Legal Aid Online

Before You Get Started

Welcome to Legal Aid Online!
To make sure Legal Aid Online is effective for you, here is some important information you should know before you start using this new system.

User Agreement
Please make sure that you read the User Agreement very carefully before you start using Legal Aid Online. It contains important information about Legal Aid Ontario's security and privacy policies.

Legal Aid Online user responsibility
Legal Aid Ontario is not responsible for any activity on Legal Aid Online by any person(s) you may have authorized to access your Legal Aid Online account. You agree to accept responsibility and liability for all transactions or activities that occur under your account whether made by you or any other designated person(s).

When you first sign in
The first time you sign in to Legal Aid Online, you will be prompted to change your password. It is important that you complete the challenge question and provide an up to date email address. Check the User Guide for more information about your password.

Sharing your password
We recommend that you check out the "Password Tips" section in the User Guide for more information about your password.

Post Payment Examination
Lawyers using Legal Aid Online to submit accounts will have most simple accounts billed within the tariff maximum processed and paid faster. However, after accounts are paid, some accounts may be randomly selected for post payment examination. Lawyers will be notified if their accounts have been selected for examination and will be notified of the results.

Message Centre
Remember to check the Message Centre when you "Sign in". This is your source of updated and important information about Legal Aid Online. Here, you'll find out if the system is down for any reason.

Technical Requirements

To have the best experience and ensure the security of Legal Aid Online, we recommend that you use Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher or Netscape Navigator 7.1 or higher.

Before you begin using Legal Aid Online, you will need to make sure your computer is set up properly. Most computers are set up using the Microsoft default settings but we recommend that you check the four settings below to ensure that you have the best experience possible using Legal Aid Online.

• Browser security
• Cookies enabled
• Cache clearing
• Javascript enabled

Click on the links below for instructions on adjusting the setting with various browsers:
- Internet Explorer v5.5 or later
- Netscape Navigator 7.1 or later
- Information for Mac users

Training Tutorials

Listed below are some video tutorials in Flash and Quicktime formats. Click on the icon below to start the lesson.

/ How to sign in

/ How to bill a criminal account

/ How to bill a civil account

/ How to bill a duty counsel account

/ How to review the status on the payment of your accounts

/ How to change your basic contact information

/ How to change your password

/ First and last date of service explained

/ Submitting disbursement only accounts

/ Submitting criminal accounts with multiple proceedings

/ How to submit an annual self report

For help with Flash visit Macromedia.
For help with QuickTime visit Apple.

User Agreement

Introduction
Please make sure that you read the User Agreement very carefully before you start using Legal Aid Online. Your "sign-in" to Legal Aid Online constitutes consent and acceptance of the User Agreement.

The website, Legal Aid Online, is provided by Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) as a service to permit users to electronically submit accounts to Legal Aid Ontario. It is intended for the use of authorized users of Legal Aid Online. By using the service, you accept and agree to the terms and conditions set out in this agreement.

Subject to the terms and conditions in this agreement, LAO will:

• Provide the service to users through this portal site, the World Wide Web with the URL www.legalaidonline.on.ca;
• Use reasonable efforts to provide access to this service seven days a week and 18 hours a day, subject to maintenance, repair, support and system updates;
• Process accounts filed through the service in a timely manner;
• Maintain privacy of personal information as set out below;
• Provide users access to the website with individual, unique user names and passwords, widely accessible training information and a Lawyer Service Desk.

Submission of Accounts

• All accounts submitted through the portal must be submitted in accordance with the Legal Aid Tariff.
• By submitting an account, you represent and warrant that, as the acknowledging lawyer, you are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the contents of the account and have:
  
  • reviewed the account before submitting it to LAO;
  • performed the legal services billed for;
  • made reasonable efforts to ensure that legal fees and disbursements were reasonable and necessary;
  • billed all disbursements strictly in accordance with the Tariff and Billing Handbook or in accordance with specific authorization from LAO; and
  • you are entitled to receive payment according to the Legal Aid Services Act and its regulations and schedules.
• LAO may require you to provide proof and justification of all items included in an account, including production of time-keeping and accounting records.
• Some accounts will be chosen at random for Post-Payment Examination, and lawyers will be required to provide LAO with account details.
• By using this service, you agree to accept responsibility and liability for all transactions or activities that occur under your account.
• Lawyers should take precautions to make sure accounts submitted are virus-free.
• Electronically submitted attachments are considered copies and if required, you may be required to submit originals.

Restrictions on Use of Materials and Software
All contents of this /website are the property of Legal Aid Ontario and are protected by Canadian and international copyright laws.

Disclaimer
While every effort is made to ensure that the information and materials contained in this site are accurate, including text, graphics and other items, they are provided on an "as is" basis. LAO does not warrant the accuracy, adequacy, timeliness, or completeness of this information and materials and expressly disclaims liability for errors or omissions in this information and materials. No warranty of any kind, implied, express, or statutory is given in conjunction with the information and materials.

Limitation of Liability
Under no circumstances, including but not limited to negligence, shall Legal Aid Ontario or its employees be liable for any incidental, special or consequential damages that result from the use of, or the inability to use, the software or other materials in the site.

Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Statement
LAO is governed by the privacy provisions of the Legal Aid Services Act (LASA) and by the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA). Personal information is collected under the authority of s. 84 of LASA. LAO's complete Privacy Policy is available on the LAO website. The personal information provided through this web site will be used for the purposes stated below:

• Payment of accounts
• Post-Payment Examination of accounts
• Investigations by LAO's Investigations Department and/or by the Complaints Department
• Provision of support services to users
• Statistical information and analysis

The information provided may be disclosed to LAO staff for the purposes described above or for a consistent purpose. Information provided is also subject to disclosure pursuant to an access request under FIPPA. As the information provided is generally also the personal information of the legal aid applicant, disclosure will generally be available to the legal aid applicant, subject to limited exceptions set out in FIPPA.

Although Legal Aid Ontario's security efforts are generally consistent with industry practice, your complete privacy, confidentiality and security associated with any communications cannot be guaranteed. Therefore, Legal Aid Ontario will not be responsible or liable for any loss of privacy, disclosure of information, damage, harm or loss that may result from your transmission of any information in connection with this site.

Use of this service constitutes your consent to information being collected, used and disclosed in accordance with this statement.

For further information about the collection, use and disclosure of personal information, contact the FIPPA Co-ordinator at:

• 416-979-1446 or 1-800-668-8258 ext. 4706
  
• 40 Dundas Street West, Suite 200, Toronto On - M5G 2C2
• Fax: 416-979-7338

Security
Legal Aid Ontario provides an environment that takes measures to protect the security of your personal and accounts information. Legal Aid Ontario has taken reasonable efforts to ensure users' and clients' security and privacy. Our policies prevent us from disclosing information relating to that security. Users should be aware that the Internet is not a fully secure medium and neither the privacy of your communications nor the privacy of other site activities can be guaranteed. The nature of Internet communications means that your communications may be susceptible to data corruption, unauthorized access, interception and delays.

Amendments
Legal Aid Ontario may modify, alter, or update this Agreement at any time with or without notice. Please review the link on a regular basis for any such changes.

Indemnification
Users will indemnify and hold Legal Aid Ontario and its officers and staff harmless from and against all claims, liability, and expenses arising out of the use of or your breach of any provision of this agreement.