Paralegals Are Regulated To Act In Ontario Small Claims Court
Last year some laws changed that resulted in Paralegals in Ontario becoming regulated
. Prior to, a paralegal could act for a party in Landlord and Tenant court, traffic court, small claims court and more. Now a paralegal must carry a license that is issued by the Law Society of Upper Canada (LSCU) in order to represent an individual or business in the lower level courts.
This change was positive for both the paralegals and the public. Regulating paralegals has brought a higher level of professionalism and standards to the industry. Paralegals are required to complete mandatory educational pre-requisites and carry errors and omissions insurance.
Consumers can now access information about how to find a licensed paralegal through the LSUC website. Should a consumer have a problem with their Paralegal they now have an avenue to file a complaint. The LSCU has a comprehensive process in place to handle complaints made by the public.
In the Ontario Small Claims court you have many options when it comes to making a claim against someone. You can create your forms yourself by visiting the Ontario Small Claims Court or by creating them online using a service like Easy Court. You could also retain a Paralegal to represent you.
Since becoming regulated, paralegals now command a higher rate of compensation than before. Prior to the new regulations coming into effect, a low tier paralegal would charge an average of $50-$75 per/court appearances. Since the new regulations they can command upwards of $150 per/hour. This is still quite reasonable when compared to lawyer rates that can range from $300 per/hour upwards.
At the end of the day you have to look at your legal problem. Do you feel confident and comfortable enough to represent yourself? If the answer to this question is no, we recommend seeking legal advice.
For more information about representing yourself in the Ontario Small Claims Court visit www.easycourt.ca