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.

In response to the most recent public health developments in respect of COVID-19 and the Omicron variant, many courthouses have temporarily adjusted their operations effective December 20, 2021. In some cases, the court has returned to remote proceedings or will continue to use a combination of remote and in-person appearances.  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 
  • Chief Justice Lise Maisonneuve’s Message re COVID-19
  • Latest Announcements about Criminal, Family, and Provincial Offences Act Proceedings in the OCJ
  • 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 
  • Return to Remote Appeal Hearings and Closure of Public Counter
  • Practice Directions and Notices Regarding COVID-19
  • Protocol for In-Person Hearings During the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Supreme Court of Canada’s
  • Notice about COVID-19

 

​For information on specific tribunals, licensees should consult the applicable tribunal’s website.

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.

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Last updated: January 4, 2022

Licensees may wish to enrol in our monthly Pre-authorized Payment plan to spread the payment of Annual Fees over ten installments.  

Last updated: December 16, 2021

A single date of March 31 applies for Annual Fee payments,  Annual Report Filings and reporting CPD Hours.

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

Licensees who do not meet the March 31 date for any of these requirements will be in default as of that date and will be referred for administrative suspension of their licence.

Last updated: January 4, 2022

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