Brandon lawyer aims to aid middle-income earners

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This article was published 02/12/2016 (3497 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s the first day for Andrew Synyshyn’s new law practice and his cellphone is already ringing with calls from clients.

A woman on the other end of the line gives him her name and asks if he remembers her.

“Of course I do, what can I do for you?” Synyshyn replies.

Synyshyn’s new office at the corner of 10th Street and Lorne Avenue opened on Thursday.

The pictures still need to be hung, and patches of new wall still need to be sanded and painted.

But AJS Law is up and running.

Its goal is to provide legal representation for those falling through a crack in the legal system — middle-income earners who make too much to be represented by Legal Aid Manitoba, but can’t afford the prices charged by other private firms.

“I don’t want to have to turn anyone away if I don’t have to,” Synyshyn said. “That comes from a feeling or a belief that everyone deserves legal representation.”

Synyshyn is originally from Winnipeg, but he and his family settled down in Brandon after he was called to the bar here in December 2011.

Until now, he had exclusively worked for Meighen Haddad LLP. But the married father of three says, at 34 years old and five years into his career, he wanted to make a move that would let him focus on two areas of law he especially enjoys — criminal and child protection matters.

At Meighen Haddad, he said the practice was so big that there was a high potential for conflicts of interest in representing either complainants or accused and that limited his chance to grow as a lawyer in those areas.

So, with Meighen Haddad’s support and advice, he struck out on his own.

Lawyers are needed in Brandon in all areas of law, Synyshyn said, and demand isn’t going to be a problem when it comes to running his new firm — he’s already built a firm client base.

He intends to fill a legal niche for people with average incomes, who may have mortgages and families to support.

Legal Aid helps poorer citizens with legal costs for certain matters, while wealthier clients can afford private representation.

Generally, legal aid is provided free to families with a gross income between $23,000 for a single person and $43,000 for a family of more than six; although, there is a payment program for higher earners that also depends on family size and income.

Legal costs are generally pushed up due to a shortage of lawyers, Synyshyn said, and by the length and complexity of court matters.

People with middle incomes — who earn, say, $30,000 to $60,000 per year — can’t afford a lawyer.

“I probably couldn’t afford a lawyer right now,” Synyshyn said.

Legal Aid also lacks funding, Synyshyn said. As a result, people are representing themselves, and resulting in more court delays due to inexperience.

Synyshyn intends to serve his target clients by keeping his rates low, focusing his practice, and keeping his material costs down in his small office.

The operation consists of himself and office administrator Danielle Guenther, who joined him from Meighen Haddad.

“I wanted to be here to help build the company, be there from the beginning,” Guenther said of her decision to join Synyshyn.

While keeping costs down, Synyshyn says he also wants to provide good service and build relationships with clients as he guides them through the legal process.

“A lot of the people that I’m helping, they’re not just looking for representation, they’re looking for someone to shepherd them through and to help.”

Brandon Legal Aid supervising attorney Ryan Fawcett said he supports the new endeavour by Synyshyn who he said is a respected member of the legal community.

“More lawyers practising in our area can only be beneficial to the community and the justice system, including Legal Aid,” Fawcett said.

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