The daughters of Gerald Foisy settled out of court with BC Ferries for an undisclosed amount because they did not have the money to bring the case to trial. (CBC/Mike Laanela)

B.C.'s attorney general says he agrees with criticism that the legal costs in the province are too high, but says his ministry is working to reduce them.

Wally Oppal made the comments in response to sharply worded criticism from a prominent lawyer who said that two of his clients could not afford the government fees to launch a lawsuit against BC Ferries for the death of their father.

Peter Ritchie said Thursday that the daughters of Gerald Foisy settled out of court with BC Ferries for an undisclosed amount because they did not have the money to pay the B.C. government $40,000 in court fees and $20,000 to call witnesses to bring the case to trial.

The bodies of Foisy and his partner Shirley Rosette were never found after the Queen of the North sank after hitting an island off the west coast of B.C. in March 2006.

'What about lawyer's fees?'

Oppal acknowledged the fees to take a civil lawsuit to trial in B.C. were high, but pointed out Ritchie could have financed the hearing fees for his clients, and then collected the money when the trial was complete, as most lawyers do.

"Everybody in the system needs to get on side by reducing costs, by reducing fees. What about lawyer's fees? What about expert witness fees? Those are all matters that we have to work at," said Oppal on Thursday.

The Ministry of Justice is working to streamline the legal system in order to lower fees, said Oppal.

"I think you can do it, if you achieve a settlement in a more timely way, so that fewer hours are spent on a file," he said.

"Instead of going through an examination of discovery for four or five days, why not settle it on the front end so you don't have all those costs. So, that's what we're trying to do."