In brief: News for lawyers

Showing 1 - 10 of 179 results

Register now for the 2026 Refugee Law Office Conference

Published May 22, 2026

All-day event on Wednesday, June 24, 2026 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In person and online Register now Legal Aid Ontario’s Refugee Law Office is pleased to present the 2026 Refugee Law Office Conference. This year’s conference will take place at: University of Toronto Faculty of Law – Jackman Law Building 78 Queen’s Park Crescent…

Update to Legal Aid Online – Account tab layout

Published May 19, 2026

Effective June 1, users logging in to Legal Aid Online will notice minor updates to the Account tab for criminal, civil, and duty counsel statements. While all existing fields and functionality remain unchanged, the layout has been refreshed. Fields will now appear in a horizontal format rather than vertical, making the page easier to navigate and more user-friendly. Users will continue to be able to add…

Update on Bill C-12

Published April 13, 2026

As you may be aware, on March 26, 2026, Bill C-12 received royal assent. The bill introduces significant changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) that directly affect the refugee claim process. Most notably, the bill creates two new eligibility bars that prevent claims from being referred to the Refugee Protection Division (RPD). A claim is now ineligible to be referred to the RPD if it is submitted: More than one year after the claimant’s first entry into Canada after June…

New process speeds up deferral request and stay motion coverage

Published April 7, 2026

LAO has introduced a new process to speed up legal aid applications for clients facing deportation. Lawyers on the Refugee-Appellate roster can now use a lawyer-assisted application form to request coverage by email on behalf of clients who need the following services: Requests to Canada Border Services Agency to defer removal Motions in Federal Court…

Reminder: Complete your annual self-report by March 31, 2026

Published March 23, 2026

This is a reminder that all Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) roster members admitted prior to January 1, 2025 must submit their annual self-report by March 31, 2026. You may find the self-report on Legal Aid Online in the Personal Information section. Roster lawyers who do not file their self-report by the deadline will be automatically…

Updated Legal Aid Ontario forms to support vulnerable criminal clients

Published February 23, 2026

Legal Aid Ontario has updated the following forms to help reduce delays and improve processing for vulnerable criminal clients: Lawyer Assisted Application for Adult and Youth Criminal Court Proceedings (Out of Custody) Lawyer Assisted Inmate Request for Legal Aid Services What’s new The Charges / Legal Details section now includes additional questions to help identify…

Year-end purchase order close out process for per diem duty counsel

Published February 19, 2026

Each year, Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) closes duty counsel purchase orders and creates new ones for the upcoming year. Old purchase orders are closed on March 27, 2026 and new purchase orders will be created to be effective March 30, 2026. Please prepare for this change by reviewing what you need to do. Per diem

Improved process to request translation coverage

Published January 8, 2026

If you need to translate more than 3,500 words in documents for an immigration or refugee matter, LAO has updated two key documents with clearer instructions that that will make the approval process smoother. Disbursements Handbook The Translation section has been updated and expanded. Roster lawyers are strongly encouraged to take the time to read…

2025 lawyer annual self-report period starts Jan. 2

Published January 2, 2026

The annual self-report for 2025 opened on Jan. 2, 2026. As in previous years, the 2025 Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) lawyer self-report is available through Legal Aid Online. All roster members who have been a member of the LAO roster for the entirety of the 2025 calendar year (from Jan. 1, 2025 to Dec. 31, 2025 inclusive) are…

2026 update to Lawyer Self-Report: AI compliance confirmation

Published December 12, 2025

Starting January 2026, Legal Aid Ontario will require roster lawyers to annually confirm through the annual Lawyer Self-Report that they have read and are complying with the following from the Law Society of Ontario: Generative AI: Your professional obligations Practice tips for using AI Licensee use of generative artificial intelligence The requirement reflects the growing…


Showing 1 - 10 of 179 results