The budget approved by the board of governors also bolsters investment in the Compensation Fund
The Law Society of Ontario’s board of governors has approved a 2026 budget that facilitates a mild increase in licensee fees and finances CanLII’s generative artificial intelligence project.
Practising lawyers’ annual fees will inch up from $2,039 to $2,080 – a 2 percent uptick compared to 2025. Paralegals’ fees will increase from $1,023 to $1,037, reflecting a ~1.4 percent uptick.
A $30 refund will be applied to the paralegal fee under the paralegal Compensation Fund to lower the net fee payable to $1,007. Paralegal fees will be invested in developing the LSO’s paralegal certified specialist program.
The fee for the paralegal licensing exam will rise from $1,075 to $1,460 for the 2026-2027 licensing year, following low enrolment in examinations and inflation-related upticks in delivery expenses. The LSO said the increase was in line with the cost recovery model for program operation. Registration for the 2026-2027 exams begins in mid-January 2026.
Per the LSO’s 2024 annual report, it licensed 2,701 lawyers and 897 paralegals.
Moreover, as of 2026 the LSO will increase the reinstatement fee from $300 to $375; the professional corporation application fee from $250 to $350; the professional corporation renewal fee from $100 to $200; and the fee for certificates of standing from $50 to $100.
The annual fee increase is lower than the current 2.2 percent inflation rate, the LSO said. LSO Connects improvements that streamlined communications and enhanced operational efficiency also aided in lowering expenses.
The LSO said the proceeds from the fees would go to initiatives adding value to the profession, supporting public protection, and responding to calls for innovation. However, the LSO Connects platform has been met with backlash, with lawyers questioning the LSO’s value for money earlier this year.
The 2026 budget will also go towards funding CanLII’s push to roll out an AI-powered legal research tool providing access to information. CanLII has partnered with other Canadian law societies to develop its generative AI project. Moreover, the budget finances a suite of electronic legal information resources in 48 county and district law libraries; the budget funds the libraries themselves as well.
The budget also expands the provision for grants under the Compensation Fund and addresses increasing costs due to inflation and market pressures impacting contracts, venue rentals, and technology services. Moreover, the budget will finance LSO website updates, further LSO Connects improvements, and the enhancement of building infrastructure for Osgoode Hall’s maintenance.
