Minimum experience requirements introduced for Ontario Review Board roster
Published: December 29, 2023
Following a consultation in summer 2023, Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) has implemented minimum experience requirements for the Ontario Review Board (ORB) roster.
The introduction of meaningful requirements will support clients accessing high-quality legal aid services specific to their needs. These requirements were created in consultation with service providers, the public and experts in the provision of ORB services.
The minimum experience requirements include:
- being an authorized on the provide legal aid services in either the criminal law (general) or before the consent and capacity board roster
- having completed a minimum of three ORB matters within three years before applying for authorization (Conditional membership is available for roster members who do not meet the minimum case requirements. For details, please visit the Conditional Authorization Process page.)
- reviewing and attesting to the review of the materials listed for ORB matters.
LAO will transition all existing roster members who are currently authorized to provide legal aid services before the ORB to the new requirements through the 2023 LAO Lawyer Self-Report. Current roster members authorized on the ORB roster who do not meet the minimum requirements can request to be grand-parented to the new authorization.
To maintain authorization to provide ORB services, roster members must complete and submit their 2023 LAO Lawyer Self-Report, which will be available via the Legal Aid Online Portal starting January 3, 2024.