Finding a Paralegal in Ontario
Whenever you’re facing a legal issue, it’s recommended that you seek legal advice in order to protect yourself and your assets. The Law Society of Ontario reported in January 2021 that there were approximately 57,000 licensed lawyers and 10,000 licensed paralegals in the province of Ontario. The numbers have surely increased because there have been at least two licensing examinations since this data was reported.
Paralegals are a great choice when looking for legal assistance because they are usually more accessible and more affordable than hiring a lawyer. There are many places to find a paralegal to assist you and this blog will highlight the best places to find a paralegal in Ontario.
Oduraa Legal Services
Of course you should start here! I am a licensed paralegal offering legal services in Small Claims Court and Landlord and Tenant Board matters. I am able to provide assistance quickly and efficiently at a reasonable rate. You can find me via Google, Instagram, or through my personal website. Contact Oduraa Legal Services today and let’s have a chat!
The Law Society of Ontario (LSO) Paralegal Directory
The Law Society of Ontario houses a directory that lists all paralegals that are licensed by the LSO. This is a great resource because the LSO usually provides contact information for the licensee and where they are currently working. The directory also indicates whether the licensee has faced any reprimand or suspensions during their practice. If you are concerned as to whether an individual is truly licensed by the LSO, you can also quickly look them up using this tool because this directory will house the most up-to-date information.
Simply visit the directory at: https://lso.ca/public-resources/finding-a-lawyer-or-paralegal/lawyer-and-paralegal-directory and search for the paralegal of your choice by address or by their first and last name. Overall, this is a great resource to have and also really comes in handy when you need to confirm a licensee’s information.
Kijiji
As many paralegals are entrepreneurs and sole proprietors, you can find many of them through listed ads on Kijiji. Kijiji is a classified advertising website where individuals and businesses can post items/services/jobs that they are offering or seeking. Many professionals like using Kijiji because it allows them to customize their advertisements and showcase them in certain categories and locations. When using the site, you’ll be able to type specific areas of law that you’re seeking help in or simply search for a paralegal within your area.
Visit https://www.kijiji.ca/ today to find and hire a paralegal! Another bonus about Kijiji is that the legal professionals posting on the site tend to offer more affordable rates. Most ads on Kijiji will post a service description and contact information. You may also be able to find their professional website information if you’d like to do a bit more research before contacting the paralegal.
Law Society Referral Service (LSRS)
The Law Society Referral Service is a service offered through the LSO and it helps individuals find a legal representative (paralegal or lawyer) that suits their needs. The paralegals acquired through this service can offer up to a half-hour of free consultation. In this consultation, you can ask how the law applies to your situation, how the law can be used to solve your legal problem, how much time the legal work may take and also how much a paralegal will charge to be retained. Once your consultation is complete, you can decide whether you want to hire the paralegal or not.
To access the service, visit https://lsrs.lso.ca/lsrs/loadCustInfoCollectionForm. You’ll be asked to enter your contact information to allow for a paralegal to contact you as soon as possible. This service is great if you aren’t sure whether you want to retain a paralegal yet, but still want to get some quick advice regarding your legal issue. This resource is available to all residents in Ontario. Please keep in mind that this is an online referral service and you will have to fill out the online form in order to speak with a paralegal one-on-one.
Fiverr
Fiverr is an online marketplace for freelance services. You can find thousands of skilled individuals that are offering their services for a fee. When using Fiverr, you’ll be able to search for specific services the paralegal offers work and also specify location preference. Fiverr is quite easy to use and can be very helpful in your paralegal search because you have access to many individuals offerings similar services, and you can access them for help rather quickly. When you hire a freelancer via their posting or “gig”, you can also specify your needs and customize the delivery time you would like to receive the service by.
In order to use this service, all you need to do is sign up for a free account at on Fiverr and then you can start browsing for paralegals of your choice! Many paralegals will also offer multiple services so you may be able to get everything you’re looking for in one stop! You may also be more inclined to use Fiverr to find a paralegal because often times, the services offered are broken down into specific tasks.
If you’re on a budget, this will still allow you to acquire a paralegal for a service needed without footing a large bill. With any service, be sure to confirm the identity of a paralegal you’ve chosen to hire and also try to see if they have any samples of work or reviews from previous customers. This will help you make more of a sound decision.
Upwork
Similar to Fiverr, Upwork is also a marketplace for freelance services. Upwork allows individuals to search for professionals, like a paralegal, to provide services on a short or long term basis. To find paralegals through Upwork, you’ll need to create an account (free!), and then you can begin your search. The process is rather simple! The prices on Upwork vary because they are offered by the professionals and they have the ability to raise or lower their prices.
A benefit of using a freelance marketplace like Upwork is that you have access hundreds, if not thousands, of paralegals that can help meet your needs. Like Fiverr, always be sure to do your due diligence to confirm the credentials of a paralegal you’re considering hiring, and be on the lookout for reviews that will help you make a better decision.
Bark
Bark is another freelancer marketplace that allows freelancers to post their services, while having prospective customers and clients seek them out. You’re able to search for paralegals and specify area of law and location as well. Professionals like using Bark because they are also able to reach out to potential clients based on their posting and engage in conversation that way.
The site is easy to use and you can get started by simply visiting their site and beginning your search. They will ask you a few questions to narrow down available professionals in your area and then you can further specify from there. Once you have an account, you may have to pay to contact who you’re interested in so be sure to review all information beforehand. You can get started today by visiting https://www.bark.com/?a_aid=61a96e0055949.
Google
Sometimes you’ve just got to keep it simple and go back to basics. The Google search engine is a great tool to search for legal services and paralegals. Google will allow you to search for a paralegal that offers specific services, their website (if they have one), Google reviews, related searches and much more information.
You can also really narrow down your search because Google will allow you to use any amount of keywords. Using Google will also help you note valuable information like how many paralegals are available in your area and also what types of law are commonly practiced in your area. Google is also a free search engine so you can visit www.google.ca or www.google.com and start looking for paralegals right away.
Ontario Paralegal Association Search
The Ontario Paralegal Association is a professional association of paralegals licensed in Ontario. The Association provides platforms for licensees to maintain their continuing professional development and also allows paralegals to network with others and expand their legal knowledge. The Ontario Paralegal Association Search is a directory that allows you to search for paralegals or other service providers in your area. You can search by using a specific keyword, location, and category.
This search is especially helpful if you’ve used other search tools but haven’t found a service provider just yet. This resource is free and you do not need an account to search or see results! Once you click into a listing, you will also be able to fill out a pre-populated form that allows you to contact the paralegal with the necessary information already provided. This will help you speed up the process and get right to business when contacting a legal professional. Visit https://opaonline.ca/search-listings/ to access the directory.
Family & Friends
Word of mouth is a great tool that often does not get enough credit! Your friends and family are great resources because they can refer you to paralegals and other legal professionals. These referrals can either be from them working with a paralegal directly, or perhaps a paralegal that they’ve heard good reviews about. Asking your family and friends for paralegals they may know is also helpful because you can get direct reviews from them as trusted sources. You’ll also be able to ask them follow up questions before making your decision to hire a paralegal.
Your friends and family may also know other individuals that are simply well connected and can provide you with where to look for a paralegal. You never know who your circle knows so always be sure to ask around and see what good referrals you can get! A good way to get your search out is to also use social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can share that you’re looking for a paralegal that can assist in a certain area of law and see what responses you can get. This method can be extremely helpful because your network can share your posts and broaden the visibility.
Legal Aid Clinics
Legal Aid clinics are funded by Legal Aid Ontario and they offer free legal services to low-income individuals that are unable to retain legal advice/representation otherwise. Clinics are located in various cities within Ontario and they each specifically service the residents of a city. The clinic is normally made up of social workers, community legal workers, paralegals, lawyers, and administrative staff who all work to assist clients with their legal needs. Most of the clinics only offer services in areas of law that significantly impact low income and vulnerable individuals.
Clinics are also available to help clients with negotiations, legal advice/interpretation, and in representation at courts and tribunals. To find a paralegal or legal worker, you can call or visit a legal clinic in your area and confirm what services they offer. From there, they may be able to connect you with a paralegal that can help with your matter. As these clinics are funded by Legal Aid Ontario, certain criteria must be met for an individual to be eligible. Keep in mind that these clinics operate to serve vulnerable or disadvantaged individuals.
JusticeNet Directory
JusticeNet is a not-for-profit service that helps people that are in need of legal assistance. They specifically help individuals that are ineligible for legal aid because their income is too high, but their income is also too low to afford standard legal rates. On average, to be eligible for the reduced fees, your net income must be below $59,000. The reduced fees will be adjusted by the type of professional you choose, income, and your family size. On their directory you can find paralegals that are offering services at reduced fees.
To begin your search, you can visit https://www.justicenet.ca/. Keep in mind, you must pay a $25 fee to register as a user and have full access to their search feature. The directory will provide you with paralegals that offer services in specific areas of law and will also indicate which professionals offer services remotely with consultations conducted by telephone or video call. This is a great resource because professionals that are available in this directory have personally offered their services, meaning they have confirmed they availability and are open to being contacted.
Looking for a paralegal or legal professional can be a very time consuming and costly process. However, if you use the resources available to you, you may find the process to be much simpler and cost effective. There are thousands of licensed paralegals in Ontario that are practicing and are simply waiting to help! The biggest hurdle is finding the one that best suits your legal issue and needs. Don’t be afraid to try multiple resources to broaden your options. Good luck and happy searching!
Contact Oduraa Legal Services today if you need assistance with a legal matter!
