For someone who isn't yet sure exactly what to do about their legal dispute, these three professionals do not serve the same purpose. The conciliator and the consumer mediator seek to resolve the dispute; the attorney, whose services are provided free of charge, serves primarily to conduct a legal analysis of the situation and to advise the individual.
| Criteria | ⚖️ Judicial Mediator | 🤝 Consumer Ombudsman | 👨⚖️ Lawyer – Free Consultation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Function | Seek an amicable settlement between the parties | Seek an amicable resolution between the consumer and the business | Provide information and legal advice |
| Types of Disputes | A wide range of civil disputes: neighborhood disputes, debt collection, construction projects, leases, condominium disputes, disputes between individuals or with businesses… | Consumer vs. Business Disputes Only within its jurisdiction | Potentially all types of legal issues, according to the on-call staff |
| Who can file a complaint? | A party to the dispute | The consumer | Any person, subject to the conditions of the on-call duty |
| Free for individuals? | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes for the consumer | ✅ Yes, as part of the free drop-in service |
| Do you have to have filed a claim before? | Not always, although it is generally a good idea to take preliminary steps | Yes. A prior written complaint is required. from the professional | ❌ No |
| Does he engage with the opponent? | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ Generally not as part of a simple free consultation |
| Neutrality / Impartiality | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ A lawyer advises the person who consults him or her |
| Provide personalized legal advice? | That is not its primary mission | That's not his job | ✅ Yes: that's its main advantage |
| Assess the likelihood of legal action? | Not its primary function | Not its primary function | ✅ Yes, within the limits of the time available and the information at hand |
| Can it offer a solution to the dispute? | ✅ Actively seeking common ground | ✅ Can offer a solution | ✅ Can recommend a strategy, but does not resolve the dispute |
| Can it compel the other party? | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Is an agreement possible? | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Consultation is not, in and of itself, a process for reaching an agreement |
| Particularly suitable when… | Both sides can still negotiate | A consumer has already filed a complaint with a business, but to no avail | The person is not clear about their rights or the strategy they should adopt |
| Main limitation | Requires the other party's participation to reach an agreement | Scope Limited to Consumer Disputes and Conditions for Admissibility | Consultations are often brief; the attorney does not normally handle the entire case pro bono |
| Pre-trial Interest | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for a consumer dispute | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ when the legal situation must first be clarified |