DADS CANADA

FROM THE PAGES OF:

THE TORONTO SUN

SATURDAY MARCH 15TH, 2008

PAGE 31

Paralegal facing uncertain future

Non-lawyers regulated

By IAN ROBERTSON, SUN MEDIA
 

An ex-Toronto trucker who championed divorced dads for 15 years says he will pull the plug on his paralegal service due to the province clamping down on non-lawyers.

Stacy Robb, 52, told the Sun he chose Father's Day -- June 15 -- as the deadline for closing DADS Canada.

Since the Ontario government introduced its Access to Justice Act last year, he said calls from desperate dads dropped off dramatically.

"Without any support, I can't continue," Robb said.

"Learning from lawyers" during his own child custody proceedings, he decided to help other hard-pressed dads. "I charged people what they could afford," sometimes getting nothing, other times only $50 in "donations."

With the Law Society of Upper Canada now regulating paralegals, Robb blames the government for forcing more people into the clutches of high-priced lawyers "instead of hiring affordable help."

But the province insists the industry needed regulating due to unqualified practitioners, plus clients who didn't know the limits of paralegals compared to lawyers.

GREATER ACCESS

The act was part of a package of reforms to provide greater access to legal help, Attorney General Michael Bryant said when the act was passed in late 2006.

The regulations "protect the public by ensuring that those who provide legal services have training, carry liability insurance and are members of a public body with the power to investigate complaints," Valerie Hopper, spokesman for the attorney general, said yesterday.

She said the law society, which began overseeing paralegals last May 1, has over 200 years of experience.

Robb states on his website "we are out of money" and will only respond to e-mails via www.dadscanada.com as a "last chance to save DADS Canada." Without support, "I'm going to have to apply for welfare."

THE ABOVE STORY, AS PRINTED IN THE TORONTO SUN IS TRUE AND ACCURATE

- DOCUMENTED -

A BRIEF HISTORY

DADS Canada Family Services Inc. ( DADS Canada ) was a Toronto, Ontario, Canada, non-profit support group and legal services provider, that helped fathers deal with Family Court issues, to obtain a fair settlement, for all involved.

We are dedicated to serving our member clients with the support, counseling, coaching and legal assistance they need at very affordable prices.  Many of the people that have used our services saved thousands of dollars in legal fees by becoming educated consumers of legal services through our unbiased personal coaching and preparation of court documents.

Since 1994, DADS Canada has assisted people just like you to quickly gain a knowledge of the family law system.  We help people to organize their family law legal case and to complete family law forms while saving themselves thousands of dollars in lawyer's fees. Many of our strategies result in lower stress and maintain your relationship with your children

Many of our members were self represented in court because of their limited financial resources. In fact, about 80% of family law litigants in Ontario are now self-represented. Although most of our clients are in Ontario, the laws are the same or similar in other provinces.

The inside track on family law

With our help, you will learn quickly about family law strategies and the family court system. Some of this information won't be explained by any lawyer. Become an educated consumer of lawyer's services and save thousands of dollars.  Don't pay thousands of dollars up front to retain a lawyer. Learn what you can do to prepare your case for a lawyer. We can save you thousands of dollars.

You will also learn about other methods for avoiding lawyer's fees and reducing the stress related to divorce while protecting your assets and your relationship with your children.

Our Advocacy

Many of our member clients get involved with our volunteer advocacy work. This may take the form of protests, helping prepare presentations to government committees or distributing literature on much needed family law change.  For more info see our web pages "DADS In The News" on the left navigation menu or click here.

UPDATE TO FOLLOW