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Family Law Action Plan

The Law Society is implementing the Family Law Action Plan to improve access to justice for Ontario families.

On December 1, 2022, Convocation approved a report proposing a Family Legal Services Provider Licence. The scope and training plan for the new Family Legal Provider Licence is outlined in the report. 

The Law Society of Ontario (LSO) is moving forward with the creation of a Family Legal Services Provider (FLSP) program.

In September 2023, Fanshawe College was selected from a competitive process to collaborate with the LSO on the design and development of the  competency-based training program for paralegals that will enable them to provide certain legal services in family law. Fanshawe College will deliver the program, which is expected to launch in January 2025, in both English and French.

Fanshawe College currently offers a paralegal education program accredited by the LSO. The prerequisite to enrol in the FLSP training program will be a paralegal (P1) licence.

Graduates of the training program will earn a certificate and apply to the LSO to be permitted to provide services as an FSLP. More details about the program will be available later in the development process.

The LSO is pleased to partner with Fanshawe College to develop this program to support improved access to legal services for Ontarians.

In addition to the above, the Family Law Action Plan includes the action items listed below. Click on each point for more information.

  • Support and promote the expanded use of unbundled legal services and legal coaching

    Unbundling of legal services and legal coaching are innovative ways to assist people who may not be able to hire a lawyer or paralegal to help with their entire legal matter.

    Under a limited scope retainer, also known as unbundled legal services, a person hires a lawyer or paralegal to assist with part, but not all of their legal matter. For example, an individual could hire a lawyer to help complete a court form and then represent themselves in court.  

    Legal coaching is a form of unbundled legal service. An individual navigates their legal issue, with the lawyer or paralegal providing a range of supporting services. These may include assistance in navigating the legal system or providing legal information as well as substantive legal advice.

    Promoting expanded use of unbundling
    The Law Society supports the expanded use of unbundling, including legal coaching, by offering referral services, continuing professional development and other resources. 

  • Consider experiential training for lawyer candidates in the licensing process
    The Law Society, in partnership with the Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice, is launching a pilot project that may offer Ontarians increased access to affordable family law legal services.  
    Beginning January 17, 2022, the Family Law Rights of Appearance Pilot Project will allow individuals who have studied law and are articling or completing work placements to provide legal services, under the supervision of a licensed lawyer, to individuals with family law matters before the courts.
    This initiative provides:
    • family law lawyers with a potentially more cost-effective option for assisting clients
    • individuals who are articling or completing work placements with increased opportunities to appear in court while still benefitting from supervision by an experienced lawyer
    • courts, lawyers and clients with the benefit of knowing that safeguards are in place to ensure that clients’ interests are protected.

    Details can be found on the Rights of Appearance page.
  • Review the conduct rules to help clarify the legal information that may be provided to unrepresented litigants by court staff
    The Law Society is working with government to ensure that court staff are able to provide timely accurate legal information to court users. 
  • Background

    Convocation (the Law Society’s board of directors) approved the Family Law Action Plan, in principle, at its December 2017 meeting.

    The action plan was developed in response to the 21 recommendations outlined in the Family Legal Services Review and in consideration of the over 160 submissions received from individuals and organizations. 

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