ACCESSIBILITY POLICY

Your Accessibility Rights

From January 1, 2012, all businesses engaged in providing goods and services and having an employee in Ontario must comply with the Accessibility Regulations under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. These obligations extend to lawyers and law firms, including Ritchie Smyth Lawyers. The Act gives persons with disabilities certain rights concerning their access to goods and services.

Ritchie Smyth Lawyers has developed this policy, and trained our lawyers and support staff about our policies and practices.

Access to Ritchie Smyth Lawyers.

Ritchie Smyth Lawyers is pleased to advise that it has an office premises that is wheelchair accessible.

For those that cannot attend at our premises or if it is impractical for them to attend at our premises due to disability, illness or infirmity Ritchie Smyth Lawyers can correspond by telephone and electronic mail. Further, lawyers and support staff are willing to attend at client's homes or care facilities. Generally, there are additional fees and disbursements for this service and clients should discuss with one of the firm's lawyers in this regard. No greater fee or disbursement for out-of-office meetings will be charged to persons with a disability than those without a disability.

A client will not be refused service due to an inability to attend at our premises due to disability, illness or infirmity. However, a client may be refused service and the firm may refuse a client's retainer if a lawyer believes that he is unable to obtain proper instructions from a client. In this regard, the lawyer is required to consider the bylaws and the rules of professional conduct of the Law Society of Ontario.

Communicating with Us

You should be aware that e-mail is not a 100% secure medium, and you should be aware of this when contacting us by this method. Further, you should be aware that the by-laws and the rules of professional conduct of the Law Society of  Ontario will generally require a lawyer to physically meet with the client.

Changes to this Accessibility Policy

Since Ritchie Smyth Lawyers regularly reviews all of its policies and procedures, we may change our Accessibility Policy from time to time.

If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions with respect to our accessibility policy or the manner in which implementation of this policy will affect you or has affected you, please contact our office at:

Ritchie Smyth Lawyers
3300 Bloor Street W, West Tower Suite 670
Toronto, ON M8X2X2
Telephone: 437-293-8750