06/26/2025
Access to Justice
Paralegals play a key role in improving access to justice in Ontario. The Law Society of Ontario licenses and regulates both lawyers and paralegals in the Province of Ontario.
Curious about which legal services a licensed paralegal in Ontario can offer?
Here's the response from the Law Society's website:
"The Law Society of Ontario licenses paralegals to provide legal representation with the following matters:
Administrative Law
The area of law concerned with reviewing administrative decisions made by governmental bodies and organizations. This typically involves the law governing the organization and operation of the executive branch of government, including independent agencies, and often includes administrative tribunals, boards, or agencies.
• Hearings before tribunals
• Litigation in Small Claims Court
• Minor criminal charges under the Criminal Code heard in the Ontario Court of Justice
• Traffic court and other charges under the Provincial Offences Act
Administrative Law
Civil Litigation
Criminal Law & Quasi-Criminal
Assessment Review Board, Consent and Capacity Board, Conservation Review Board, Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, Environmental Review Tribunal, Financial Services Commission of Ontario (for Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule claims, excluding catastophic injury) Health Professions Appeal and Review Board Human Rights Tribunal (part of Social Justice Tribunals Ontario) Landlord and Tenant Board - representing Landlord (part of Social Justice Tribunals Ontario) Landlord and Tenant Board - representing Tenant (part of Social Justice Tribunals Ontario) Ontario Civilian Police Commission (part of Safety, Licensing Appeals and Standards Tribunals Ontario) Ontario Energy Board Ontario Labour Relations Board - Other Ontario Labour Relations Board - re. Colleges Collective Bargaining Act, Ontario Labour Relations Board - re. Crown Employees Collective Bargaining Act, Ontario Labour Relations Board - re. Employment Standards Act, Ontario Labour Relations Board - re. Environmental Protection Act Ontario Labour Relations Board - re. Labour Relations Act Ontario Labour Relations Board - re. Occupational Health & Safety Act Ontario Labour Relations Board - re. Public Sector Labour Relations Transition Act Ontario Labour Relations Board - re. Smoke-Free Ontario Act Ontario Municipal Board Ontario Parole Board (part of Safety, Licensing Appeals and Standards Tribunals Ontario) Parole Board of Canada Pay Equity Hearings Tribunal Safety, Licensing Appeals and Standards Tribunals Ontario - Animal Care Review Board Safety, Licensing Appeals and Standards Tribunals Ontario - Fire Safety Commission Safety, Licensing Appeals and Standards Tribunals Ontario - Licence Appeal Tribunal Social Justice Tribunals Ontario - Child and Family Services Review Board Social Justice Tribunals Ontario - Custody Review Board Social Justice Tribunals Ontario - Social Benefits Tribunal Social Justice Tribunals Ontario - Special Education (English) Tribunal of Ontario Social Justice Tribunals of Ontario - Special Education (French) Tribunal of Ontario Social Security Tribunal of Canada (CPP / OAS) Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal Workplace Safety and Insurance Board Small Claims Court POA - Blind Persons Rights Act POA - Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act POA - Environmental Protection Act POA - Highway Traffic Offences (includes traffic ticket, speeding, careless driving) POA - Liquor Licence Act POA - Littering POA - Municipal By-Laws POA - Occupational Health & Safety Act POA - Other Summary Conviction - Assault* Summary Conviction - Breach of Recognizance* Summary Conviction - Dangerous Driving* Summary Conviction - Failure to comply with probation order* Summary Conviction - Mischief* Summary Conviction - Other* Summary Conviction - Theft under $5000*
*Hybrid offences are deemed indictable until the Crown Attorney makes an election to proceed by summary conviction. Paralegals are not permitted to provide legal services for indictable offences.
Administrative Law
Paralegals handle cases involving tribunals and boards, including Statutory Accident Benefits (SABS), the Landlord and Tenant Board, and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.
Civil Litigation
Paralegals handle legal representation in Small Claims Court litigation. (claims up to $50,000.00 beginning in September)
Criminal Law & Quasi-Criminal
For paralegals, the area of law dealing with the prosecution, defence and appeals of minor criminal charges under the Criminal Code in the Ontario Court of Justice that have a maximum penalty of 6 months imprisonment and/or a fine of not more than $5000, as well as traffic and other offences heard in Provincial Offences Court. Paralegals are not permitted to provide legal services for indictable offences and hybrid offences are deemed indictable until the Crown Attorney makes an election to proceed by summary conviction.
Provincial Offences include: In Ontario, Provincial Offences Courts handle cases involving violations of provincial statutes and municipal by-laws. These include traffic violations under the Highway Traffic Act, by-law infractions like excessive noise or animal control, and offences under other provincial legislation such as the Liquor Licence Act and the Trespass to Property Act.
Examples of Provincial Offences:
• Highway Traffic Act:
Speeding, running a red light, failing to stop for a school bus, careless driving, driving without a license.
Municipal By-laws:
Excessive noise, animal control issues (leash laws, barking dogs), garbage disposal violations, and trespassing on private property.
Other Provincial Legislation:
Offences under the Liquor Licence Act, Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act, Trespass to Property Act, Environmental Protection Act, and Occupational Health and Safety Act.
• Key Characteristics of Provincial Offences:
• Quasi-criminal charges:
Provincial offences are not considered criminal offences but are quasi-criminal in nature.
Enforcement:
Provincial Offences Officers (POOs) are authorized to enforce these laws.
Court Process:
Cases are typically heard in Provincial Offences Courts within municipalities.
Penalties:
Penalties can include fines, demerit points (for traffic violations), and in some cases, suspension of licenses.
Ontario tribunals and boards:
Tribunals Ontario is the umbrella organization for a collection of 13 adjudicative tribunals in Ontario that make decisions on a wide range of matters, including human rights, landlord and tenant disputes, and social assistance appeals. These tribunals are part of the Ministry of the Attorney General.
Here's a list of the tribunals that fall under Tribunals Ontario:
• Animal Care Review Board (ACRB)
• Assessment Review Board (ARB)
• Child and Family Services Review Board (CFSRB)
• Custody Review Board (CRB)
• Fire Safety Commission (FSC)
• Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO)
• Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB)
• Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT)
• Ontario Civilian Police Commission (OCPC)
• Ontario Parole Board (OPB)
• Ontario Special Education Tribunal (OSET)
• Social Benefits Tribunal (SBT)
In addition to these, there are other tribunals and boards in Ontario, including:
Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT): Deals with land use planning, environmental matters, and heritage protection.
• Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB): Oversees labour relations matters.
• Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal (WSIAT): Reviews decisions related to workplace safety and insurance claims.
• Ontario Energy Board: Regulates the energy sector.
• Ontario Securities Commission: Oversees the securities market.
• Ontario Civilian Police Commission: Handles civilian complaints against police and police discipline matters.
• Ontario Physician Payment Review Board: Reviews physician payment disputes.
• Ontario Public Service Grievance Board: Deals with grievances within the Ontario Public Service.
• Ontario Racing Commission: Regulates horse racing.
• Ontario Pay Equity Hearings Tribunal: Addresses pay equity disputes"
At Mason Legal Services, we provide additional services such as notarizing and commissioning documents and process serving (serving legal documents on the other parties to a claim).
Contact us to learn how we can assist you!