LEGAL COUNSEL is a series of three books authored by Les Vander and published by ECW PRESS. Len Vander is an Ottawa lawyer. Over the past ten years he has had many appearances on CBC Radio's Ontario Today call-in show, where he would reply to incoming, legally-oriented questions from listeners. The books are a compilation of many of the questions and answers dealt with during these broadcasts.
What is very practical about the series is that they are divided into distinct subject matters and each of the books deals with separate topics. One book deals with the introduction to the legal system, individual rights, and employment rights; a second book concerns itself with retirement, representation and wills, and finally the third book answers questions dealing with property rights, family and divorce and company rights.
The books are written for the layperson, devoid of legal jargon or as some term it "mumbo jumbo." In other words, the law is presented in a demystified manner.
Another interesting feature of the books is that the author provides sample forms such as shareholders agreement, marriage contract, divorce petition, general nondisclosure agreement, simple will, power of attorney and many other agreements that we may encounter in our personal or business lives.
The information is presented in a question and answer format, while a comprehensive index, found at the back of each book, provides the reader with a quick reference to topics in the book.
Questions are presented in everyday language, as for example, how do I make changes to a will, what is the effect of an employer misstating an employee's qualifications in a letter of reference, what personal information on an employee can be shared between employers.
Throughout all of the books there is reference to extracts from various important judicial decisions that reinforce the author's reply to a particular query. Mr. Vander tries to keep the extract succinct and relative to the question in order that the reader is not led astray.
An abundance of information is provided throughout the books, however I would have liked to see more of a distinction made between the Quebec Civil Law system and the Common Law system as followed in the other ten provinces of Canada. In other words, for anyone wishing to have information pertaining to the topics of the books as it relates to Quebec Civil Law these books are not the best reference texts.
The author in certain instances glosses over some of the differences in the two legal systems that in some ways may be misleading to a resident of Quebec. On the other hand, for residents of the nine other provinces the books are a useful guideline in dealing with everyday legal situations.
As a caveat, the books should in no way replace the services of a legal advisor, but rather serve as a starting point to a better understanding of how the legal system works.
