Should a self-represented litigant be cautious about negotiating a settlement without legal advice in Ontario?

Yes, genuinely so. A settlement reached without any legal advice carries real risk precisely because it's usually final: once you sign a release or settlement agreement, you generally give up the right to pursue the claim further, even if you later learn the deal was worse than what a court might have awarded, or that you gave up rights you didn't realize you were giving up. A self-represented litigant negotiating directly with an opposing party, especially one who does have a lawyer, can be at a real disadvantage in understanding the full value of a claim, what a release actually covers, or whether the proposed terms address everything that matters, including costs, ongoing obligations, or future claims arising from the same events.

Getting even a short, targeted legal consultation before signing anything is often worthwhile, even for someone who has otherwise represented themselves throughout the case. A lawyer reviewing a proposed settlement can flag terms that are unusually broad, missing protections that should be included, or a dollar amount that seems out of line with how similar claims are generally resolved. Since a signed settlement is difficult to undo afterward, the review is far more valuable before signing than after.