I will not tell you today what I charge, but I have seen some immigration consultants charge a lot more than most lawyers.
In terms of legal fees and access to justice, it is important to note that immigration consultants cannot accept legal aid certificates. Only a lawyer can. That is very important because refugee claimants often arrive in Canada with very little; they do not speak the language and have no means or resources. It is unfortunate, but when we send them to immigration consultants, they are often bled dry trying to pay for representation before the Immigration and Refugee Board. A lawyer, however, can accept a legal aid certificate, which means that refugee claimants are not on the hook for the cost of those services. That is an important distinction.