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About A2I

The Access to Innovation (A2I) program is a regulatory sandbox that allows providers of innovative technological legal services (ITLS) to serve users while complying with Ontario regulations regarding provision of legal services. A2I is a five-year pilot program that commenced in November 2021 with the goal of expanding the delivery of quality legal services through technology.

ITLS providers can now apply to participate in the A2I program. The ideal ITLS provider  offers a sufficient quality of service while mitigating risks of harm to users.

Once approved, an A2I participant will provide services in Ontario for an initial defined time period while operating under conditions designed and supervised by the Law Society to protect the public.  The presence of the A2I badge of approval on the participant’s application will be an indication to users of the quality and safety of the product/service offering.

A2I participants that meet expectations during their operating period can receive permits from the Law Society to continue providing legal services in Ontario on an ongoing basis.

Learn more:

  • The need for the A2I program

    Legal problems are a fact of everyday life in Ontario and can affect a person’s physical, mental, social and financial well being. Research shows that, over any three-year period, nearly half of all Canadian adults will experience at least one legal problem that they consider serious and difficult to resolve. However, Canadians do not seek professional assistance for more than 80% of their legal issues. Despite concerted efforts, access to legal assistance remains elusive for many people.

    Innovative technological legal services (ITLS) can increase access to effective legal assistance. Technological advancements have contributed to the rapid rise of ITLS, and through the development of websites, apps and software, ITLS providers can help people understand, navigate and address their legal issues.

    The Access to Innovation program responds to regulatory issues that innovators and users have faced in developing and using ITLS. It is designed to provide greater certainty about the rules and standards that will apply to ITLS providers and to provide users with increased choice and confidence that the assistance they receive is effective and safe.  

  • The development of the A2I program

    Starting in 2018, the Law Society’s Technology Task Force (composed of members of the Law Society’s board of directors) began studying the role of technologies in the delivery of legal services, and the Law Society’s role as a regulator in this changing environment. The Task Force examined these issues with a view to recommending regulatory approaches to appropriately facilitate access to justice and protect the public from risks of harm.

    Following extensive study, the Task Force recommended the creation of a regulatory sandbox for innovative technological legal services (now called the Access to Innovation program). (Read the full report.)

    In April 2021, the Law Society’s board of directors approved this recommendation and as a result, Access to Innovation was launched in November 2021.

    The “regulatory sandbox” model is a policy tool used by regulators to engage with innovative new market entrants that do not fit well within the existing regulatory framework. First popularized in the financial services sector, regulatory sandboxes are “safe spaces” in which potentially beneficial products, services, business models and delivery mechanisms can be test-run, subject to  specific operating conditions and under regulatory supervision. This approach offers ITLS providers innovation opportunities and access to markets through more appropriate regulation than is otherwise available and offers regulators the opportunity to gather data and develop effective, sustainable policies in these emerging areas.

    Legal regulators in the provinces of British Columbia,Alberta and Manitoba, the state of Utah, as well as England and Wales have all adopted regulatory sandboxes for similar purposes. Legal regulators in other Canadian and foreign jurisdictions are also working on implementing regulatory sandboxes.  

  • How the A2I program works

    Summary:

    The Access to Innovation (A2I) program allows approved providers of innovative technological legal services to operate in a regulatory “safe space” in Ontario. All applications are reviewed by the A2I team and the independent advisory council. Once applicants are approved, they enter into a participation agreement with the Law Society which sets out the requirements of the operating period, such as maintaining professional liability insurance, implementing a complaint resolution process, and ensuring user privacy through data handling/retention policies and cyber-security measures. During their time in the program, participants provide services to the public while reporting to the Law Society. A participant may receive a permit at the end of their operating period, which allows them to provide services on an ongoing basis. The A2I team periodically reports its observations to the Law Society’s board of directors to inform regulatory policy making.

    Click here to apply.

  • Benefits of the A2I program

    The Access to Innovation (A2I) program benefits Ontarians, legal service providers and the Law Society. 

    Facilitating access to justice

    By safely removing and adjusting regulatory barriers, the A2I program encourages the development and operation of innovative technological legal services (ITLS) that can make legal services more accessible, especially in areas of high unmet legal need.

    Protecting the public

    By carefully assessing and supervising ITLS providers, the A2I program ensures that ITLS users feel confident with the services they choose to use, are protected from risks of incompetent or unethical services and have recourse available, if necessary.

    Spurring innovation

    By reducing regulatory uncertainty, the A2I program promotes innovation and gives ITLS providers confidence that they can grow sustainable operations. By establishing operating criteria and parameters, the A2I program can also help give ITLS providers targets for the features and protections they need to build into their service models, which furthers the responsible development of innovative tools.

    Supporting regulatory re-evaluation

    By gathering evidence about ITLS operations, the A2I program helps inform decision-making about the appropriate scope of the Law Society’s regulatory framework.

    Educating legal professionals and the public

    By highlighting new and innovative ways of providing legal services, the A2I program helps legal professionals understand the opportunities and challenges associated with ITLS and helps members of the public identify new opportunities to access legal help. Legal professionals can observe user interest in these new service models and can enhance their work by using, adapting to, or developing their own ITLS tools.

  • Support for the A2I program

    Part of the funding for the Access to Innovation (A2I) project is generously provided by a grant from The Law Foundation of Ontario. Through granting and collaboration, the Foundation invests in knowledge and services that help people understand the law and use it to improve their lives. The Law Society is grateful for its support.

    The Law Foundation of Ontario logo

  • Contact us
    Access to Innovation (A2I)
    Manager: Art Wilson
    Email: accesstoinnovation@lso.ca
    Phone: 416-947-7618

Read A2I FAQs

Fact sheet: Access to Innovation

Terms or Concepts Explained