Francesca Savard
Organized & Efficient!
I quickly found my footing with HCLS.
The seamlessness of the firm's structure allowed me to focus on learning and practicing law rather than getting caught up in administrative tasks.
Work with HCLS
Your practice. More possibility.
Build an independent practice around the people you help and the life you want to lead, with practical tools, shared resources and a professional community to draw on.
Independence, with supportMeaningful work.
Meaningful work.
Room for your own way.
Clients come to HCLS with questions that reach into everyday life: their family, their home, their future. Helping them takes careful preparation, sound judgment and time to understand the person behind the matter.
The HCLS Platform brings together practical services and a community of independent professionals to support that work. HCLS lawyer Members direct their own practices and remain responsible for their legal services.
You may be building your independence, looking for more useful support, or considering a different balance in your working life. Let’s talk about what you want your practice to look like.
Your work Which matters do you want to focus on, and where do you practise?
Your support Which tools, resources and professional connections would help?
Your life What would you like to make more room for as your practice develops?
Support you can
put to work.
See how the Platform’s shared services connect to the practical work of running a practice.
01 / Everyday file work
A useful starting point.
Clio matter management, document templates and automation help keep files organised. The shared knowledge base adds practice memos, precedents and sample pleadings to draw on as you prepare your own work.
02 / Running your practice
Support around the details.
Website profiles, client booking tools and payment administration support the business of practice. Firm-wide marketing offers opportunities to take part in campaigns, Journal articles and newsletters, with your consent for each initiative.
03 / Professional connections
More perspectives to draw on.
Connect with HCLS lawyer Members for professional exchange and shared knowledge. On-demand access to law clerks and connections with students-at-law can help you arrange support for legal projects, subject to arrangements and availability.
Choose the additions that fit.
Office access, research, document software and other technology services are available as selections that affect your Platform fees. Explore the included services and options, then discuss what you need. The Platform Access Agreement governs the services and fees.
Current & Former Member Testimonials
What support has meant to them.
Kyle Thompson
Supportive & Flexible
My experience with HCLS has been incredibly positive.
The structure offers a rare balance of flexibility and support, allowing me to manage my schedule and deliver high-quality legal services.
The Platform makes it easy to focus on what matters most: solving problems and helping people.
It’s an environment that genuinely sets lawyers up to succeed.
Tyler Lett
Mentorship & Culture
HCLS provided exceptional mentorship that invested in my professional development and shaped my approach to client work.
HCLS had built a culture that made remote work genuinely effective. I remained connected to the team and fully supported in my development despite working flexibly.
I'm grateful for the foundation HCLS provided for my career.
Space in Ottawa and TorontoYour chambers,
Your chambers,
away from chambers.
Meet clients in a professional setting, prepare for court, or enjoy a change of scenery. Workspaces in Ottawa and Toronto are available with the office service, subject to booking and availability.
Arrange a meeting room, find a quiet place to focus, or connect with other HCLS lawyer Members. Take a look inside our Ottawa office below.
Explore our locations
The Ottawa workspaceA setting for the work
A setting for the work
and the people it affects.
A place to prepare for court.
The Ottawa workspace is across from the courthouse. Prepare with a client or witness, review your documents, or take a moment between hearings.
Room to pause and focus.
Quiet areas and workstations offer a change of setting for preparation, focused work or a pause during a demanding day.
Space for a proper conversation.
Meeting rooms and private offices provide a professional setting to sit down with clients, work through documents and discuss the decisions ahead.
An option for the way you work.
Combine remote work with time in the office when it suits your practice. Office access is a selected service, with meeting space subject to booking and availability.
Your Practice, In Numbers
Explore the possibilities.
Use your expected billings, hourly rate and service choices to estimate the amount remaining after the displayed Platform fees. Bring your questions to our conversation about your practice.
Loading HCLS revenue calculator…
The tool couldn’t load. Please try again, or open it in a separate tab.
Your practice, your choiceYour practice.
Your practice.
More behind you.
Keep the independence of your own practice, with shared infrastructure and a professional network to support the work. Choose the services that fit how you want to practise.
Make room for your way of working.
Set your schedule and direct your practice. HCLS does not impose billing targets; the minimum monthly Platform fee still applies.
Start with a foundation in place.
Build on Clio matter management and automation. Choose additional technology and office services to suit your practice, with fees reflecting your selections.
Have people to turn to.
Connect with other independent lawyers for professional exchange, coverage and second-chair support, subject to arrangements and availability.
You bring your practice. The Platform brings tools, options and connections to help you run it.
Compare the three ways to practise
| Feature | With the Platform | On your own | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flexible schedule | Yes | Yes | Varies subject to the firm’s arrangements |
| Billing targets | No no HCLS billing target; a minimum monthly Platform fee applies | Yes set by your overhead | Yes set by the firm |
| Support when you need it | Access to network lawyers for coverage or second-chair support; IT support; on-demand access to law clerks | The profession’s resources are open to you; an agent or a second chair is yours to arrange | In‑house |
| Earning potential | More time for billable work, with Platform support reducing the non-billable administration of running a solo practice | Limited by the hours available for billing after time spent managing the business and handling non-billable administration | Depends on the firm’s compensation arrangement |
| Overhead and tech stack | Clio and its automation are the baseline; choose additional research and technology tools to suit your practice. HCLS subsidizes overhead during low-billing months. | Yours to choose, buy and run. Full overhead remains due every month, including low-billing months. | Provided, and chosen for you |
| Office and meeting space | Professional, well-equipped office and meeting space. The Ottawa location is steps from the courthouse, with Member meetups every two weeks, lunch and goodies included. | Work alone in your own space or share with others. Renting and arranging the space is your responsibility. | Assigned by the firm |
| Whose practice it is | Yours | Yours | The firm’s |
A general comparison, not an offer or a promise of income. Individual arrangements vary. What the Platform includes, what it costs and how fees are calculated are set out in the Platform Access Agreement, which governs. Members practise independently.
Getting started
From conversation to confidence.
Five steps to get your practice ready on the HCLS Platform.
A first conversation
Meet virtually to discuss your practice and the support you need.
Choose your services
Review the Platform Access Agreement and select your services.
Your onboarding package
Receive a self-setup package to begin your onboarding.
Set up your tools
Meet virtually with the founder to install your tech stack and sign in. Allow 1–2 hours.
Orientation Day
Meet in person with the founder (in Ottawa or Toronto) for a full day to check your setup and learn the HCLS Platform workflow in depth.
Before you
take the next step.
Clear answers about independence, support and how to explore the fit.
Your independence
Would I be an employee of HCLS?
No. HCLS lawyer Members are independent contractors, not employees, associates or agents of HCLS. Each HCLS lawyer Member remains responsible for their own legal services and business activities. The Platform provides access to shared services under the membership agreement.
Are there billing targets?
HCLS does not impose billing targets. A minimum monthly Platform fee still applies, so it is important to consider your expected billings, expenses and service choices when assessing whether the model fits your practice.
Does membership guarantee clients or billable work?
No. HCLS does not guarantee a minimum amount of billable work. Work availability varies with market demand. Website profiles, booking tools and participation in firm-wide marketing support visibility; they are not a promise of clients or income.
Your support and services
What is included in the Platform?
The current Platform includes Clio matter management, firm-wide marketing, a website profile, client booking tools, a shared knowledge base and payment administration. It also connects you with HCLS lawyer Members, independent law clerks and students-at-law.
The calculator’s included-services section explains these features. Support from another professional is subject to arrangements and availability; discuss the work and any applicable fees before arranging assistance.
Can I choose the services that suit my practice?
Yes. The Platform offers choices for services such as office access, document software, research, legal calculation tools and technical support. Your selections affect the applicable fees. Explore the options in the calculator, then discuss your requirements with HCLS. The Platform Access Agreement sets out the terms and governs if the website differs.
Can I work remotely and still meet clients in person?
HCLS supports remote practice. Office and meeting space in Ottawa and Toronto is available with the office service, subject to booking and availability. You can explore the workspace and discuss how it would fit your practice before choosing your services.
Exploring the fit
Is there support for discussing a file or arranging coverage?
HCLS lawyer Members can connect for professional exchange, file consultations, coverage and second-chair support, subject to arrangements and availability. Each HCLS lawyer Member remains responsible for their own work. Tell us what support you would need so the practical arrangements can be discussed.
What does the revenue calculator tell me?
It estimates the amount remaining after the displayed Platform fees, using your billings, hourly rate and selected services. It is a planning tool, not a promise of income or a complete calculation of your take-home pay. Consider your other business expenses and review the applicable membership terms with HCLS.
How do I start a conversation about joining?
Email HCLS with your practice areas, locations, experience and the support you are looking for. We will discuss whether the Platform is a fit and the applicable terms and fees. An introduction is enough to begin; please leave client names and confidential file details out of your initial message.
Put your name forwardStart with
Start with
your practice.
Tell us about your experience and what you would like to build. We’ll discuss whether the HCLS Platform is the right fit.
A short introduction is enough to begin. Include your practice areas, locations and the support you are looking for. Please leave client names and confidential file details out of your initial message.
What we’ll talk through.
- Your practice and prioritiesYour experience, the work you do and what you would like to change.
- The support that fitsThe included services, available options and professional connections relevant to your work.
- The practical detailsApplicable fees, membership terms and your questions about working independently through the Platform.
HCLS lawyer Members are independent contractors, not employees, associates, or agents of HCLS. Each HCLS lawyer Member is responsible for their own legal services and business activities. Membership terms and fees are discussed individually.
Still in law school?
Develop practical skills, contribute to real projects, and explore student opportunities.