How do I complain to the Law Society of Ontario about a lawyer or paralegal?
The Law Society of Ontario (LSO) decides who can be a lawyer or paralegal in Ontario and the rules they must follow.
One way that the LSO makes sure lawyers and paralegals follow the rules, is by responding to complaints people have about them.
But you can only complain to the LSO if your lawyer or paralegal:
- did not do their job properly, or
- behaved unprofessionally.
The LSO does not help with other types of problems. For example, they do not deal with legal fees. You follow another process to complain about how much your lawyer or paralegal charged you.
Other options
If the LSO does not deal with what you want to complain about, learn about your other options. There may be other ways to deal with the problem you have with your lawyer or paralegal.
Timelines
You must complain to the LSO within 3 years of when the problem happened or when you became aware of it.
But if your complaint is about sexual abuse, there is no time limit.
The LSO closes some complaints within 1 to 3 months.
If your problem is complicated, or about a serious matter, it may take a year or longer for the LSO to finish the process. If the LSO has to hold a discipline , it could take even longer.
A discipline hearing is a formal process that takes place before the Law Society Tribunal. A member, who's like a judge, decides your case based on what both sides say and the evidence they have.
If there's a discipline hearing, it's between the LSO and the lawyer or paralegal you complained about. You may only be asked to be a witness at the hearing.
Most complaints do not have a discipline hearing.
If the LSO cannot help with your problem, they will tell you why. And they try to give you information about where else you can get help.