In brief: News for lawyers

LAO has updated the 2022 lawyer annual self-report to improve the user experience and to assist with the transition of existing roster members to the updated minimum experience requirements. Highlights The 2022 self-report period will be from January 3 to March 31, 2023. You will be notified when the period begins. The self-reporting process remains largely the…

Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) has developed an Assignment of Judgment for Costs, which includes a corresponding Affidavit of Execution, to be used when a roster member’s client has been awarded costs in a matter covered by a certificate and the costs are not payable directly to LAO. For more information on costs, please see volume…

On Oct. 24, 2022, Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) will return to its pre-pandemic eligibility requirements for family law services. This change affects everyone seeking the services of our family law duty counsel and summary legal advice, regardless of whether this help is provided in person or by phone. The same financial test, based on income…

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, LAO implemented temporary emergency changes to its service delivery model to assist vulnerable clients impacted by the pandemic. As access to in-person services resumes, LAO will be winding down many of its temporary emergency measures. Starting on Nov. 18, LAO will no longer: Waive its financial eligibility requirements for…

It’s time to send in your nominations for the Sidney B. Linden Award! The deadline for submission is Friday, January 20, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. The award is named after Justice Sidney B. Linden, the first chair of Legal Aid Ontario (LAO), who has been involved with legal aid for over 37 years. LAO created the Sidney…

Due to routine maintenance and system upgrades, Legal Aid Online will be unavailable from 6 pm ET on August 11, 2022 to 11:55 pm ET on August 14, 2022. Please refrain from using the site during this period. For any questions or technical difficulties, please contact the Lawyer Service Centre.

Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) is launching a live chat feature to allow website visitors to send general inquiries to a live agent from Monday to Friday between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. The chat will be available in both English and French. During the pilot phase of this project, users will have the option to…

Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) has amended the rates for billing transcription disbursements and now requires roster members to follow specific guidelines when ordering transcripts, following the introduction of updated rates for court transcription services pursuant to O. Reg 145/22 under the Administration of Justice Act. The rates applicable for transcription orders placed as of April 1, 2022 are:…

As of April 4, Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) will begin to transition back to in-person services. We are currently assessing the safest means of providing our services in our physical workspaces. We request that anyone visiting a legal aid office wear a mask at all times until further notice, including those in courthouses across the…

Please be advised that I.T. will be completing some system maintenance on the following days: Thursday, March 31, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday, April 2, from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. During the maintenance period, Legal Aid Online and the solicitor portal will be unavailable, and you will be unable to log in. Please refrain from using…