Monkhouse Law is one of Ontario’s leading employment law firms, representing employees and independent contractors in Toronto and across Ontario in negotiations, mediations, and court proceedings. Since 2013, our employment lawyers have represented thousands of individuals and have appeared in more than 100 reported court decisions.
Our lawyers are also regularly featured as employment law experts in national publications, including CBC News, The Globe and Mail, CTV News, Toronto Star, Law360 Canada, and Canadian HR Reporter.
Thank you for considering Monkhouse Law to assist with your employment matter. We understand that navigating a workplace issue can be complicated and stressful.
Our goal is to make pricing clear and fair so you can focus on understanding your employment rights and making informed decisions. We offer several billing options depending on the type of matter and legal services required, including contingency fees, hourly retainers, and flat fees for specific services.
Monkhouse Law Fees at a Glance
- Initial phone consultation: Free (30 minutes with a lawyer or paralegal)
- Case review: $400 + HST (a lawyer reviews your documents and gives you legal advice)
- Contingency retainer: $400 + HST upfront, then one-third (33.33%) of the improvement we obtain for you (40% for appeals and counterclaims). Our maximum contingency fee percentage is 40%. If there is no improvement, you owe no further legal fees in most cases.
- Hourly retainer: The lawyer’s hourly rate, confirmed in writing before work begins, usually billed quarterly.
- Employment contract review: $500 + HST flat fee, conducted by an employment lawyer (45-minute appointment with an employment lawyer; contract provided in advance for review)
HST applies to all fees. Disbursements (third-party expenses such as court filing fees) are separate from legal fees.
More information about each of Monkhouse Law’s fee arrangements and how our process works is provided below.
If you would like to better understand what these different billing terms mean, our guide to how much an employment lawyer costs in Ontario explains contingency fees, hourly rates, flat fees, retainers, disbursements, and other common employment law costs in more detail.
How Our Process Works
1. Free 30 Minute Phone Consultation
Your first step is a free 30 minute phone consultation with a Monkhouse Law lawyer or paralegal. You describe your situation, ask questions, and we tell you whether and how we can help. There is no charge and no obligation. Consultations are available to employees and independent contractors anywhere in Ontario.
2. Case Review – $400 + HST
If your matter needs a closer look, the next step is a paid case review. An employment lawyer reviews your documents (for example, a termination letter, severance package, or employment contract), explains your legal rights and options, and gives you clear advice on what your claim may be worth and how to proceed. Many clients use a case review to decide whether to accept a severance offer or negotiate for more.
- The case review is a fixed fee of $400 + HST.
- Some clients stop here because advice is all they need. Others go on to hire us on a contingency fee or hourly retainer.
3. Hiring Us: Contingency Fee or Hourly Retainer
After your case review, your lawyer will recommend either a contingency retainer or an hourly retainer, depending on the type of matter and what you want to achieve.
Contingency Retainer (No Win, No Additional Legal Fees)
A contingency fee means our legal fee is a percentage of the improvement we obtain for you, rather than an hourly charge. This is the most common way Monkhouse Law is retained for severance and wrongful dismissal claims.
- Upfront: $400 + HST
- Fee: one third (33.33%) of the improvement. For appeals or counterclaims, 40%. Our maximum contingency fee percentage is 40%.
- “Improvement” means the additional amount we recover for you beyond what your employer initially offered. For example, if your employer offered $20,000 and we settle for $50,000, the improvement is $30,000, and our fee is one third of that amount, or $10,000 plus HST. You keep the original $20,000 offer in full plus $20,000 of the improvement.
- If there is no improvement, you do not owe any additional legal fees unless you are in a situation where the lack of improvement is because you get a new, better job.
- Disbursements are third-party costs (such as court filing fees, process servers, or couriers) that you would have to pay even without a lawyer. They are not legal fees. Monkhouse Law pays disbursements as they arise and is reimbursed for them from the recovery at the end of the matter. Our case review is designed to confirm that the likely improvement justifies any disbursements before we recommend proceeding.
- Our contingency fee agreements use the Law Society of Ontario’s standard form and comply with the Solicitors Act and its contingency fee regulations. Before you sign, we provide the Law Society’s consumer guide, Contingency Fees: What You Need to Know.
- Our experience: Because our contingency fee is tied to the improvement we obtain, our results matter to you. Monkhouse Law lawyers have over 100 reported court decisions and, since 2013, have taken more employment law cases to trial and more to the Ontario Court of Appeal than any other firm in Ontario. You can review examples of our work on our Notable Employment Law Cases page.
- The result: you can pursue your employment rights without large upfront costs, and our fee is tied directly to the additional value we obtain for you.
Please note: matters involving a signed release will generally not proceed on a contingency retainer after a paid case review, and would more likely require an hourly retainer. Signed releases are often difficult to challenge under Ontario law unless exceptional circumstances apply, and the case review will tell you where your matter stands.
Hourly Retainer
On an hourly retainer, you pay for the lawyer’s time at an agreed hourly rate. Hourly retainers are usually recommended for matters where a contingency fee does not fit, for example:
- Complex or ongoing workplace issues (accommodation, harassment investigations, discipline, or performance management while you remain employed)
- Non-monetary matters, such as negotiating the terms of a new position or a departure where money is not the main issue
- Matters involving a signed release
- Your lawyer’s hourly rate is confirmed in writing before any work begins.
- Time is billed quarterly, with a detailed account of the work done.
Flat Fees for Specific Services
Employment Contract Review – $500 + HST
- A lawyer reviews your employment agreement or independent contractor agreement before you sign it, or an existing agreement you want to understand.
- Your contract is sent to us beforehand for review, followed by a 45-minute appointment with the lawyer.
- You receive advice on key terms such as termination and severance clauses, non-competition and non-solicitation provisions, bonus and commission entitlements, probation, and changes to your role.
- Fixed fee: $500 + HST.
Frequently Asked Questions About Monkhouse Law Fees
The questions below address Monkhouse Law’s specific fees and billing arrangements. For more general information about legal fees, including hourly rates, contingency fees, retainers, disbursements, HST, and other potential costs, see our guide to how much an employment lawyer costs in Ontario.
Is the first consultation with Monkhouse Law free?
Yes. Monkhouse Law offers a free 30-minute phone consultation with a lawyer or paralegal. This gives you an opportunity to briefly explain your situation and determine whether Monkhouse Law may be able to assist. If your circumstances require a detailed legal assessment, document review, or advice about the potential value of a claim, a paid case review may be recommended. The applicable fee will be explained before you decide whether to proceed.
How much does Monkhouse Law charge to review a severance package?
A severance package can be reviewed as part of a $400 + HST case review. A lawyer can review your termination letter, severance package, employment agreement, compensation information, and other relevant employment documents before explaining your potential rights and options and advising you about possible next steps. For more information, see our guide to severance pay in Ontario.
What is Monkhouse Law’s contingency fee?
For eligible matters, Monkhouse Law’s standard contingency fee is one-third (33.33%) of the improvement obtained for you. Appeals and counterclaims may be subject to a 40% contingency fee, and Monkhouse Law’s maximum contingency fee percentage is 40%. The applicable percentage and the way your fee will be calculated will be explained before you enter into a contingency fee agreement.
How much do I pay upfront for a contingency matter?
For an eligible matter handled on contingency, the upfront amount is $400 + HST.
How much does Monkhouse Law charge for an employment contract review?
Monkhouse Law charges a flat fee of $500 + HST for an employment contract review conducted by a lawyer. The contract is provided to the lawyer in advance for review, followed by a 45-minute appointment to discuss the agreement and answer your questions.
Can I work with Monkhouse Law if I live outside Toronto?
Yes. Monkhouse Law represents employees and independent contractors throughout Ontario. Consultations and many other legal services can be provided by phone or video, so you do not need to live in Toronto to work with the firm.
Why Choose Monkhouse Law?
Choosing an employment lawyer involves more than comparing fees. You also want to understand the experience of the firm you are hiring, the types of employment matters it handles, and its approach to representing employees.
Monkhouse Law focuses on employment law and represents employees and independent contractors in Toronto and throughout Ontario. Since 2013, our lawyers have represented thousands of individuals and have experience at every stage of an employment matter, from providing legal advice and negotiating with employers through mediation, trials, and appeals.
Monkhouse Law lawyers have over 100 reported court decisions and, since 2013, have taken more employment law cases to trial and more to the Ontario Court of Appeal than any other firm in Ontario. You can review examples of our work on our Notable Employment Law Cases page.
Our lawyers are also regularly sought out for employment law commentary by national media and legal publications, including CBC News, The Globe and Mail, CTV News, Toronto Star, Law360 Canada, and Canadian HR Reporter. You can learn more about our lawyers’ media commentary and publications on our News and Publications page.
Our approach is to provide clear, practical advice so that you understand your options, the potential costs, and the possible outcomes before deciding how you want to proceed. Whether you are seeking advice about a severance package, reviewing an employment agreement, or considering a legal claim against an employer, the fee arrangement available for your matter will be explained before you decide whether to proceed.
Speak With an Employment Lawyer
If you have been terminated, received a severance package, been presented with an employment agreement, or are dealing with another workplace issue, you can start with a free 30 minute phone consultation.
Please complete the form below to tell us about your situation.
All inquiries are private and confidential. Completing a form, calling, or emailing Monkhouse Law does not by itself create a lawyer-client relationship. Legal services begin only after the applicable written retainer or contingency fee agreement has been entered into.
Fees current as of September 1, 2026.