Ontario is the only jurisdiction in Canada that licenses both lawyers and paralegals. The Law Society of Upper Canada, which regulates the province's lawyers and paralegals, offers some quick tips to help you choose the legal professional who is right for you.
Lawyers are licensed to provide a full range of legal services that include:
• Family matters, such as divorce, separation and child custody;
• Criminal matters in all levels of court;
• Civil litigation matters in all levels of court;
• Wills, powers of attorney and estate matters;
• Real estate matters, including buying and selling personal or commercial property;
• Administrative law matters, including appearances before tribunals.
Paralegals may represent you in:
• Small Claims Court;
• Traffic court for charges under the Provincial Offences Act;
• Tribunals, such as the Landlord and Tenant Board or the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board;
• Minor criminal charges under the Criminal Code of Canada heard in the Ontario Court of Justice.
In addition to regulating lawyers and paralegals, the Law Society provides helpful resources on its website (lsuc.on.ca) including the guide Handling Everyday Legal Problems that lists sources for free legal information and services.
