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Family Law Action Plan

The Law Society is implementing the Family Law Action Plan to improve access to justice for Ontario families.

As part of the Action Plan, the Law Society’s Access to Justice Committee launched a Call for Comment to assess a proposed model for a Family Legal Services Provider (FLSP) Licence. Submissions to the Call for Comment, which is now closed, can be viewed here.

The Law Society also issued a Request for Information to gather information from accredited colleges and universities for the delivery of an educational training program to support the proposed FLSP licence. 

The Law Society will be considering next steps and how best to move access to legal services forward in this important area in a way that is realistic and achievable. Further updates will be made available as we move ahead.

In addition to the development of the proposed licence, the Family Law Action Plan includes the action items listed below. Click on each point for more information.

  • Support and promote the expanded use of unbundled legal services and legal coaching

    Unbundling of legal services and legal coaching are innovative ways to assist people who may not be able to hire a lawyer or paralegal to help with their entire legal matter.

    Under a limited scope retainer, also known as unbundled legal services, a person hires a lawyer or paralegal to assist with part, but not all of their legal matter. For example, an individual could hire a lawyer to help complete a court form and then represent themselves in court.  

    Legal coaching is a form of unbundled legal service. An individual navigates their legal issue, with the lawyer or paralegal providing a range of supporting services. These may include assistance in navigating the legal system or providing legal information as well as substantive legal advice.

    Promoting expanded use of unbundling
    The Law Society supports the expanded use of unbundling, including legal coaching, by offering referral services, continuing professional development and other resources. 

  • Consider experiential training for lawyer candidates in the licensing process
    The Law Society, in partnership with the Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice, is launching a pilot project that may offer Ontarians increased access to affordable family law legal services.  
    Beginning January 17, 2022, the Family Law Rights of Appearance Pilot Project will allow individuals who have studied law and are articling or completing work placements to provide legal services, under the supervision of a licensed lawyer, to individuals with family law matters before the courts.
    This initiative provides:
    • family law lawyers with a potentially more cost-effective option for assisting clients
    • individuals who are articling or completing work placements with increased opportunities to appear in court while still benefitting from supervision by an experienced lawyer
    • courts, lawyers and clients with the benefit of knowing that safeguards are in place to ensure that clients’ interests are protected.

    Details can be found on the Rights of Appearance page.
  • Review the conduct rules to help clarify the legal information that may be provided to unrepresented litigants by court staff
    The Law Society is working with government to ensure that court staff are able to provide timely accurate legal information to court users. 
  • Background

    Convocation (the Law Society’s board of directors) approved the Family Law Action Plan, in principle, at its December 2017 meeting.

    The action plan was developed in response to the 21 recommendations outlined in the Family Legal Services Review and in consideration of the over 160 submissions received from individuals and organizations. 

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