How to Become a Paralegal in Ontario

If you have a passion for law and considering becoming a paralegal, there are certain requirements you must meet in order to do so. To start, you must be licensed by the Law Society of Ontario (“LSO”) to practice and provide legal services as a paralegal in Ontario. Formally known as The Law Society of Upper Canada, the Law Society of Ontario is the governing body that regulates lawyers and paralegals in Ontario. They ensure that lawyers and paralegals meet specific licensing, learning, and professional conduct requirements to provide exceptional services to the public.

To become a licensed paralegal in the province of Ontario, you must:

Meet the Academic and Field Placement Requirements

You must successfully complete and graduate from an accredited paralegal education program in Ontario. There are many great accredited programs in Ontario to attend. There are also paralegal graduate certificate programs for individuals that have already completed a degree or diploma program prior. You must also complete 120 placement hours.

Your placement will provide you with practical experience in the legal field and prepare you for success upon graduation. A list of acceptable accredited programs can be found at https://lso.ca/becoming-licensed/paralegal-licensing-process/paralegal-education-program-accreditation/accredited-programs.  

Apply to the Licensing Process

The licensing process consists of 3 parts. All three parts of the process must be completed within 3 years. The process includes the licensing examination, the good character requirement and an application for your P1 (paralegal) license. Per the LSO, the licensing process year runs from June 1 to May 31. The fee schedule for the licensing process can be found at https://lso.ca/becoming-licensed/paralegal-licensing-process/fees-and-forms/fees-schedule.

Pass the Licensing Examination

The paralegal licensing exam is an open book test made up of multiple-choice questions. Although the exam is self-study, there are multiple resources you can use to successfully prepare for and pass the exam. Examinations are offered to paralegal candidates in the Summer, Fall and Winter.

The LSO provides a great guide on the licensing examination including how to prepare, test format and content, scoring and even sample questions! For more information, visit https://lso.ca/becoming-licensed/paralegal-licensing-process/paralegal-licensing-examinations/guide-to-licensing-examinations-(1).

Be of Good Character

The Law Society Act requires that an applicant be of “good character” to be a licensed paralegal in Ontario. This requirement ensures that licensed individuals abide by the rule of law and administration of justice. This requirement also certifies that paralegals will conduct themselves with integrity and honesty. Being of good character is also intended to maintain high ethical standards within the profession and protect the public.

Pay Required Fees and Submit Required Forms

There are designated forms that must be completed and fees that must be paid in order to complete this step of the process. The licensing fees schedule can be found above in the “Apply to the Licensing Process” section. The required forms to be completed can be found on the LSO site with information on where to also send them.

Apply for your P1 License

Once you have passed the exam, paid all of your fees, successfully submitted the required forms and are deemed to be of good character, you are eligible to apply for your P1 license. Once you receive your license, you are able to provide legal services in Ontario!  

A career in the legal field can be both exciting and rewarding. You’re able to learn about the ever-changing law each day while also meeting and helping people along the way. If you are considering becoming a paralegal, do your research and speak to people in the field. There are other factors aside from the hard requirements to consider if you are interested in this path. Your desired salary must be considered against a paralegal salary in Ontario.

Depending on the type of employment you choose within the field (i.e. self-employed, working in government, working in a municipal office, etc), salary expectations may increase or decrease. You may gain some great insight and motivation to pursue the career. Feel free to contact me at oduraalegalservices@gmail.com if you have any questions – I’m happy to help! Wishing you much success should you choose this path!

*Information regarding the licensing process retrieved from the LSO’s website at https://lso.ca/becoming-licensed/paralegal-licensing-process.

 If you have questions regarding becoming a paralegal or the process, contact us today!