The Meeting on Bay Street

And things did go well with the lawyer, thanks for asking. She was really impressed with the amount of prep work I did and didn't think it was going to take too long to get the ball rolling. There's a bunch drafts that she needs to put together using the material I collected but she thinks that we may even be able to have everything finished before I go away on the 22nd. That's amazing.

Here's a funny story. At the end of all the "talking about my dad" stuff, this conversation followed:

LL (lawyer lady): This is when I usually talk to the client about the retainer. We typically ask for a $5000...

Me: audible squeek

LL: in cases such as this. Obviously you will be repaid the money from your father's account once you have the Certificate of Guardianship. If you can't manage that we have, in the past, made an exception and asked for 1/2 the retainer amount and settled with $2500.

Me: second audible squeek

LL: Is this something you and your family can manage?"

Me: To be completely honest, right now I have $350 dollars to my name. Tomorrow it'll be up to possibly $800. I know my family isn't in the position to cover this as my aunt, who was living with my dad, is under some financial strain because he is no longer around to give the financial support he was providing her, and my aunt and uncle are still recovering from my uncle's heartattack five years ago. So no... I don't think this is something we can manage.

LL: Okay, well why don't we just move forward and cover expenses as they arrise and worry about the final bill when the time comes.

Me: Yes, I think that would be best. Thank you.

I was a little ticked because when I originally talked to her brother about the firm taking on our case, he mentioned nothing about a retainer. He did tell me it was going to be expensive but there was no mention of cash up front. So I was very please to see that it didn't become a matter of them not helping me because of it. whew!