Can You Really Negotiate Your Severance Package Without a Lawyer? Yes—And Here’s How

Losing your job is stressful enough. The last thing you want is to get lost in legal fees, confusing clauses, and pressure to sign paperwork you don’t fully understand. 

If you’ve just received a severance offer, you might be wondering: Do I need a lawyer to negotiate this? The surprising answer is: Not necessarily.

With the right information—and the right tools—you can negotiate your own severance package confidently and effectively. Here’s how.

Step 1: Understand What You’re Entitled To

Your employer might offer you a few weeks’ pay and hope you accept it quickly. But in many cases, you’re legally entitled to much more—especially if you’ve worked there for several years, held a senior role, or were let go without cause.

In Canada, severance entitlements are determined by:

• Your length of service

• Your age

• Your position and responsibilities

• The availability of comparable jobs in the market

Many people wrongly assume that what’s offered is fair, simply because it’s coming from HR. That’s a mistake.

Step 2: Don’t Sign Right Away

Employers often give short deadlines to pressure you into signing. But you don’t have to rush. In fact, you should always take time to review the offer carefully, and, if necessary, ask for changes.

Common things to watch for:

• Non-compete or non-solicit clauses

• Lowball severance payments

• Non-disparagement clauses

• Refusal to pay “discretionary” bonuses

Step 3: Use a Legal Tool Like Severease.ca

This is where things get easier—and smarter.

Severease.ca is a legal tech platform built specifically for employees negotiating severance. It helps you understand what you should be getting under Canadian employment law, and helps you draft a response—all without high legal fees or waiting for a lawyer to return your call.

With Severease, you can:

• Understand your severance rights in minutes

• Compare your offer to legal standards

• Generate a custom response letter to negotiate more effectively

• Take action confidently—without needing to “lawyer up”

Step 4: Make a Counteroffer Professionally

Most employers expect some negotiation. And they tend to respond better to clear, professional counteroffers—not emotional reactions or vague demands.

Using Severease, you can send a structured, legally-informed response that signals:

“I know my rights, and I’m negotiating in good faith.”

That alone shifts the dynamic—and often leads to a better outcome.

Step 5: Know When to Get Help

While many cases can be handled independently with Severease, some complex situations may still warrant legal advice—especially if:

• You were terminated for cause

• You have discrimination claims

In those cases, you can still use Severease to prep your case before consulting a lawyer—saving you time and money.

Bottom Line: You Can Negotiate Your Severance Package—And You’re Not Alone

You don’t need to be a lawyer to stand up for yourself. You just need the right information, clear communication, and the right tools.

Severease.ca was built so every Canadian employee can negotiate their severance fairly—without fear, confusion, or overpriced legal bills.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.