A licensed paralegal is a legal professional who is licensed by the Law Society of Ontario to give certain legal services directly to the public. In Ontario, you need this licence by law to work as a paralegal.
Official website ↗In Ontario, paralegals are regulated legal professionals. With a licence, a paralegal can represent clients in some courts and tribunals, give legal advice in approved areas, and prepare legal documents. The licence is issued by the Law Society of Ontario, which also sets the rules paralegals must follow.
The licence matters for many roles in the legal field. It is used by people working as paralegals, corporate paralegals, immigration paralegals, legal assistants, legal document reviewers, legal support staff, e-discovery specialists and title examiners. Some of these jobs may not need the licence in every workplace. If you plan to give legal services on your own or directly to the public, you do need it.
The licensing exam is a written exam. It covers legal knowledge, professional conduct and the skills a paralegal needs in daily work. You must pass it to get your licence. Candidates usually spend several weeks preparing.
Your licence must be renewed each year. You pay an annual fee and report that you are meeting the Law Society's requirements. You must also keep learning through approved professional development. If you do not renew on time, your licence can lapse and you would not be allowed to practise.