Year end purchase order close out process for per diem and staff duty counsel

Published: March 6, 2025

Each year, Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) closes duty counsel purchase orders and creates new ones for the upcoming year. ‘Old’ purchase orders are closed on March 28, 2025 and new purchase orders will be created to be effective March 31, 2025.

Please prepare for this change by reviewing what you need to do.

Per Diem Duty Counsel, Advice Lawyers and Staff Duty Counsel

• Wednesday, March 26: Submit all duty counsel accounts for services rendered up to and including Wednesday March 26 no later than midnight Wednesday, March 26. This includes accounts sent back for revision which must be re-submitted for approval. Accounts for these services will not be paid if submitted after March 26.

• Wednesday, March 26 at midnight to March 30: Do not create any draft statements or submit new statements for approval between midnight Wednesday, March 26 and midnight Sunday, March 30. Any accounts submitted or approved during this period of time will be rejected and will not be paid.

• Monday, March 31: The new duty counsel purchase orders will be available for billing on Monday, March 31 2025. Submit accounts for all services rendered on Thursday, March 27 or after.

Supervisory Duty counsel and Managers, Legal Services

• Make sure duty counsel statements are processed and finalized (either “Approved” or “Rejected”) by Friday, March 28 by 5 p.m. Any accounts that do not have a status of “Approved” or “Rejected” will be updated to Rejected

• After Friday, March 28 at 5 p.m. do not submit accounts as “Draft/New,” “Revisions Required” or “Submitted for Approval” status. LAO will change the status of such statements to “Rejected” and they will not be paid.