Administrative Suspension / Reinstatement — Paralegals

Administrative Suspension

In order to maintain membership in good standing with the Law Society, all paralegals must comply with annual administrative obligations including:

In addition, paralegals who practise as an Affiliation or Multi-Discipline Practice must comply with the following administrative obligation(s):

The Process

Following the due date, paralegals are reminded in writing that they are in default of their administrative obligation and provided with notice prior to referral for formal suspension. Once referred for suspension, a person/bencher appointed under s.46(1) and/or s.47(1) and/or s.47.1(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.

• Paralegals whose licence is suspended must immediately cease to provide legal services.
• The names of suspended paralegals will be published in the Notices to the Profession and the Courts and Legal Aid Ontario will be notified.
• 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 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 $150.00 plus applicable taxes.

For Law Society Annual Fees contact the Client Service Centre by calling the Resource Centre at (416) 947-3315 (toll free 1-800-668-7380 ext 3315) and ask to be transferred, or e-mail Client Service Centre using the Contact page.

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

• Provide proof of insurance.

For paralegal insurance requirements contact the Client Service Centre by calling the Resource Centre at (416) 947-3315 (toll free 1-800-668-7380 ext 3315) and ask to be transferred, or e-mail Client Service Centre using the Contact page.

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

• File all outstanding Paralegal Annual Reports.
• File all outstanding Multi-Discipline Practice Annual Reports.
• File all outstanding Affiliation Annual Reports.

For Paralegal Annual Report filings or Multi-Discipline Practice and Affiliation Annual Report filings, contact the Administrative Compliance (AC) department by calling the Resource Centre at (416) 947-3315 (toll free 1-800-668-7380 ext 3315) and ask to be transferred, or e-mail AC using the Contact page.

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