Access To Affordable Justice

As an initiative to provide affordable access to justice, The Ontario government allows Paralegals licensed by the Law Society of Ontario to provide limited legal services to the public. This allows licensed Paralegals to represent clients in certain scopes of law much more affordably than having to retain a lawyer.

• Paralegals are trained in the basics of law, same as a lawyer. However paralegals are only trained in and allowed to provide certain scopes of law.
• Licensed by the Law Society of Ontario: Unlicensed Paralegals may only work under the supervision of a lawyer. However, licensed Paralegals aren’t required to be supervised by a lawyer and are authorized by the Law Society to have their own practice, supervise others and provide legal services within approved scopes of law.
• Licensed Paralegals are required to prepare for and pass the P1 exam. (The equivalent of writing the bar exam, but for Paralegals)
• Licensed Paralegals are under the auspices of and accountable to the Law Society of Ontario, the same as lawyers.
• Licensed Paralegals are subject to the rigorous standards of the Law Society and must maintajn all requirements.