Why NEO checks your ID (Law Society By-Law 7.1)

Client identification rules help protect against fraud, money laundering and people being impersonated in legal matters. They are set out in the Law Society of Ontario's By-Law 7.1.

What the rules require

• Identifying every client: recording their name, address, phone number and occupation, among other details.
• Verifying a client's identity with independent, reliable documents, such as government-issued photo ID, when the paralegal handles money for the client, along with other situations the by-law sets out.
• Keeping a record of how identity was checked.

How NEO does it

• When you set up your account, the setup wizard takes you through the identity step.
• You can verify with government-issued photo ID, using your phone's camera, or give the details of your ID for us to check.
• ID images are stored in private, encrypted storage, available only to the people who need to see them, and kept as the rules require.

Why we do it for everyone

Checking identity at the start, rather than partway through a matter, avoids delays later and treats every client the same way.

Sources

• Law Society of Ontario By-Law 7.1

Read next: Paralegal scope of practice: what NEO can help with

Photos from Pexels: A desk with a laptop, a plant and a contract · A planner with coloured tabs and pens.

This article is general information for people in Ontario, not legal advice. Rules, forms and deadlines change, and every situation is different. Check the current rule or speak to a licensed legal professional before you act.