Ontario law society to expand information posted on lawyer and paralegal directory

The Law Society of Ontario has announced Convocation’s approval of amendments to By-Law 8 to increase transparency by expanding the information included in the lawyer and paralegal directory as of Sept. 1. 

According to the Convocation update, the directory will: 

• Post licensee findings of guilt and practice of other regulated professions, as approved by Convocation last September 
• Disclose the law society’s plans to pursue interlocutory relief based on criminal or other charges in some situations before the initiation of an interlocutory proceeding or the licensee’s execution of an undertaking 
• Delete references to licensee fax numbers, in line with the law society’s choice to no longer store such contact details in its database 

According to the law society, the amendments aim to help members of the public accessibly and timely find additional, relevant information on the directory. 

The law society characterized the changes as the last phase of its efforts under the increased transparency initiative, building on Convocation’s prior updates intending to enhance the information licensees should report to the law society and the information the directory should publish. 

The updated reporting requirements under By-Law 8 took effect for all licensees last Mar. 31. 

The law society acknowledged that the existing interlocutory measures, undertakings, and related mechanisms continue to offer the proper disclosure in circumstances involving criminal or other charges. 

According to the increased transparency initiative page, the law society received input raising concerns about how publishing criminal and other charges in the directory might impact fundamental rights such as the presumption of innocence and the issue of tackling systemic racism. 

New directory

In support of the amendments, the law society plans to launch a new lawyer and paralegal directory this month that will be more accessible, more user-friendly, and easier to navigate. 

According to the Convocation update, the law society explained that the new directory will: 

• Cover all information presently available in the current directory 
• Include fields for the additional information approved via the increased transparency initiative, with these fields remaining blank until the amendments to By-Law 8 take effect on Sept. 1

The law society will provide more information about the new directory in the coming weeks.

By-law 15 amendments

Given the certified specialist program’s expansion to paralegals, the law society also announced Convocation’s approval of changes to By-Law 15. Per the Convocation update, these amendments will: 

• State the requirements for paralegals to be certified specialists 
• Enable them to use the certified specialist designation 

The law society expects to start accepting paralegal applications for the certified specialist program this fall.