Family Legal Services Provider Licence

As part of the Family Law Action Plan, the Law Society is considering a proposed model for a Family Legal Services Provider (FLSP) licence that would permit appropriately trained paralegals to provide some legal services in family law.

The development of an FLSP licence is one of the Law Society’s responses aimed at facilitating access to justice in family law. The most acute legal need for Ontarians is representation in family court, where approximately 60 per cent of Ontarians do not have legal representation.

The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic has also impacted the provision of legal services in Ontario and may present family law litigants with additional access to justice challenges.

The Law Society’s Access to Justice Committee held a Call for Comment on the proposed model from June to November 2020. Information about the proposed model can be found in the  Access to Justice Committee: Family Legal Services Provider Licence Consultation Paper. 

The Call for Comment provided an opportunity to engage in productive dialogue with the legal community and the public on the most effective approach to improving access to family law services. The Access to Justice Committee is considering the input received and determining how to move access to family law legal services forward in a way that is realistic and achievable.