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Submit Your Annual Report Filing

Purpose

Under Part II of By-Law 8, all licensees must file an Annual Report Filing with the Law Society by March 31st of each year. Licensees who are lawyers are required to provide details about their practice of law and other related activities during the preceding year in this report, while licensees who are paralegals are required to provide details about their provision of legal services and other related activities during the preceding year. 

Part II of By-Law 8 requires the Annual Report Filing to be filed in an electronic format specified by the Law Society.

Who This Applies To

All licensees, regardless of licence type, must submit an Annual Report Filing in order to maintain their licence, unless expressly exempted on application to the Law Society.

Reporting Requirements

  • Submit the complete Annual Report Filing through the Law Society Portal at https://portal.lso.ca by March 31st of each year
  • Ensure that the Law Society has up to date contact information (including telephone/fax numbers, and mailing/email addresses for business and home) by reporting any changes immediately after they happen in the Change of Information section of the Law Society Portal at https://portal.lso.ca
  • If our portal poses a barrier for you because you have a disability, and you require an accommodation under human rights legislation to submit the Annual Report Filing in paper format (such as a Word file or large print) rather than electronically through the Law Society Portal, as required under Part II of By-Law 8, you must make a written request to do so. Please fill out a Communication Access Form and send a request to submit the Annual Report Filing in a different format to bylawadmin@lso.ca. You will need to set out the grounds for your request and the nexus between the ground(s) and your inability to submit the Annual Report Filing through the Portal. 

Non-Compliance

Licensees who do not submit their Annual Report Filing by March 31 will be in default as of that date and may have their licence administratively suspended by an Order of the Summary Disposition Bencher any time thereafter. See Administrative Suspension on the Law Society website for more information.

Review Process

The By-Law Administration Services department reviews all paper reports for incomplete and/or blank responses. If a report is incomplete, By-Law Administration Services will contact the licensee to request additional information.

Amendments to the Annual Report Filing must be submitted in writing, along with a signed authorization giving permission to amend the filing.

Filing the Annual Report Filing electronically saves time and ensures that all responses are complete before the form can be submitted.

Links to Law Society Portal and Applicable Documents

Law Society Portal
Lawyer Bookkeeping Guide
Reporting Mixed Trust Accounts
Report on Opening or Closing a Trust Account

Link to Applicable By-law

By-Law 8, Part II: Filing Requirements

Questions about the Annual Report Filing

  • Sections 1 to 4

    General and technical questions about these sections should be directed to By-Law Administration Services by calling (416) 947-3315 (toll-free within Ontario 1-800-668-7380 x3315) and asking to be transferred, or by email at bylawadmin@lso.ca.

  • Section 1

    Inquiries about question 1, 7 and 8 can be directed to By-Law Administration Services by calling (416) 947-3315 (toll-free within Ontario 1-800-668-7380 x3315) and asking to be transferred, or by email at bylawadmin@lso.ca.

    Inquiries about questions 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10(d) and 11 can be directed to the Practice Management Helpline by calling (416) 947-3315 (toll-free within Ontario 1-800-668-7380 x3315) and asking to be transferred, or by email at practice helpline@lso.ca.

    Inquiries about questions 4 and 10(a) to (c) should be directed to LAWPRO by contacting the LAWPRO Customer Service Centre at (416) 598-5899 (toll-free within Ontario 1-800-410-1013), or by email at service@lawpro.ca.

  • Section 2

    Inquiries about this section can be directed to the Practice Management Helpline by calling (416) 947-3315 (toll-free within Ontario 1-800-668-7380 x3315) and asking to be transferred, or by email at practicehelpline@lso.ca.

  • Section 3

    Inquiries about this section should be directed to the Law Society of Ontario by email at lawsociety@lso.ca. For FAQs about the survey visit the Frequently Asked Questions about Self-Identification page.

  • E-Filing assistance, outstanding annual filings, blank copies of current reports

    Questions about these topics should be directed to By-Law Administration Services at (416) 947-3315 (toll-free within Ontario 1-800-668-7380 x3315) and asking to be transferred, or by email at bylawadmin@lso.ca.

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