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Tiered Rate Policy

One of macushlaw’s values is contribution to the communities it operates within, and within which its team members live and work. One of the key ways that we implement this value is through the use of tiered rates.

Certain market actors provide a higher level of value to the community, and certain individuals or organizations either are experiencing or are attempting to alleviate socioeconomic inequality, while others are particularly well positioned financially and/or are seeking solely to generate profit. Legal services when provided at the same rate to a diverse client base may exacerbate existing inequality, create barriers to access to justice for some, or artificially promote more siloed social benefits. Tiered rates helps improve access to justice for those in need and helps address these potential market issues.

macushlaw has adopted five rate tiers:

  1. Standard Rates
  2. Contributor Rate – 90% of Standard Rate
  3. Equity Rate – 80% of Standard Rate
  4. Premium / Rush Rate – 120% of Standard Rate
  5. Low Bono Rate – 50% of Standard Rate
  6. Travel Rate – $50% of Standard Rate

Below are our rate tiers and eligibility criteria:

Premium/Rush Rate     

Any person or entity that does not meet another rate tier and has annual revenues of $5M or greater should pay the premium rate. Any client, including clients in lower rate tiers, will pay the rush rate if they have requested a turnaround time which requires evening or weekend work, has a same or next day turnaround time, or which require us to deprioritize other time sensitive client matters.

Standard Rate  

Please see the @Hourly Rate Setting Guide for information regarding how to determine your standard rate. This should be your benchmark rate when applying any other rate tier.

Contributor Rate = or < 85%

Clients which are non-profit entities and associations, and for-profit entities and associations, which have as a core purpose and commit a significant portion of their resources to pursuing a public benefit, such as sustainability, environmental protection, alleviation of poverty, provision of food, housing or education to low SES persons, or advancing Indigenous economic or political interests, are eligible for Contributor Rates.

Contributor Rates are also available to individuals pursuing similar aims in their personal or professional pursuits.

It is not enough to be placed in this tier that a qualifying organization provides benefits in the course of its operations, it must be a core principle and a decision-making driver for the Client.

Equity Rate*

Clients whom or which belong to a subsection of the public subject to significant socioeconomic inequality, or devote all or substantially all of their organization’s resources to improving the socioeconomic circumstances or alleviating challenges faced by persons in such groups, are eligible for equity rates.

Clients that are businesses, corporations or partnerships, rather than individuals, non-profits or charities, may be eligible for equity rates where the corporation can demonstrate that it devotes all or substantially all of its resources to ameliorating socioeconomic inequity, environmental or other public interest aims. The organization can also be focused on generating a profit provided it is controlled by an equity seeking person. An example of a client that may be eligible for approval might be an economic development corporation or partnership controlled by a First Nations government.

*Management approval is required for corporate clients seeking equity rates.

Lowbono*

Client whom or which belong to the most vulnerable subsections of the public that are subject to the same circumstances as clients that fall under the Equity rate, but are particularly facing difficulties due to health or other conditions.

*Management approval is required for lowbono rates.