4. Get a decision
Question and answer
How do I complain to the Law Society of Ontario about a lawyer or paralegal?After investigating the lawyer or paralegal, the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) can decide to:
- work with you and the lawyer or paralegal to find a solution
- close the file with no other action
- close the file and do things like give the lawyer or paralegal information on best practices for file management or client service
- have a discipline hearing
Discipline hearing
A discipline hearing is a formal process that takes place before the Law Society Tribunal. A member, who's like a judge, decides based on what both sides say and the evidence they have.
A hearing can take place before 1 to 3 members.
The Tribunal member can that the lawyer or paralegal:
- pay a fine
- pay the LSO for money they spent on the investigation
- follow conditions on how they provide legal services, for example, they must always be supervised by a senior lawyer or they cannot provide legal services to certain clients
- be suspended
- lose their license
If there's a discipline hearing, it's between the LSO and the lawyer or paralegal. But you may be asked to be a witness at the hearing.
The Tribunal will post the hearing decision on their website. You can find the decision by searching the name of the lawyer or paralegal you complained about.
Compensation Fund
If you lose money because your lawyer or paralegal was not honest, you may be able to apply to the Law Society of Ontario's Compensation Fund. The fund may give you some of your money back.
You can only apply to the fund after you try other ways to get your money back. For example, you can:
- the lawyer or paralegal
- sue the partners at the law firm
- the lawyer or paralegal works at ask your credit card company to get back your payment to the lawyer or paralegal, if you paid by card
- find out if insurance can cover the loss
You must tell the LSO you lost your money within 2 years from the time you first learned about the loss.
To apply to the fund, you should use their online service.
If you cannot fill out the online form, call the LSO toll-free at 1-800-668-7380 and ask for another way to apply.
You can apply to the fund even if you're still trying other options to get your money back.
It can take the Compensation Fund one to 2 years or longer to process your application.