either a telephone or a video call (Zoom).

There are some upcoming changes to the Small Claims Court procedures coming into effect on October 1, 2025. For those unfamiliar with civil procedure, Small Claims Court is a branch of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. The first step in any civil matter is to determine which court has jurisdiction. Currently, there are 3 ways to proceed through the court system; simplified procedure for claims up to $200,000; regular procedure for claims of any amount – there is no maximum threshold; and Small Claims Court for monetary claims under $35,000. Small Claims Court is often a more appealing choice to navigate the legal system due to the quicker, simpler, and more affordable process. Currently, the monetary limit an individual can claim in Small Claims Court is $35,000.00, however, as of October 1, 2025, the amendment Ontario Regulation 626/00  increases that limit to $50,000. What does this mean for claimants? Under the old Rules, the courts would see many plaintiffs often choosing to write off thousands of dollars in damages in order for their matter to be heard in Small Claims Court. The new change allows for a larger threshold, and less loss to claimants. The changes are also being implemented to keep up with today’s economy, and to improve access to justice for individuals, all while easing the strain of the higher courts. The last increase to the claim limit was made in 2020 when the limit increased from $25,000 to the current $35,000.

Opposing party not willing to settle? Offer not good enough? If your matter is proceeding to trial, adequate preparation is essential. Follow these steps to ensure you are ready: Gather Evidence : Collate all relevant documents, emails, and communication records that could support your case. For example, if you are disputing a contract, gather copies of the original agreement. There are specific requirements for how your evidence is provided to other parties and to the court - including what colour paper to use, document format, deadlines of when to provide documents to the other party versus to the court... Understand Court Etiquette : Acquaint yourself with the court's rules and procedures. Understanding what to expect can ease your anxiety. For example, knowing how to formally introduce yourself and your case can help you present more effectively. Dress appropriately - business attire is best. Practice Your Presentation : If you represent yourself, rehearse your key points. Practicing can boost your confidence and clarity while presenting before a judge. You can prepare your entire case yourself and then hire someone to represent you only at the hearing. This is called "unbundled representation" or "limited assistance". You can inquire with us via email at: contact@sagelegalsolutions.ca or phone: 289-270-7243

Before your case reaches its conclusion, consider alternative settlement options. These can save you from lengthy, costly court proceedings. Common methods include: Mediation : A neutral mediator facilitates a discussion between both parties to find a mutually acceptable solution. Arbitration : An arbitrator hears both sides and makes a binding decision, which can be faster than traditional trials. Direct Negotiation : Engaging the opposing party in straightforward conversations might lead to an agreement without involving mediators. Usually, lawyers will start with Direct Negotiation first. This can happen at any stage - on first contact to the opposing party, throughout the court process, or right before trial. Lawyers will make recommendations but it is ultimately up to you, the client, to decide what you'd like to offer. Each of these options can offer a path that avoids the complexities and expenses of a trial.