FLEX LEGAL NETWORK
  • Hire US
  • About
    • Our Services
    • FAQs
    • Our Fees
  • Our Team
    • Our Management
    • General Litigation & Legal Research Lawyers
    • Corporate/Commercial & Business Lawyers
    • Wills & Estates Lawyers
    • Labour & Employment Lawyers
    • Family Lawyers
    • Criminal Lawyers
    • Immigration Lawyers
    • Freelance Paralegals
    • Freelance Law Clerks
    • Join our team
  • Resources
    • Networking Events
  • Contact

Blog.

Where you can read about lawyering, freelancing, and other legal news ​
Hire a Freelancer Today

Law Society of Ontario Proposes New Licensee: Family Legal Services Provider

7/8/2020

2 Comments

 
Picture
The Law Society’s Access to Justice (A2J) Committee has launched a Call for Comment on a proposed new type of licensee (in addition to the current lawyer and current paralegal licensees) called a Family Legal Services Provider or FLSP.

This new proposed category of licensee comes from the Family Law Action Plan implemented by the Law Society to “improve access to justice for Ontario families”.

The Plan was the Law Society’s contribution to a joint action plan with the Province of Ontario, as a result of a 2016 report by Justice Bonkalo which reviewed whether the family justice system could be improved by expanding the delivery of legal services to providers other than lawyers.

According to the Law Society, the most acute legal need for Ontarians is representation in family court, where approximately 60% of the parties are self-represented.

The proposed FLSP would be a licensed paralegal trained specifically to obtain the FLSP license. No recommendation has been put forward for another legal service provider to take on this role, such as a law clerk. The training would include 6-8 months on a full-time basis or one year on a part time basis. The Law Society has 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 details of the proposed new licensee can be found in the Access to Justice Committee: Family Legal Services Provider Licence Consultation Paper.

In general, the proposed FLSP will be authorized to offer the following services:
  • Legal advice
  • Drafting legal documents
  • Representation in court or before an adjudicative body
  • Negotiating legal interest or rights

The FLSP will be authorized to offer these services in the following areas of family law (with any exclusions or limitation to be set out in an applicable by-law):
  • Divorces
  • Parenting order and decision-making (custody and access)
  • Child and spousal support
  • Contempt/enforcement orders
  • Separation agreements, paternity agreements, and family arbitration agreements provided that the client agrees to obtain independent legal advice from a lawyer
  • Change of name applications
  • Division of property

The FLSP would NOT be able to engage in several out of scope activities, including:
  • Matters involving income determination
  • Third-party experts and valuators
  • Relocation/mobility
  • Cohabitation agreements and marriage contracts
  • Child protection matters
  • Adoptions
  • Declarations of parentage
  • Matters where the client is under the age of 18 or mentally incapable
  • Matters involving reproductive/fertility law issues
  • Appeals or motions for leave to appeal
  • Matters overlapping with an area that is out of scope for the FLSP or out of scope for paralegals generally
  • Or where legal issues or assets are outside Ontario.

The Call for Comment is “an opportunity to engage in productive dialogue with the legal community and the public on the most effective approach to improving access to family law services.” The Law Society has set out a list of consultation questions and is looking for comments and input to be submitted by November 30, 2020.

The questions and information on how to submit your comments can be found here.
​

Photo by Caleb Jones on Unsplash

2 Comments
Anaheim divorce lawyers link
3/25/2022 02:18:10 pm

public on the most effective approach to improving access to family law services. I truly appreciate your great post!

Reply
Orange County Family Law Attorneys link
4/2/2022 03:43:35 pm

By Justice Bonkalo which reviewed whether the family justice system could be improved by expanding the delivery of legal services to providers other than lawyers. Thank you for the beautiful post!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    Blog Series: Starting Your Own Firm
    Book Reviews
    Case Comments
    COVID 19
    Ethics Of Freelance Lawyering
    Flex In Print (News/Publications)
    Freelance Lawyering
    Law (General)
    Law Society
    Networking Events
    Personal Management & Wellbeing



    SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER & HAVE THESE ARTICLES SENT DIRECTLY TO YOU:
Flex Legal Network Inc.
We are freelance lawyers and paralegals helping lawyers with their overflow legal work. 

Contact

Email: info@flexlegalnetwork.com
Main Phone: 647.250.9292

Quick Links

Join Our Network
Hire a Freelancer
Meet Our Lawyers
Free Delegation Guide
Members Only Page

Help & Info

​Terms & Conditions
Privacy Policy
Our Commitment to Anti-Racism
​
Contact Us
​Frequently Asked Questions
Disclaimer: Flex Legal Network Inc. ("Flex Legal") is not a law firm and does not perform legal services.   The information provided in this website should not be construed as legal advice. Transmission of information from this website is not intended to create, and its receipt does not constitute a solicitor-client relationship with Flex Legal or any of its individual network lawyers or personnel. Use of Flex Legal services does not establish a solicitor-client relationship. If you use our website or services you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.
​
(C) 2015-2022 Flex Legal Network Inc. All rights reserved. "Flex Legal Network", "Flex Legal", & "Flex" are all registered trademarks of Flex Legal Network Inc.
  • Hire US
  • About
    • Our Services
    • FAQs
    • Our Fees
  • Our Team
    • Our Management
    • General Litigation & Legal Research Lawyers
    • Corporate/Commercial & Business Lawyers
    • Wills & Estates Lawyers
    • Labour & Employment Lawyers
    • Family Lawyers
    • Criminal Lawyers
    • Immigration Lawyers
    • Freelance Paralegals
    • Freelance Law Clerks
    • Join our team
  • Resources
    • Networking Events
  • Contact