Annual Fee Explanatory Notes

Overview

Options for Paying Your Law Society Fees

Payment options

Budget Summary

Convocation approves 2024 budget

October 26, 2023 Audit & Finance Committee Report to Convocation

Overview

Annual Fee invoices are issued in January of the year for which licensees are being billed. By-Law 5 provides that the deadline to pay the annual fee is March 31 and covers the period January 1 to December 31, of the same year. Licensees who fail to pay the annual fee by March 31 are in default and are subject to administrative suspension. Licensees are invoiced for fees once a year. All licensees are billed at their last known fee-paying category. More information about the Law Society’s various fee-paying statuses and fee categories is available on the Fee Categories page.

Application to Pay the Over 65 (Retired) Annual Fee and Exemption from the Requirement to File the Annual Report

Lawyers and paralegals who are over 65 years of age and no longer practising law or providing legal services may apply to be approved for the Over 65 (Retired) 10% Annual Fee category and for an exemption from the requirement to file the Annual Report.

Application for Exemption from the Annual Fee and Annual Report Submission Based on Incapacity

Lawyers and paralegals may apply for exemption from the annual fee and annual report submission based on incapacity if the definition of incapacity within the meaning of s. 37 of the Law Society Act and standards set out in By-Law 5 and By-Law 8 are satisfied.

Application for Surrender of Licence

Lawyers and paralegals who no longer wish to maintain their licence in Ontario may apply to surrender their licence under By-Law 4. Licensees who surrender their licence no longer pay annual membership fees or file annual reports. Once a licence is surrendered, lawyers and paralegals are no longer entitled to practise law or provide legal services as an Ontario lawyer or paralegal.

Status Changes

If your fee category is incorrect, then you must use the change of information area of the Law Society Portal to report changes. The LSO Portal must be used to advise the Law Society of any changes and/or corrections to your contact information and/or status. It is the licensee’s responsibility and obligation under By-Law 8 to notify the Law Society immediately of any change in contact information and/or status, along with the effective date. A change of status or fee category may result in a reduction of fees or a refund, if the Law Society is notified before the end of the fee year. Changes reported after the end of the year will not result in a reduction of fees for the previous fee year.

Section 46 of the Law Society Act and the by-laws made pursuant to the Law Society Act provide that your licence may be administratively suspended by summary order for failure to pay an annual fee.

Allocation of Annual Fee for Lawyers

Portions of the annual fee paid by each lawyer are allotted into the following three funds:

• General Fund – maintained by the Law Society for its program delivery and administration – includes a provision for the Law Society’s future capital requirements.
• County Law Library Funding – for the operation of the County Law Libraries. LibraryCo. Inc. administers the distribution of these funds and develops policy, priorities, guidelines and standards for the delivery of county law library services across Ontario.
• Compensation Fund – The Law Society maintains this fund pursuant to section 51 of the Law Society Act to relieve or mitigate loss sustained by any person in consequence of dishonesty on the part of any lawyer in connection with such lawyer’s law practice or in connection with any trust of which the lawyer was, or is, a trustee.

Allocation of Annual Fee for Paralegals

Portions of the annual fee paid by each paralegal are allotted into the following funds:

• General Fund – maintained by the Law Society for its program delivery and administration – includes a provision for the Law Society’s future capital requirements.
• Compensation Fund – The Law Society maintains this fund pursuant to section 51 of the Law Society Act to relieve or mitigate loss sustained by any person in consequence of dishonesty on the part of any paralegal in connection with such paralegal’s legal services practice or in connection with any trust of which the paralegal was, or is, a trustee.     

If a licensee is suspended for a continuous period of more than 12 months, their Law Society licence may be administratively revoked.

Quick Reference List

To make any changes to your status and/or contact information, please use the Change of Information area of the Law Society Portal.

Adjustments to invoices, refund requests, contact information, annual fee suspensions, and reinstatements: 

Email: records@lso.ca
Tel: 416-947-3315
Toll Free: 1-800-668-7380 Ext. 3315

Surrender of Licence: Licensees are able to surrender their licence with outstanding fees owing; however, annual report filings must be up to date to apply.

Email: bylawadmin@lso.ca
Tel: 416-947-3315
Toll Free: 1-800-668-7380 Ext. 3315

Application to Pay the Over 65 (Retired) Annual Fee and Exemption from the Requirement to File the Annual Report: All Law Society annual fees owing up to the end of the month in which the Law Society considers the application to be complete and approved must be paid in full.

Email: bylawadmin@lso.ca
Tel: 416-947-3315
Toll Free: 1-800-668-7380 Ext. 3315

Exemption from the Annual Fee and Annual Report Submission Based on Incapacity: Licensee’s fees and annual report filings must be up to date to apply.

Email: bylawadmin@lso.ca
Tel: 416-947-3315
Toll Free: 1-800-668-7380 Ext. 3315

Account and Payment Information:

Email: accounts@lso.ca
Tel: 416-947-5201
Toll Free: 1-800-668-7380 Ext. 5201

Pre-Authorized Payment Plan (PAP) Inquiries:
Email: pap@lso.ca