What a Tenancy Law Consultation Is For (and What It Isn't)
If you've shopped around for a tenancy lawyer (in BC), you've probably noticed that consultations vary widely. Some firms offer a free 15-minute call. Others offer a quick "case evaluation" run by an intake coordinator. At Bright Law, we charge for our consultations and spend real time on them.
There's a very good reason why we do that, which we'll cover below.
The free consultation model
Free or very short consultations are usually designed to answer one question: will this person become a client? The call screens the file, and if it looks promising, you get a retainer agreement. If it doesn't, you get a polite "we can't help."
There's nothing wrong with that model, but understand what you're getting. A screening call isn't legal advice. It's a sales conversation, and the firm's interest is in signing the file.
Our model: you're paying for advice
A Bright Law consultation isn't an audition for a retainer. The fee pays for a lawyer's time and a candid assessment of your situation, whether or not you ever hire us.
In practice, that means we:
Get the full picture. Tenancy disputes turn on details: dates, notices, what was said in writing, and what wasn't. We ask a lot of questions, because the answer usually lives in the facts.
Test the weak points. Anyone can tell you what's strong about your case. We focus on what the other side will argue and what an arbitrator is likely to be skeptical of, because that's where cases are won or lost.
Apply the law as it's actually decided. The Residential Tenancy Branch relies on its Policy Guidelines and a body of case law in deciding disputes. We know that framework well; some of our own cases are cited in the RTB's Policy Guidelines.
Give you a clear view. By the end, you should know where you stand, what your options are, and what each one realistically costs and offers.
Our opinion is an opinion
This is the part people sometimes find uncomfortable: our assessment is a professional opinion, not a verdict.
We're not arbitrators, and we don't decide your case. We advise you based on the facts you give us and our experience with how the RTB and the BC Supreme Court handle similar disputes. You don't have to agree with us. You're free to get a second opinion, and you're free to proceed on your own.
What we won't do is tell you what you want to hear.
Why "no" can be the most valuable answer
Sometimes our honest assessment is that a claim isn't worth pursuing, or that parts of it will be hard to prove. Nobody books a consultation hoping to hear that. But consider the alternative.
A weak claim doesn't just fail. It costs you months of preparation, filing fees, and stress. It can hurt your credibility before an arbitrator on the parts of your case that are strong. And it can invite a counterclaim that leaves you worse off than when you started.
Learning that in one hour, before you've spent thousands of dollars, is money well spent. Just as often, the consultation reveals the opposite: a claim is stronger than the client realized, or a better strategy exists than the one they came in with.
Strategy is what we're really selling
The consultation is where our strategy work begins. When we take on a file, it's because we believe in it, and because we can see a path to a good outcome.
That selectivity is why our track record looks the way it does. Our work has shaped how tenancy law is applied in BC, including decisions now cited in the RTB's own Policy Guidelines. Our clients get results because we build each case around a deliberate strategy from day one, not because we take every file that comes through the door.
Before you book
If you're considering a consultation with us, here's how to get the most from it:
Bring your documents. That includes your tenancy agreement, any notices, key texts and emails, and photos.
Be candid about the bad facts. We can only plan around problems we know about.
Come in open to hearing the truth. The goal is clarity, not reassurance.
You can read more about how our consultations work at bctenancylaw.ca/how-we-do-it, or book a consultation directly.
This post is general information, not legal advice. Every tenancy is different. For advice on your situation, book a consultation.
