FAQs: LSO Operations

The reception area at Osgoode Hall, 130 Queen Street West, is accessible to candidates, licensees and the public for document drop-off or pick-up. Only the east entrance to the building off Nathan Phillips Square is open. 

On Monday, November 1, the Great Library reopened to licensees and members of the public, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Access to the Great Library is through the Law Society of Ontario entrance on the east side of Osgoode Hall. There is no entry from the courthouse. Read the Great Library blog, for more information.

Anyone entering Law Society premises at 130 Queen St. W. or 393 or 375 University Ave., including those attending the Great Library, scheduled visitors, and third-party service providers, are required to follow the Law Society’s Vaccine Policy and show their Canadian vaccine receipt proving that they have received a full series of COVID-19 vaccine authorized by Health Canada at least 14 days prior.

Upon arrival, visitors are also required to complete a screening form for contact tracing purposes.

Visitors and employees are required to wear a mask or face covering while in the building. Those who are feeling unwell must stay home and follow the advice of public health officials, as they will not be permitted into the buildings.

These measures are consistent with advice from public health officials and the actions of government and other organizations — all aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19 and keeping our workplaces and communities safe. 

As we have been since the onset of the pandemic, we will continue to serve the public, our licensees and stakeholders while assuring the health and safety of our employees.

Whether our team is working on-site or remotely, we remain available to assist you. Contact us by phone at 416-947-3315, or by email at lawsociety@lso.ca.

Last updated: November 2, 2021.

Yes. The Courts are an essential service and will continue to operate throughout Ontario’s reopening plan.

However, the website of the Ministry of the Attorney General, which is responsible for the administration of courts and courthouse facilities, states that the courts are not operating as usual, and Ontarians should not go to court unless they have been told to attend.

Courts are now resuming in-person hearings on a phased basis. For a list of courthouses that are doing so, licensees should consult the Ontario Bar Association’s Reopening Status Courthouses* webpage.

Licensees who attend any courthouses in person should consider reviewing the Ministry of Attorney General’s updated Guidebook COVID-19: Recommended Preventative Measures, Resuming Court Operations. In addition, prior to attending a courthouse, licensees are required to complete the Ontario Government’s COVID-19 courthouse screening form. The form must be completed regardless of whether you have been vaccinated and can provide proof of vaccination.

For remote or in-person attendance at specific tribunals, licensees should consult the applicable tribunal’s website.

For more information, licensees should consult the:

• Superior Court of Justice’s 
  • Notice to the Profession and Public Regarding Court Proceedings
  • Continued suspension of Small Claims Court operations due to COVID-19
• Ontario Court of Justice’s 
  • COVID-19: Out of Court Adjournment of Matters where an Enhanced Designation of Counsel has been Filed – Pilot Project in Ottawa, Toronto East (1911 Eglinton Ave. East), Oshawa, London and Guelph (last updated October 15, 2021)
• Ontario Court of Appeal’s 
  • News Release: Court of Appeal for Ontario to Begin Hearing Appeals in Person (October 26, 2021)
  • Protocol for In-Person Hearings During the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • Practice Directions and Notices Regarding COVID-19
• Supreme Court of Canada’s
  • Notice about COVID-19

[Disclaimer*]

Last updated: November 15, 2021

To help those most impacted by the pandemic, the 2021 Annual Fee COVID-19 Deferral Option has been established to allow eligible licensees to defer the payment of their 2021 Annual Fees until 2022.

Eligibility requirements, application and information about the process are available here. 

Licensees who take part in the 2021 Annual Fee COVID-19 Deferral Option may sign up for the Pre-authorized Payment plan in early 2022 to spread the combined payment of both the 2021 and 2022 Annual Fees over the year. 

Last updated: January 8, 2021

New for 2021, a single date of March 31 applies for both Annual Fee payments and Annual Report Filings. (In 2022, CPD requirements for 2021 will also be required by that date.)

The change to a single date was made to make it easier for licensees to meet their requirements and keep track.

There will no longer be a 60-day period during which Annual Reports can be filed without penalty.

Licensees who do not meet the March 31 date for any of these requirements will be in default as of that date and may face immediate suspension. Late fees will no longer be applied. 

Last updated: January 8, 2021

We continue to monitor the situation surrounding COVID-19 and the advice of Canadian public health authorities. To assist licensees during this time, we have been releasing complimentary existing and responsive program content that can be accessed at https://store.lso.ca/cpdassists.

Registration is now open for the LSO CPD Spring 2022 programs! Visit https://store.lso.ca/ for details!
 
Do you have any questions regarding CPD programming? Please contact the CPD Customer Service Team at (416) 947-3315 or via email: cpdreg@lso.ca.
 

Last updated: June 21, 2021

In response to COVID-19, as an interim measure, with support from the Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice, the Law Society is pleased to launch an emergency family law referral telephone line to provide assistance to people who are self-represented (SRLs) and who are trying to determine whether or not their family court matter meets the criteria to be heard by the Court on an “urgent” basis and, if so, how to proceed in making their request.

This emergency service will connect SRLs with family lawyers, working on a pro bono basis, who will provide 30 minutes of legal advice specific to determining whether or not their family court matter is urgent and referrals to other available legal services. 

Additional services may be available from the lawyer on a private retainer basis, from Legal Aid Ontario, from the Law Society Referral Service or the private unbundled family law roster*.

This interim measure is offered by the Law Society in association with the Ontario Bar Association and Toronto’s Family Law Advice and Settlement Counsel project, with support from the Family Lawyers Association and the Federation of Ontario Law Associations. To access this service, which will be staffed during business hours, SRLs may contact the Law Society by phone at the following numbers:

Toll-free: 1-800-268-7568
General: 416-947-3310

Last updated: March 24

Yes. As part of their response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) is working to offer more resources to clients through the telephone and online. Learn about the changes.

Last updated: March 31