Saved time, stress makes hiring a family lawyer worthwhile

 
“I’ve seen it done somewhat effectively, but it is not for everybody”, says Mazzeo, principal of Mazzeo Law.
 
“There are many people who would have a hard time speaking before a judge and getting a point across in any persuasive manner”, he says.
 
“At the end of the day, I think this will be a better arrangement for my clients”, he says.
 
Navigating the court system, meeting deadlines and preparing for appearances can be difficult for people on their own, especially when they have competing demands from work and family life while going through a separation.
 
“People hire family lawyers for a reason”, Mazzeo says. “This kind of work keeps me busy every day.”
 
According to the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General, more than 57 per cent of Ontarians did not have legal representation in family court in 2014-15.
 
“Navigating the family law system without the help of a qualified legal professional can be a daunting task, yet so many Ontarians feel they have no other choice,” Madeleine Meiller, Ontario’s Attorney General and Minister of Francophone Affairs, says in a press release.
 
The large proportion of unrepresented litigants has prompted the Ontario government to partner with the Law Society of Upper Canada to conduct a review to consider whether a broader range of legal services providers, such as paralegals, law clerks and students, should be allowed to handle certain family law matters.
 
Mazzeo says he doesn’t support the proposal to expand legal service to professionals other than lawyers. He says he is concerned about qualifications of other legal personnel and possible issues with giving clients improper advice.
 
He says while the abundance of unrepresented litigants is being recognized more as a problem, there are no clear solutions.
 
“The biggest problem that the self-represented people identify is money. What is the alternative? The alternative may be lawyers offering things at a more affordable rate, but most feel they are underpaid as it is so I don’t know if that’s an option.”
 
Mazzeo says he also has an issue with unbundling services as a way to reduce costs for family law clients.
 
“It’s not something I promote or offer because I believe the best way I can help a client is to represent them from start to finish, as opposed to doing one task-oriented thing and then forgetting about it.”
 
Instead, Mazzeo believes lawyers should do a better job of informing and educating separating spouses on how a lawyer can best serve their needs.
 
It’s also important for clients to realize it might be worth the money to save possible prolonged, confusing court involvement, which may not garner the result they had hoped for, he says.
 
“If there are two lawyers involved and you are not dealing with self-represented parties and you are able to get things done more quickly and efficiently, and save on stress and time, that could even be more important, and more valuable, than money”, Mazzeo says.
 
For more family law news and information please visit http://www.mazzeolaw.ca/

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