Monkhouse Law is one of Ontario’s top employment law firms, trusted by employees across the province for negotiations, mediations, and court proceedings. Our lawyers are regularly featured as experts in national publications, including CBC News, The Globe and Mail, CTV News, Toronto Star, Law360 Canada, and Canadian HR Reporter for their expertise in employment law.
Thank you for your interest in working with our employment lawyers and paralegals. We offer several billing options to match your needs. Most clients either pay hourly or on a contingency basis, and we also have flat fees for certain services.
Navigating workplace issues is complicated and stressful. Our goal is to make pricing clear, fair, and predictable so you can focus on understanding your rights and making informed decisions.
Every employment case is unique, and we’ll recommend the fee structure that gives you the best chance of success.
How Our Process Works
1. Free 30 Minute Phone Consultation
Your first step is a complimentary consultation with a lawyer or paralegal. This is a chance to share your situation, ask questions, and see how we can help.
2. Case Review – $400 + HST
If your matter requires a deeper assessment, the next step is a case review. A lawyer will review your documents (such as termination letters, severance offers, or contracts), explain your rights, and provide clear legal advice.
- Some clients choose to stop here if they only need advice.
- If you hire us after this step, the case review fee is credited toward your retainer.
3. Hiring Us: Contingency or Hourly Retainer
After your case review, your lawyer will recommend a contingency or hourly retainer based on your needs:
Contingency Retainer
- $400 + HST upfront (applied from your case review fee)
- 30% of the improvement (40% for appeals or counterclaims)
- “Improvement” means the additional amount we recover beyond your initial offer.
- If there’s no improvement, you don’t owe additional legal fees.
- Non-legal fee expenses (also called disbursements) — like court filing fees or courier costs — are expenses you’d pay even without a lawyer. We cover these upfront, and they are reimbursed at the end. Our case review ensures the likely improvement outweighs any disbursements required.
- This means you can pursue your rights without large upfront costs, knowing our interests are aligned with yours.
Hourly Retainer
- Pay for the lawyer’s time, billed quarterly
- Hourly rate confirmed before work begins
- Best for complex, ongoing, or non-monetary matters
Flat Fees for Specific Services
Contract Reviews
- Conducted by a lawyer
- $500 + HST
Why Choose Monkhouse Law
We believe in fair, transparent pricing and are committed to helping employees and independent contractors understand their rights and achieve fair outcomes. Our team focuses exclusively on employment law and has extensive experience representing clients at all stages of dispute resolution, from negotiation to trial.
Whether you’re seeking advice or full representation, we’ll guide you through your options and explain costs clearly before you decide.
To book a free 30 minute phone consultation, please complete the form below.
If you already know the service you need (such as a case review or contract review), email us directly at
All inquiries are private and confidential, and completing a form or emailing us does not create a lawyer–client relationship. Legal services begin only after a formal agreement is signed.
We look forward to helping you take the next step toward a resolution that works for you.