What Are Unbundled Legal Services in British Columbia?

Unbundled legal services, also known as legal coaching or limited-scope representation in BC, are a flexible and affordable approach to working with a lawyer. Instead of hiring a lawyer for an entire case from start to finish, unbundling lets clients choose only the specific tasks they want assistance with—paying only for targeted legal help where and when it is needed.

These three terms all refer to the same kind of legal help—support for just the parts of your case you choose:

• Unbundled Legal Services
• Legal Coaching
• Limited Scope Representation

Whether you call it Unbundled Legal Services, Limited Scope Representation, or Legal Coaching, each term means the lawyer helps only where you need it.

How Unbundled Legal Services Work in BC

These options allow you to obtain legal advice for specific steps in your process and handle the rest yourself. This may include reviewing or preparing court documents, providing strategic legal advice, or coaching clients prior to hearings. It is particularly popular in family law matters, where individuals sometimes represent themselves in mediation, court, or other forms of negotiation. 

Let’s face it, spending your hard-earned resources on legal fees is likely not the most exciting thing you have ever done with your money.  This approach allows you to have access to legal advice and strategic input when you need it, while still being the person who runs your case. 

With unbundled legal services, clients can break down the legal services they require into smaller parts. Clients access only the support they need. 

Access to Unbundled Services in BC

Not all lawyers offer unbundled services, but demand for them continues to grow. That is why, at Pathway Legal, we offer Unbundled Legal Services to our clients.

Organizations such as the People's Law School and the BC Law Society’s Family Unbundling Roster provide directories of lawyers and resources to help individuals determine if unbundled services are the right fit for their situation. This model helps bridge the access-to-justice gap for individuals who might otherwise go without legal assistance, providing a critical lifeline for those in need of affordable, high-impact legal support in British Columbia.

Case Study: Hailey’s Story

Why Hailey from Vancouver chose coaching instead of full legal representation — and why it worked

Recently, we had a client from Victoria, B.C., who utilized Pathway Legal for legal coaching and unbundled legal services. We will call her Hailey. Her situation is marked by intense and ongoing conflict with her ex-spouse, Mariam. Mariam is what we call in the family law industry a “high-conflict” person.

At the time of writing, this couple has been separated for just over four months, and they have already appeared in court multiple times. There are numerous cross-applications, many filed by Mariam and some filed by Hailey in opposition to the ones filed by Mariam.

Background of the Case

The many court applications and proceedings all started with Mariam applying to the court (behind Hailey’s back) for a “Protection Order.” Mariam convinced the Judge that she and their three children were in grave danger because of Hailey’s abuse and violence. Mariam convinced the judge that she had to flee the family home with the children and was at a women’s safe house to keep herself and the children safe.

Mariam advised the court that Hailey did not supervise their three children and allowed them to play on busy streets with heavy traffic. She said that Hailey did not know how to keep a clean home and that their house was filthy. She also stated that Hailey did not know how to provide the children with adequate nutrition and that Hailey was constantly screaming at Mariam and the children. Mariam also told the Judge that child protection authorities were involved with their family.

The problem was that none of these allegations was true.

Hailey’s Challenge and Choice

Hailey was not in a financial position to hire a law firm to provide her with full representation. Due to the time required to respond to the sheer magnitude of materials she needed to deal with, it would have cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Instead, Hailey utilized Pathway Legal under a limited scope representation retainer, or, as we call it, unbundled legal services.

How Pathway Legal family law Supported Hailey

Because Hailey ran her own case, she was the one to:

• correspond with Mariam’s legal representation
• file the court documents
• organize the court dates (in consultation with Pathway Legal’s availability).
  
• When it came time for court, she hired a Pathway Legal lawyer for the court appearances only.|

This was a great strategy. Hailey was able to successfully get the Protection Order set aside and resume parenting of the children.

Hailey is an intelligent person with many skills, so she was able to communicate effectively with Mariam’s lawyer, draft, file, and serve court documents (with our help), and keep track of all the court dates that needed to be scheduled.

Hailey was also aware that it should not be her who argued her case in front of the judge. For that, she hired us at Pathway Legal.

Frequently Asked Questions About Unbundled Legal Services

How are legal fees structured for limited scope representation? 

Most of the time, unbundled legal services are provided on an hourly basis. You essentially pay your lawyer “as you go” and only for the tasks you require. 

In some cases, we offer unbundled services on a flat-fee basis. For example, if you have already agreed with your ex spouse about the terms of your separation agreement, we will draft your legally binding separation agreement and provide you with the necessary legal advice.

In other cases our clients already have their separation agreement, but they want to move forward with a divorce. We can represent them on a flat fee basis as well. To discover more about Pathway Legal’s flat fee structure, please look at this article. 

Who are unbundled legal services right for?  

Unbundled legal services—also known as legal coaching or limited-scope representation—can be a good fit if you want targeted legal help without the cost of full representation. They are particularly suitable when:

• Your legal matter is straightforward, with clear tasks that can be divided between you and your lawyer.
• You’re seeking cost certainty and affordability, preferring pay-as-you-go or flat-fee pricing over a full retainer.
• You’re comfortable handling parts of your case, such as managing documents, deadlines, and communications, while relying on a lawyer for key steps, strategic advice, or appearances.
• You’re a self-represented litigant who wants professional guidance but wishes to retain control over your case.
• You want transparency in legal fees and value predictable costs for specific services like document preparation, negotiation, or a single court appearance.
• You and your lawyer can clearly define responsibilities in a limited-scope retainer agreement.
• You wish to minimize costs but not go it alone, recognizing the value of professional support for critical or complex tasks.

Summary of Unbundled legal services in BC

As you can see, unbundled legal services (also referred to as Limited Scope Representation or legal coaching) are not a one-size-fits-all solution.

In fact, as a family law legal practice on British Columbia, we would be irresponsible to recommend you follow this method without fully considering the pros and cons of your personal situation. When considering whether to engage in this process, realistically assess your own willingness to self-represent, the complexity of your case, and whether saving money is worth the added responsibility and risk.

As always, if you want the advice and guidance of your Pathway Legal lawyer before making your decision, do not hesitate to ask. You can find all our contact details here.

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