Briefing On Licence With LSO

A paralegal is a legal practitioner with the necessary training and experience to render legal assistance to the general people, but they are not attorneys. Paralegals in Ontario are regulated as officials of the court and licensed by the Law Society of Ontario. Since 2007, the Law Society has had regulatory authority over the province’s approximately 9,000 license paralegals.

WHAT ARE PARALEGALS AUTHORIZED TO DO?

Paralegals with licenses are allowed to represent clients in the following areas in the court near me:

• Litigation in Small Claims Court (up to $35,000)
• Traffic and other violations under the Provincial Offences Act, which are said to be in the Ontario Court of Justice (SAB) Statutory Accident Benefits, claim that the Ontario Court hears minor injuries caused by motor vehicle accidents covered under the Insurance Act of Justice.
• Hearings before administrative tribunals and boards. The Landlord and Tenant Board, the WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board), the Financial Services Commission of Ontario. Also, the Social Benefits Tribunal, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, and the Immigration and Refugee Board.

Certain criminal law matters that force you to look up for “court near me” include:

• Assault
• Harassment in the criminal justice system
• Fraud under $5,000 Mischief Theft
• Violations of judicial orders.
• Dangerous Driving. Failure to Stop After an Accident.
• Fleeing from a Police Officer.
• Operation While Prohibited has four criminal driving infractions.

CRIMINAL CODE OFFENSES

Previously, paralegals could represent those charged with criminal summary convictions that carried a maximum sentence of six months in prison or a $5,000 fine. For most less severe offenses, changes to the Criminal Code changed the summary conviction penalty from six months to a couple of years less a day. As a result, the Law Society has allowed paralegals to defend people in summary conviction cases involving a maximum sentence of more than six months in jail. The Law Society has more information and a complete list of approved Criminal Code conviction charges where a set paralegal can represent an individual.

A licensed paralegal can represent a client searching for “lawyers near me” in any of the approved areas and provide the following legal services:

• Give legal advice about a proceeding or the subject matter of a proceeding, such as legal interests, rights, or duties.
• Prepare or support in the preparation of documents for use in a legal case, and
• Negotiate on behalf of someone who is a party to a dispute.

WHAT CAN’T PARALEGALS DO?

In Family Court, paralegals are not allowed to appear. Paralegals are not authorized to provide legal services that only a lawyer may do, such as making wills, arranging real estate transactions, or defending clients in significant criminal situations, unless they are under the supervision of a lawyer. However, Allied Paralegal Service might not be able to represent you in family court but they’re the best “lawyers near me” and will provide you the best advice possible.

CANADIAN LAW SCHOOLS

Ryerson UniversityThompson Rivers UniversityUniversity of TorontoWestern UniversityUniversity of WindsorQueen’s UniversityOsgoode Hall Law School, York UniversityUniversity of OttawaLakehead UniversityCarleton UniversityUniversity of Moncton (French)Dalhousie University

University of MontréalUniversity of Québec at MontréalUniversity of SherbrookeLaval UniversityMcGill UniversityUniversity of AlbertaUniversity of CalgaryUniversity of British ColumbiaUniversity of SaskatchewanUniversity of VictoriaUniversity of Manitoba, Robson HallUniversity of New Brunswick (English)

PARALEGAL LICENSING PROCESS

An applicant must satisfy the following requirements to become a licensed paralegal in Ontario:

• Obtain the required educational qualifications,
• Complete the Paralegal Licensing Examination and
• Apply to begin the paralegal licensing process.

Educational prerequisite

All applicants must have completed a Law Society-accredited paralegal education program in order to apply for a paralegal license with the Law Society. A college that the Ministry has approved of, Training, Colleges, and Universities, must offer an accredited paralegal education program. The following information must be included on an applicant’s college transcript when applying for the Licensing Program:

• Completion of an accredited paralegal program.
• A Professional Responsibility and/or Ethics course.
• A minimum of 120 hours of field position, and
• The month and year of graduation are all required.

Applicants are allowed to apply to the Licensing Process once they have completed a paralegal education program.

Application

There are two components to the application to enter the paralegal licensing process. Candidates must first complete and submit an online application, as well as pay a non-refundable application fee. Personal details, such as the applicant’s date of birth, evidence of legal name, and proof of education, are requested in the online application, as well as questions on the applicant’s “good character.”

Second, the candidate must mail a paper copy of their application and supporting paperwork to the Law Society’s Department of Paralegal Licensing, Licensing, and Accreditation. The following documents are required:

• Transcripts from an approved college confirming the candidate’s graduation from an accredited paralegal program
• Payment of all required fees to the Law Society’s Accounts Department and two-color passport-sized pictures taken within the last 12 months.
• A commissioner of oaths or a notary society must certify all documents.

Candidates who have not yet graduated from a paralegal education program but have completed all of the requirements for graduation from an Accredited Program and are awaiting a transcript of final grades and diploma, as well as a completed Statement of Field Placement and other conditions, can still apply to the Licensing Process.

Examination

To take the Paralegal Licensing Examination, a candidate must have the following qualifications:

• Certified from a paralegal education program accredited by the Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities and offered in a college approved by the Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities,
• Instructed the college to submit a final official transcript to the Law Society’s Licensing and Accreditation Department.
• Filed a Statement of Field Placement Form with the Licensing and Accreditation Department, certifying completion of field placement work and any other needed documentation, and
• I paid all of the fees that were due.

Candidates must fulfill these criteria no later than 30 business days before their chosen licensing examination date.

There are roughly 240 multiple-choice questions on the Licensing Examination, which are administered in an open-book manner. It split into two halves, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon, each lasting 3.5 hours.

The LSO website has information about the Paralegal Licensing Examination, including dates, places, and timings. In order to register for a test sitting, candidates must apply well in advance of the planned date.

Candidates are entitled to get licensed bypassing their Licensing Examination, completing all prerequisites of the paralegal licensing process, having a clear good character status, paying all fees, and submitting all relevant documentation. The Licensing Process, Licensing, and Accreditation Department will then send the candidate’s Law Society Web Account with information on the procedure for getting a paralegal license, as well as pertinent dates and timetables. The data will not be made available on the internet because the justice of peace jurisdiction is limited to Allied Paralegal.

WHAT IS THE CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD) REQUIREMENT?

According to the Law Society of Ontario, licensed paralegals who provide legal services in Ontario must complete at least 12 hours of (CPD) Continuing Professional Development each year. There must be a minimum of 3 Professionalism Hours and a maximum of 9 Substantive Hours in this field.

Professionalism Hours must gain approval by the Law Society and focus on professional responsibility, ethics, and/or practice management.

Substantive Hours do not need to be approved by LSO and can cover various substantive and procedural legal topics and associated skills. They can easily discuss the non-legal matters in Substantive Hours as long as they are relevant to the paralegal’s work and professional development.

HOW CAN ALLIED PARALEGAL HELP YOU WITH LSO?

The Law Society of Ontario regulates the legal profession in Ontario. It is in charge of paralegals and lawyers in Ontario’s education, regulation, licensing, supervision, and discipline. They make sure that the lawyers and paralegals are qualified to deliver quality legal services to the general public. At Allied Paralegal Services, we can assist you in studying for the LSO exam. We help them in obtaining Paralegal Professional Licensure from the Law Society of Ontario. We can assist you in getting your paralegal or P1 license.

To obtain your P1 license, the Law Society of Ontario has established a set of rules and regulations. Allied Paralegal Services can provide you with a legal assistant to assist you in understanding the entire process. We will help you complete the details of what you must submit to receive the license—starting with correctly filling out and submitting the ‘Petition for the P1 License and Certificate of Fitness’ form.

Becoming Licenced

Our legal advisors have gone through the complete lawyer licensing process and are thus qualified to help you achieve the P1 license. Once you’ve completed and submitted all of the essential items, your application status will change to ‘Licensing- Complete,’ indicating that you get approval to obtain a p1 or paralegal license from the Law Society of Ontario.

INSURANCE REQUIREMENT FOR THE PARALEGAL LICENSEE

You won’t be able to provide paralegal services in Ontario until you receive your P1 or paralegal license number and secure mandatory insurance coverage. As the top paralegal near you, we can help you get the most significant insurance coverage and provide you the drive you need to get your paralegal services off the ground.

We understand that obtaining a license with LSO can be time-consuming and complex. Still, with the assistance of our legal consultants, you can quickly complete the process of becoming a licensed paralegal. For more information, visit Allied Paralegal Services and book an appointment with the best paralegals today.

Source: BRIEFING ON LICENCE WITH LSO