Information for Lawyers
Block fees
Block fee tutorials
Legal Aid Ontario offers a variety of resources to help familiarize lawyers with the criminal block fees billing process.
The numbers behind the block
Running time: 10:02
A look at the financial details of the block fee program, this presentation explains the financial rationale of block fees, including how discretion and certificate costs were factored in.
Phase 2 Tutorials
Introduction to criminal block fees
The purpose of this video is to explain the second phase of Legal Aid Ontario’s block fee pilot. In the first of five video modules (or tutorials), we will cover an introduction to the system. Block fees are part of Legal Aid Ontario’s continuing modernization strategy to improve services to our clients and to streamline our administrative processes. This initiative is also part of the Memorandum of Understanding between Legal Aid Ontario, the Attorney General, and the Criminal Lawyers’ Association.
Block fees are fixed fees or rates that LAO pays lawyers instead of an hourly tariff for the appropriate resolution for some of the most common criminal charges. The first phase of the program was introduced last year.
This video is also available in 
audio (MP3) and 
PDF formats.
Cases covered under block fees
In the second of five video modules (or tutorials), we cover which cases are covered and which are not covered by the second phase of the block fee program. We will also go over the various fees that can apply to block fee cases.
This video is also available in audio (MP3) and PDF formats.
Compendium of rules
The third video tutorial focuses on the most significant rules related to block fee certificates, billing, and payments. The video covers topics including:
- who can bill block fees;
- what happens if a matter is set for trial;
- multiple block fee charges on the same certificate;
- what’s included in the block fee;
- the difference between standard and authorized blocks;
- multiple block fee certificates for the same client (heard separately and together); and,
- billing both excluded and block fee charges for the same client.
The video is also available in audio (MP3) and PDF formats.
Compendium of rules: II
The forth tutorial provides more detail regarding the rules and the types of block fees discussed in tutorial three.
This includes further information on:
- The case categories and charges for what is covered and what is not covered,
- Rules related to block fee certificates such as when dockets need to be attached and how not resolved matters are billed,
- And the types of billing and payment rules that apply to block fees.
Compendium of rules: II (full tutorial)
» Case categories and charges
» Block fee rules
» Types of block fees, billing & payment rules
Currently only the PDF version of this tutorial is available. Video and audio components coming soon.
Billing and Payment Rules, Amendments and Authorizations
The final module provides rules and includes situation-based scenarios of how block fees are paid and additional information on certificate amendment and authorization requests.
Billing and Payment Rules, Amendments and Authorizations (Full tutorial)
» 1. Certificates with multiple charges
» 2. Multiple charges on a single & multiple certificates (heard together)
» 3. Multiple charges on a single & multiple certificates (heard separately)
» 4. Certificates with Excluded charges
» 5. Certificates with excluded charges + Certificate with a block fee charge (heard separately)
» 5b. Excluded charges + block fee charges on different certificates (heard together)
Currently only the PDF version of this tutorial is available. Video and audio components coming soon.
Please note: block fees phase 2 is a continuation of LAO's block fee pilot. As a result, these rules should be considered provisional. LAO may amend these rules in light of consultations, new information or analysis, or any other factor that suggests the rules should be amended.
Phase 1 billing tutorials
Introduction: Submitting block fee accounts
Lawyer Service Centre
Legal Aid Ontario is committed to making block fees billing a straight forward and efficient process. If you have any questions or concerns about block fees billing, contact the Lawyer Service Centre at 416-979-9934 or 1-866-979-9934, Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. EST.
Please note: Lawyer Service Centre hours are temporarily extended for the implementation of block fees, phase 2.
