Stark Solutions Legal Coaching & Consulting was created out of a desire to improve access to justice.
In 2020, Stark Solutions partnered with Legal Coaches Association, a non-profit association with a mission to build a network of legal coaches internationally through the development and delivery of the Certified Legal Coach Training program for legal professionals.
In 2023, Stark Solutions produced a ground-breaking video series, Navigating Your Legal Journey, to help self-represented litigants through recorded modules and worksheets.
Photo courtesy dcheadshots.ca
Meet Jo-Anne Stark
B.Comm., J.D., CLC, TEP
Lawyer & Certified Legal Coach
Jo-Anne Stark has spent decades practicing law in Canada. In her roles acting as counsel on family law & litigation matters, General Legal Counsel for national financial institutions, and as arbitrator in over 2,000 hearings, she gained valuable knowledge of the legal process and its challenges for people who are forced to represent themselves due to the high cost of hiring a law firm.
Jo-Anne spent years researching and testing the concept of legal coaching, an affordable method of offering virtual legal assistance to self-represented people for a set fee. Today, Jo-Anne shares her knowledge with everyday people who are managing their legal problems on their own, through her online recorded series, Navigating Your Legal Journey.
Realizing that the need for such services exceeded her ability to meet growing demand, she published the 2020 book Mastering the Art of Legal Coaching: The Legal Professional’s Guide to Empowering Clients to help legal professionals implement a new business model that helps self-represented people. She is also the founding President of the Legal Coaches Association Inc, a non-profit association which represents legal coaches across North America and internationally.
Connect with Jo-Anne on Linked In
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Memberships:
Member of the Law Society of Saskatchewan (active license)
Member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP)
Member of the BC Law Society (retired)
Member of the Legal Coaches Association
Member of the Canadian Bar Association
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As featured in:
Canadian Bar Association – BarTalk and The National
Every Lawyer Podcast
Real Talk
CBC News and “As It Happens” and CBC Early Edition
The Lawyers’ Daily
Law 360 Canada
Not Your Average Legal Job
Toronto Star
The Star, Vancouver
Canadian Lawyer Magazine
Legal Coaching Resources for the Public
A legal coach is a legal professional who provides support and assistance to clients who wish to represent themselves. A legal coach is available for consultation on a regular basis and will provide assistance with legal tasks, such as assisting with completing court forms and documents, helping you understand your rights, and preparing for mediation, hearings, pre-trial or trial. By hiring a legal coach, you are ultimately responsible for all aspects of your legal matter, and as you are doing the majority of the work, no retainer is required up front. Learn more about legal coaches available in your area and check out the program Navigating Your Legal Journey.
Resources for Lawyers & Paralegals: The Certified Legal Coach Training Program
Many lawyers and paralegals are looking to provide limited legal services, but are uncertain where to begin. Stark Solutions partnered with the Legal Coaches Association in 2020 to create and launch the Certified Legal Coach training program – a live interactive online weekend training program. Several years in, legal professionals from across North America and beyond have successfully completed the training, which is now available in an “on demand” format for those legal professionals who want to offer legal coaching services.
