How do I complain about a lawyer or paralegal?
There are different ways to deal with a problem you have with your lawyer or paralegal.
First, try and speak to your lawyer or paralegal about your concerns and try to resolve things. Most lawyers and paralegals want to solve problems before they become complaints.
If speaking to your lawyer or paralegal does not help, you may have other options depending on what the problem is.
Speak to someone senior at their office
If the lawyer or paralegal works in a firm or a legal clinic, ask if there's a formal complaint process. Then follow the process they have.
If they do not have a process, speak with a more senior person. For example, you can talk to a partner at the firm about the lawyer you're having a problem with. Or, you can talk to the lawyer who supervises the paralegal you're having a problem with.
Call the police
If your lawyer or paralegal did something illegal, call the police. For example, if the lawyer or paralegal physically harms you or steals money from you.
The police only get involved if your lawyer or paralegal did something illegal. They cannot help if you call to report something else. For example, if you call to complain about the amount of your legal bill.
It's a good idea to get legal advice before calling the police. A lawyer can tell you if you have other options. For example, they can tell you if you can also sue the lawyer or paralegal in court or if you can complain to the Law Society of Ontario.
You should get legal advice from a lawyer who does not work with the lawyer or paralegal that you're complaining about.
Complain to the Law Society of Ontario
The Law Society of Ontario (LSO) decides who can be a lawyer or paralegal in Ontario and the rules they must follow. The LSO makes sure lawyers and paralegals:
- are licensed and insured to practice law
- are qualified to help you with your legal issues
- follow LSO's rules of conduct about how to behave professionally
- stay up to date about the law and how to behave professionally
One way that the LSO does this is by responding to complaints about lawyers and paralegals.
The LSO does not help with every type of complaint. They only deal with complaints about a lawyer or paralegal who did not do their job properly or behaved unprofessionally.
They do not deal with complaints about how much your lawyer or paralegal charged you. You follow another process to complain about a legal bill.
Complain to Legal Aid Ontario
You may be able to complain to Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) if you got a legal aid certificate to pay for your lawyer. LAO has a Complaints Department that handles complaints. You can complain to them, for example, if your lawyer:
- did something that is not ethical or honest
- did not reply to your messages
- did not follow your instructions or delayed your case from moving forward
- was disrespectful or made you feel uncomfortable
- harassed or assaulted you physically or sexually
You can make a complaint to LAO by:
- phone: 1-866-874-9786
- fax: 416-204-4718
- email: complaints@lao.on.ca
- mail:
Complaints Department
Legal Aid Ontario
20 Dundas St. West – Suite 730
Toronto, ON,
M5G 2H1
LAO will acknowledge your complaint within 5 days of receiving it. LAO tries to resolve most complaints in 30 days. If your complaint is complicated, it may take them longer.
Sue in court
If your lawyer or paralegal did something that is against their professional responsibilities, you may be able to sue them in court. You can sue, for example, if they:
- stole money from you
- abused you physically or sexually
- made mistakes with your case which resulted in you losing money
If the amount you want to get back is less than $35,000, you must sue the lawyer or paralegal in Small Claims Court.
If the amount you want to get back is more than $35,000, you must sue them in the Superior Court of Justice.
