Terms of Use
By accessing and using this website (“Site”), you agree to the following terms and conditions. If you do not agree with these Terms of Use, please do not use the Site.
Not Legal Advice
The content on this Site is provided for general informational purposes only. It should not be construed as legal advice or as a substitute for consulting a qualified lawyer. While we strive to keep the information up to date and accurate, laws and regulations may change, and the applicability of information can vary based on specific circumstances. No one should act, or refrain from acting, based solely on the materials on this website without seeking professional legal counsel. If you require legal advice tailored to your situation, please contact a licensed lawyer.
No Lawyer–Client Relationship
Your use of this Site, including viewing content, using contact forms, or communicating with us via email or through the website, does not establish a lawyer–client (solicitor–client) relationship. Communicating with our lawyer or firm through the Site or by email does not mean we represent you in any legal matter. We have no obligation to maintain confidentiality of information you send us until a formal lawyer–client relationship is established (see Retaining Our Services below).
Only when you have formally retained our services (for example, through a signed retainer agreement or engagement letter and fulfillment of any required conditions) will a lawyer–client relationship be created. Until then, please do not assume information you provide is protected by solicitor–client privilege or that we are taking any action on your behalf.
Retaining Our Services (How to Establish a Lawyer–Client Relationship)
If you are interested in engaging our lawyer or firm for legal representation, you must go through our client intake and retainer process. The general steps are as follows:
- Initial Contact: You may contact us by phone or via the contact form on this Site to request a consultation or inquire about our services. Please provide only basic information (e.g. your name, contact details, and your charges) during this initial contact. During our initial call, we only provide answers to general questions and do not discuss the details or specifics of your case. This approach helps avoid any misunderstanding that a solicitor-client relationship or privilege has been established at this stage.
- Conflict Check: Before we can represent you, we are required by the Law Society of Ontario’s rules to ensure there are no conflicts of interest. This means we will confirm that your interests do not conflict with those of an existing or past client. We may ask for some additional details solely to perform this conflict check.
- Agreement to Act: If no conflict is found and we are able to take your case, we will confirm our willingness to act for you. At this stage, we will provide you with a Retainer Agreement or Engagement Letter outlining the scope of our services, the terms of our representation, and any fees or retainers (deposits) required. We will discuss and answer any questions you have about this agreement.
- Formation of Lawyer–Client Relationship: A solicitor–client relationship is officially formed only after you have agreed to the terms of representation. This typically involves signing the retainer agreement or engagement letter and returning it to us, and fulfilling any initial requirements (such as paying a retainer fee, if required). Once these steps are completed, we will formally begin representing you and your communications with us will be protected by solicitor–client confidentiality (subject to the scope of our engagement).
Until all the above steps are completed and we have confirmed in writing that we will act for you, you are not a client of the firm. We reserve the right to decline representation after the initial consultation or conflict check if we determine we cannot act for you. Do not rely on any information on this Site or any discussions before formal retention as legal advice for your specific situation.
Communications & Confidentiality
We value your privacy and take our duty of confidentiality seriously once a lawyer–client relationship is established. However, prior to becoming an official client, any communications you send to us may not be fully confidential. Please review the points below regarding communication and confidentiality:
- Email and Internet Risks: Communicating with us via email or through this Site’s contact form involves using the Internet. Please be aware that email and online communications are not completely secure. Information sent over the Internet can be intercepted, lost, or even altered. We cannot guarantee the privacy or security of any information you submit through this Site or via email before you are our client. If our website invites you to submit an inquiry, understand that those initial communications occur before we have agreed to represent you, and therefore they are not yet protected by solicitor–client privilege. Consider limiting the detail you share initially, as described below in our contact form guidelines.
- No Confidentiality for Unsolicited Information: Any unsolicited information you provide to us (for example, a detailed description of your legal matter sent through an open text box or email, without our request or prior agreement) will not be treated as confidential. Until we have agreed to act as your lawyers, any information you send us could be used to check for conflicts of interest or otherwise dealt with in accordance with our professional obligations, but we do not guarantee it will be kept privileged as it may be the case that your inquiry is never read. Please avoid sending sensitive or detailed confidential information until we have established a lawyer–client relationship.
- Once You Are a Client: After you have retained us and become a client, all information you provide to us within the scope of our representation will be kept confidential and protected by solicitor–client privilege, in accordance with the rules of the Law Society of Ontario and applicable laws. We will take all necessary steps to preserve your confidentiality. Keep in mind, however, that lawyer–client privilege is yours to protect as well. We advise our clients to also keep communications with their lawyer private and secure on their end, to maintain privilege. For example, do not forward our legal advice emails to others or discuss your legal advice publicly, as doing so might waive confidentiality protections.
Jurisdiction
This Site can be viewed worldwide, but it is intended for individuals interested in our legal services within the jurisdictions where our lawyer(s) are licensed. Our principal lawyer is licensed to practice law in the Province of Ontario, Canada, as a member of the Law Society of Ontario. We do not purport to practice or offer legal services in any other province, state, or country. Laws and legal procedures can differ significantly from one jurisdiction to another. If you are accessing this Site from outside Ontario or dealing with legal matters outside of Ontario, please be aware that the information on this Site may not apply in your jurisdiction. In such cases, you should seek advice from a lawyer licensed in the relevant jurisdiction. Any mention of laws or legal principles on this Site is based on Ontario law or Canadian federal law, unless otherwise stated.
Use of Contact Forms and Initial Inquiries
For your convenience and protection, our website provides a structured contact form for initial inquiries instead of a broad, unrestricted message box. This approach is intentional: it helps you provide the basic information we need to understand your inquiry, without prompting you to divulge extensive confidential details upfront. We strongly recommend that you use this contact form for reaching out, and only fill in the specific fields requested. Please do not include confidential or sensitive personal information beyond what is asked. For example, it is usually sufficient to provide a broad outline like “seeking advice on an assault charge” rather than providing a detailed history of the allegation. We will request more information as needed once we establish that we can potentially act for you. This careful process makes it clear that submitting information through the contact us form does not establish a lawyer-client relationship.
Privacy and Data Protection
We are committed to protecting your privacy. Any personal data collected through this Site or via communications with you will be handled in accordance with applicable privacy laws and professional regulations, including the Law Society of Ontario’s rules on confidentiality and Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), where applicable.
Disclaimer of Liability
While we endeavor to ensure that all information on this Site is accurate and up-to-date, we make no warranties or representations as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of any information or content on the Site. The Site and all content are provided “as is” and “as available,” without warranty of any kind, either express or implied. We will not be responsible or liable for any harm, loss, or damages arising from your use of the Site or reliance on its information. This includes without limitation any indirect or consequential damages, or any damages for loss of use, data, profits, whether in an action of contract, negligence or other tortious action, arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of the Site or the information available in it. By using the Site, you agree that you use it at your own risk. If you are dissatisfied with any portion of the Site or these terms, your sole and exclusive remedy is to discontinue use of the Site.
Changes to These Terms
We may update or revise these Terms of Use from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. It is your responsibility to review these Terms periodically for any updates. Your continued use of the Site after any changes to the Terms have been posted will signify your acceptance of those changes.
Contact Information
This website is operated by Kahlon Law Professional Corporation, a law firm licensed in Ontario, Canada. If you have any questions about these Terms of Use, or if you need to contact us for any reason, please use the contact information provided on our Site (you may reach us by phone at 416-502-8555 or by email at info@kahlonlaw.com. We will be happy to assist you.
