Return to usual Change of Solicitor and Contribution Agreement practices

Published: October 7, 2020

Legal Aid Ontario is resuming its usual policies with regard to change of solicitor and contribution agreements, after temporary changes due to COVID‑19. These include:

1. Return to standard COS process – Effective immediately, there will be no automatic change of solicitor for in‑custody accused. LAO will be resuming its standard practice for change of solicitor requests.

2. Contribution agreements: placing liens on property – Effective immediately, LAO will once again enter into an agreement with any new applicant for legal aid services to help pay for the cost to their legal fees (contribution agreement) by resuming our policy of registering a lien for clients who have property, once it is safe for the client.