Legal Services

NEO and the Law Society of Ontario

The Law Society of Ontario regulates every lawyer and licensed paralegal in the province, including NEO. Here is what that regulation means for you.

Signing a contract with a pen
A desk with a laptop, a plant and a contract

The Law Society of Ontario (LSO) is the regulator of Ontario's legal professions. It licenses lawyers and paralegals, sets the rules they must follow, and acts in the public interest when those rules are broken.

The rules NEO follows

  • The Paralegal Rules of Conduct: duties of competence, honesty, confidentiality, avoiding conflicts of interest, fair fees and responsible advertising.
  • By-Law 4: the areas in which paralegals may provide legal services.
  • By-Law 7.1: identifying and verifying clients.
  • By-Law 9: handling client money and keeping financial records.
  • Continuing professional development: required learning every year.

How the public is protected

  • Anyone can check a licensee's status in the LSO's public directory.
  • Anyone can make a complaint to the LSO about a lawyer or paralegal.
  • A compensation fund can help clients who lose money because of a licensee's dishonesty.
  • Licensees must carry professional liability insurance.

Sources

Talk to NEO

Questions about how we work? Call 647-200-3526 or toll-free 888-519-2435, email info@neolegalservices.com, or book a free consultation.

Read next: What 'Professional Corporation' means in NEO's name

Photos from Pexels: Signing a contract with a pen · A desk with a laptop, a plant and a contract.

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.

Not sure where you stand? A licensed paralegal can look at your documents and tell you your options.

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Law Society of Ontario — Barreau de l'Ontario
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