What Is a
Licensed Paralegal?

Updated August 2026  ·  By JC Paralegal Services

A licensed paralegal is a legal professional who is authorized and regulated by the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) to provide specific legal services to the public. Paralegals are not lawyers, but within their defined scope of practice, they are fully licensed and professionally insured.

Licensed paralegals in Ontario are authorized by the Law Society of Ontario to provide legal services and representation within their permitted scope of practice.

Regulated by the Law Society of Ontario

Since 2007, paralegals in Ontario have been licensed and regulated by the Law Society of Ontario under the Law Society Act. To become a licensed paralegal, a person must:

• Complete an accredited paralegal education program at a recognized Ontario college
• Pass the Law Society's licensing examination
• Meet the LSO's good character requirements
• Maintain professional liability (errors and omissions) insurance
• Complete annual continuing education requirements

Every licensed paralegal has an LSO licence number that can be verified through the public LSO directory. Jolanta Chrzaszcz of JC Paralegal Services holds LSO licence number P20100, which can be confirmed at lsodirectory.lso.ca.

What Can a Paralegal Do in Ontario?

A licensed paralegal in Ontario is authorized to provide legal services in the following areas:

Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB)

Licensed paralegals may represent landlords and tenants in proceedings before the Landlord and Tenant Board. Appeals and judicial proceedings are subject to separate jurisdictional and scope-of-practice requirements. This is one of the most common and most impactful areas of paralegal practice.

Small Claims Court

Paralegals can represent clients in Small Claims Court for disputes up to $50,000. This includes filing claims, serving documents, appearing at settlement conferences, and representing clients at trial.

Ontario Court of Justice (Criminal and Provincial Offences)

Paralegals can represent clients charged with provincial offences (Highway Traffic Act matters, licensing violations, etc.) and certain summary conviction criminal offences in the Ontario Court of Justice.

Specified Tribunals and Boards

Paralegals are authorized to appear before a range of Ontario administrative tribunals, including the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario and the Social Benefits Tribunal, among others.

Commissioner of Oaths

Licensed paralegals are authorized to act as Commissioners of Oaths in Ontario, meaning they can witness the signing of affidavits, statutory declarations, and other sworn documents.

What Can a Paralegal Not Do?

A paralegal's scope of practice is defined and limited by the LSO. Paralegals are not authorized to:

• Handle complex civil litigation, divorces, or family law matters
• Draft wills or provide estate planning advice
• Handle real estate transactions (except for certain limited matters)
• Represent clients in federal courts

Paralegals may only provide representation in courts and proceedings that fall within the scope of practice authorized by the Law Society of Ontario.

If your matter falls outside a paralegal's scope, they are required by professional conduct rules to refer you to a lawyer and cannot accept a retainer for that work.

Paralegal vs. Lawyer: Which Do You Need?

For matters within their permitted scope of practice, licensed paralegals can provide legal advice, prepare legal documents, negotiate on behalf of clients, and provide representation before authorized courts and tribunals.

The practical difference is cost. Lawyer hourly rates in Ontario commonly range from $250 to $500 or more per hour. Paralegal rates are generally much lower, making professional legal representation accessible for disputes that would otherwise be uneconomical to litigate.

For matters outside the paralegal scope - Superior Court litigation, family law, criminal defence above the provincial offences level - you will need a lawyer.

How to Verify a Paralegal's Licence

You can verify any Ontario paralegal's licence, standing, and current status through the Law Society's public online directory at lsodirectory.lso.ca. Before retaining any legal professional, it is worth confirming their licence is in good standing.