New LSO Status Notification Function on Legal Aid Online

Published: September 29, 2025

As part of ongoing enhancements to the Legal Aid Online portal, Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) has created a new notification process to streamline updates regarding roster members’ status with the Law Society of Ontario (LSO).

Roster members must maintain “In Private Practice” status with the LSO, in accordance with the Legal Aid Services Rules and the Legal Aid Services Act, 2020. LAO regularly receives updates from the LSO regarding roster members’ standing and, previously, provided roster members written notice about changes to their status. Now, LAO will notify roster members through the portal if their status with the LSO changes from “In Private Practice” to an invalid one such as “Administratively Suspended” or “Not Practising Law.”

While roster members should still rely on the LSO’s Change of Practice Status notices and recognize them as authoritative, LAO’s new notification process will provide members with further confirmation of changes to their status. Roster members can view the notices in the new mailbox in Legal Aid Online by scrolling to the Communication tab, selecting “View Mail” and “Correspondence”, and clicking on “LSO Status Mailbox”.

Status changes often result from issues with reporting continuing professional development or LSO fee payments, and are often resolved quickly. If the status change is corrected within 72 hours, no action is needed by the roster member. If the status change persists for more than 72 hours, the roster member will temporarily be suspended from acknowledging legal aid certificates. Once reinstated to “In Private Practice,” and the updated status is properly reflected in the LSO member directory, the roster member can contact roster@lao.on.ca to request that the suspension be lifted.

Roster members are reminded that they must not accept new legal aid certificates or provide legal aid services if their LSO status is not “In Private Practice,” even for periods of less than 24 hours. LAO will recover funds for any services provided while a roster member’s status is invalid.

LAO’s goal with this new Legal Aid Online notification feature is to enhance transparency and provide timely updates to roster members, minimizing compliance or billing issues that may arise when legal aid services are unknowingly provided without a valid LSO status. For any questions or concerns about this process, please email roster@lao.on.ca.