Expanded licensee information may be published in line with the Increased Transparency initiative
The Law Society of Ontario has introduced an updated lawyer and paralegal directory that simplifies access to licensee information and permits expanded licensee information to be published.
The directory provides details like name, business contact details, practising status, areas of law or legal services, languages offered, and regulatory history, practice restrictions and active trusteeships. It will also include data shared on the LSO and Law Society Tribunal websites, such as improved information about surrendered or revoked licensees and about regulatory proceedings, as well as summaries of regulatory meetings.
New fields will be included on September 1 in line with increased information disclosure approved under the Increased Transparency initiative once related changes to By-Law 8 are implemented. These reforms include publicizing licensee findings of guilt and practice of other regulated professions per Convocation approval in September 2025; they also include sharing the LSO’s intent to seek interlocutory relief based on criminal or other charges in certain situations before an interlocutory proceeding begins or the subject licensee executes an undertaking.
The LSO first announced the new directory in May. Licencees’ fax numbers will be erased in line with the regulator’s decision to stop recording fax numbers.
The LSO highlighted transparency as vital to helping the public select legal representatives based on accurate, relevant data regarding licencees’ professional business, regulatory history, and justice system interactions. It is intended to improve the accessibility, usability, and navigation of lawyer and paralegal information for the public and legal professionals, the regulator said.
On March 31, new reporting requirements were implemented for licencees under By-Law 8, including expanded requirements for criminal and other charges, and findings of guilt. Licencees must report to the LSO if they are licenced to practise in another Canadian province or territory; are a member of another regulated profession in Canada; are under terms, limits or restrictions on their legal practice in another Canadian jurisdiction or regulated profession in Canada; and are involved in discipline proceedings or any finding of professional misconduct, incompetence, or incapacity in their legal practice or another regulated profession in Canada.
Licencees must also report all business names under which they practise law or offer legal services.
