Complete your annual panel lawyer self-report by March 31, 2021

Minimum case exemptions for lawyers in good standing, other COVID-related changes

Published: February 1, 2021

The annual self-report for panel lawyers is now available in the Personal Info section of Legal Aid Online.

Complete yours by March 31, 2021 to renew your legal aid panel membership, confirm ongoing compliance with panel standards, and to update your panel standing.

In recognition of COVID‑19’s impact, we have made important changes to our panel standards for those of you most affected by the pandemic.

For the 2020 reporting year (January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020), lawyers in good standing who have been impacted by COVID‑19 and who met panel standards in 2019 will be exempt from LAO’s minimum case requirements. Those in good standing who did not meet the minimum case requirements in 2019 will have an extra year to meet those requirements. Empanelment conditions, mentorship requirements, and all other terms, conditions and standards of panel membership remain in effect.

Exemptions will be applied after completion of your self-report by the deadline, and requests for conditional status, where appropriate.

We have also added a question to the self-report asking about COVID‑19’s effect on your practice.

Learn more

We look forward to receiving your report.

For questions about panel membership or conditional status, please contact panels@lao.on.ca

For technical difficulties completing your self report, contact the Lawyer Service Centre at 416‑979‑9934 or 1‑866‑979‑9934.