Administrative Suspension and Reinstatement of Paralegals

Administrative Suspension

In order to maintain your membership with the Law Society, and avoid administrative suspension of your licence, all paralegals must comply with annual administrative obligations including:

• March 31st - Payment of the Law Society annual licence fee
• March 31st - Submit the Annual Report Filing
• March 31st - Completion and reporting of Continuing Professional Development requirements, including 1 Professionalism Hour each year of accredited programming focused on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI Hours)
• Annually - Maintaining paralegal practice insurance coverage

 

Licensees who do not pay their Annual Fee, complete their Annual Report, or report their previous year’s CPD by March 31 will be in default as of that day, and may be suspended by an Order of the Summary Order Bencher immediately thereafter.

The Process

After March 31, a person/bencher appointed under s.46(1) and/or s.47(1) and/or s.47.1(1) and/or s.49(1) of the Law Society Act will authorize a summary suspension. Paralegals who are included in the Summary Order will be mailed a Notice of Suspension allowing them five business days to comply with the Order prior to the effective date of suspension. For additional information refer to the Law Society of Ontario: Rules of Procedure for Summary Orders.

• Paralegals whose licence is suspended must immediately cease to provide legal services.
• The names of suspended paralegals will be provided to the Courts and Legal Aid Ontario.
• Suspended paralegals who were practising prior to suspension will be contacted by the Law Society to ensure their practice has been properly closed.
• Suspended paralegals may not be employed by a lawyer or paralegal in good standing without prior permission from the Law Society see Rule 6.01(6) of the Paralegal Rules of Conduct.
• If an administrative Summary Suspension Order remains outstanding for 12 months, an Order may be made summarily revoking the paralegal's licence.

Reinstatement

Paralegals who are administratively suspended for failure to pay Law Society annual licence fees must meet the following requirements prior to reinstatement of status by the Law Society.

• Pay all outstanding Law Society annual licence fees, plus a reinstatement fee of $300.00 plus applicable taxes.

For Law Society Annual Fees contact Membership Services by calling (416) 947-3315 or toll-free 1-800-668-7380 ext 3315 and asking to be transferred, or by email at records@lso.ca.

Paralegals who are administratively suspended for failure to maintain professional liability insurance must meet the following requirements prior to reinstatement of status by the Law Society.

• Provide proof of insurance.

For paralegal insurance requirements contact Membership Services by calling (416) 947-3315 or toll-free 1-800-668-7380 ext 3315 and asking to be transferred, or by email at records@lso.ca.

Paralegals who are administratively suspended for failure to meet the Law Society annual report filing obligation must meet the following requirements prior to reinstatement of status by the Law Society.

• Submit all outstanding Annual Report Filings.

For Annual Report Filings contact By-Law Administration Services by calling (416) 947-3315 or toll-free at 1-800-668-7380 ext 3315 and asking to be transferred, or by email at bylawadmin@lso.ca.

Note: Where a paralegal is the subject of a regulatory suspension, the terms of the Order must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of the Law Society before the paralegal's licence can be reinstated.