Silvano A. A. Del Rio   Barrister & Solicitor

Less than you may think for a senior lawyer. When I was associated with a prominent law firm, my services were charged to the clients by the firm at $350. per hour.  Now that I have opened my own practice, I have decided to reduce the hourly rate in order to make legal services more affordable to the general public. For more information on point, please contact me directly.

In addition, if the matter is not resolved within 12 months and you have paid a substantial amount in legal fees, I may agree to a modest reduction of my fees for protracted litigation matters. I do this because I realize the importance of access to justice. Keep in mind, however, that going to court is expensive, no matter what.

The best way to keep the cost of legal services down is to seek a reasonable compromise. Otherwise, you may end up with a Pyrrhic victory. However, you must never give up on getting child support or access to your children just because of financial constraints. That would be a terrible mistake, for you and your children. That is what Legal Aid is all about. 

I do not take retainers. I use the "pay-as-you-go" system. Clients pay as the work is being done, one step at a time, one payment at a time. This makes accounting easier for me and the clients do not have to come up with large sums of money all at once. 

No, sorry. But I give clients who pay my accounts within three business days a 4 % discount on the fees payable (not on the disbursements).  Call me to get details.  In addition, TD Canada Trust has agreed to offer my clients unsecured lines of credit at preferred rates (on approved credit). I do NOT accept large sums of cash.

Yes, I can. I have developed a type of "Quasi Legal Aid" system for clients who make less than $60K/year.  The system requires the client to provide me with reliable sworn information about his/her financial situation and that of his/her  immediate family members. The rate changes (up or down) if the client's income changes. The minimum rate is $110 per hour. I strive to be fair, but I reserve the right not to offer this incentive to any given client for any or no reason. Call me to get more details.

Yes, but only on the telephone. The first meeting is charged at $150.00, including HST, for up to 55 minutes.

Yes. If you are disabled there is no extra charge for coming to your home if you live in Mississauga or Toronto. If you are not disabled, there is an additional charge for travel time that varies depending upon where you live.

Absolutely. I can make myself available for you in the evening or during the weekend. In addition, I usually spend 90% of the time communicating with clients by e-mail or telephone. This means that you do not have to come in to my office and take time off work to see me unless there is an emergency, which rarely happens.

Also, I have an electronic fax that allows me to forward any faxes from opposing counsel (the usual way lawyers communicate with one another) to you as an e-mail so that you do not have to come in to pick them up. You can then review the documents on your computer at home when YOU have the time and let me know your thoughts by e-mail. All without taking any time off work.

I have had clients who travel all the time or reside in other countries around the globe and have been able to service them effectively with the assistance of modern technology.

Yes, French, Spanish and Italian. I am fluent in all three languages.

Yes, four; the first one involved a disabled woman whose husband left her shortly after he found out she had Parkinson's Disease. I obtained a court order requiring him to pay her over $100,000./year in spousal and child support. So far he has paid my client over $800,000..

The second one involved a father whose wife was determined to prevent him from having any relationship with their little daughter and leave Canada with her, going so far as to lay a false criminal charge against him of assault. The wife did not succeed. I was able to convince the Crown to withdraw the charge on the eve of trial. The little girl is now very happy, having both a father and a mother in her life, all living in the GTA.

The third one involved a young Francophone man who spoke no English; he ended up spending several days in custody on a minor charge because there was no French interpreter. Also, he was in danger of being deported back to his country where civil war was rampant. He is still in Canada and did not get a criminal record. I believe that I probably saved his life.

The last one involved an elderly woman who gave up spousal support in a home-made separation agreement; her husband was reasonably well off. The odd reason for the lack of support was that they had no children (as the separation agreement stated). The client thought the husband was invulnerable because he won all his court cases; not this one.  I had the separation agreement set aside by court order and spousal support awarded.