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contact@rossmcbride.com

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Bakerlaw Response to COVID-19

  • March 17, 2020
  • BakerLaw

Bakerlaw is supporting the public health recommendations to reduce the spread of COVID-19. We have implemented a work from home plan for all associates effective immediately. Until further notice, our office doors will remain locked. A bakerlaw team member will be on site to accept service and receive deliveries. We will continue to monitor the situation and adapt to changes as necessary.

What if I need to contact a lawyer/paralegal?

Associates can be reached via their emails. While we will continue to monitor our voicemails, our response time will be delayed. Accordingly, we encourage our existing clients to contact the associate responsible for their matter via email if there are any questions or concerns regarding their matters.

If you are looking for a consultation or to retain a lawyer, our intake process will continue to operate. However, please be prepared to expect between 1 to 2 weeks delay before a response is received. We encourage everyone seeking a consultation to contact us using our website form here (link), email us directly at info@bakerlaw.ca, or call us at 416-533-0040 ext. 230. We will not accept walk-ins.

In an effort to practice social distancing, all consultations will be provided via telephone until further notice.

What’s going to happen to my case already before the Court/Tribunal?

If you currently have a matter before the Courts/Tribunals, there may be delays or adjournments resulting from efforts to address the COVID-19 crisis.

The Supreme Court of Canada announced its building will be restricted to those persons necessary to the proceedings before the Court. At this time, the Supreme Court will continue to issue judgments on applications for leave and on appeal. You can read more about this announcement from the Supreme Court here (link).

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice announced it will only hear urgent matters related to criminal, family, civil, or provincial offences cases. All other matters are currently postponed. The Court has also suspended all sittings of the Ontario Small Claims Court until further notice. You can read more about this announcement and the steps being taken by the Superior Court here (link) and here (link). You can read the announcement regarding the Small Claims Court here (link).

The Federal Court has also announced that it will be closing its facilities to visitors. The Court will remain open for urgent case-related matters. You can read more about this announcement here (link).

The Social Justice Tribunals Ontario, including the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, are taking similar measures to deal with COVID-19. It has announced that it will postpone all in-person hearings until further notice. The Tribunal will be making efforts to consider alternative hearing options such as written and telephone hearings in order to minimize disruption to hearings across the organization. You can read more about this announcement and steps being taken by the Tribunals here (link).

Bakerlaw will work cooperatively with the measures in place by the Courts and Tribunals. We will continue to monitor these events and update our clients accordingly.

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