Ontario Paralegal Licensing study guide
Ontario Paralegal Licensing · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The paralegal licensing examination is the examination stage of the Law Society of Ontario's paralegal licensing process - the route by which a candidate becomes a licensed paralegal able to provide legal services in Ontario. It is aimed at candidates who have been accepted into that process, typically after completing an approved paralegal education program and filing an application, and it sits alongside the good character requirement the Law Society assesses before a licence is granted. The Ontario Paralegal Licensing study guide has 6 sections and about 1,767 words.
01Ethics and Professional Responsibility
A paralegal is a fiduciary and must act with competence, honesty, and candour. Know the Paralegal Rules of Conduct: confidentiality, privilege, conflicts of interest, joint retainers, undertakings, fees and trust funds, withdrawal, and the duty to encourage respect for the administration of justice.
310 words, about 2 min02Criminal Law and Provincial Offences
Understand the criminal process from investigation to sentence: classification of offences (summary conviction, indictable, hybrid), arrest and detention, search and seizure, Charter rights, bail, disclosure, election, plea, trial, and sentencing. For provincial offences, know the Provincial Offences Act framework: certificate of offence, summons, trial de novo, and appeal.
302 words, about 2 min03Civil Litigation (Small Claims Court)
Know the Small Claims Court monetary limit, currently $35,000, exclusive of interest and costs. Understand the Rules of the Small Claims Court: plaintiff's claim, defendant's claim, default judgment, motions, settlement conference, trial, costs, and enforcement.
280 words, about 1 min04Administrative Law and Tribunal Practice
Administrative law governs tribunals, boards, and agencies. Know procedural fairness: notice, disclosure, an opportunity to respond, an impartial decision-maker, and reasons where required.
293 words, about 1 min05Family Law
Family law in Ontario draws on the Family Law Act, the Children's Law Reform Act, and the federal Divorce Act. Know the best interests of the child, parenting time and decision-making responsibility, child support under the Federal Child Support Guidelines, spousal support, equalization of net family property, the matrimonial home, domestic contracts, and restraining orders.
291 words, about 1 min06Employment and Labour Law
Employment law covers the Employment Standards Act, 2000, the common law of employment, human rights, occupational health and safety, and wrongful dismissal. Labour law covers union certification, collective bargaining, grievances, arbitration, strikes and lockouts, and the duty of fair representation before the Ontario Labour Relations Board.
291 words, about 1 min