The NEO Experience: Every Service We Offer

Who we are

Licensed paralegals are legal professionals regulated by the Law Society of Ontario, the same body that regulates lawyers. Paralegals carry professional liability insurance, follow the Paralegal Rules of Conduct, keep client money in a regulated trust account and complete continuing professional development every year. The Law Society sets out the areas a paralegal may work in, and NEO works within them.

NEO was built around a simple idea: legal help for everyday problems should be easy to understand, fairly priced and easy to follow while it happens. That is why our fees are posted, why every client has a portal that shows exactly where their matter stands, and why we explain your options in plain language before you decide anything.

How working with NEO works, step by step

1. Book a free first consultation online, by phone or by email. Tell us what happened and what you want to achieve; send any papers you already have (a claim, a notice, a ticket, a letter).
2. We run a conflict check, to make sure we can act for you, and confirm your identity as the Law Society requires.
3. We give you our honest view: your options, the steps, the deadlines that matter, the likely costs and whether the matter is within a paralegal's scope. If it isn't, we say so and point you to the right kind of help.
4. If you go ahead, you receive a written retainer agreement with the fee, what it includes and what it doesn't. You read and sign it in your portal, from your phone or computer.
5. We get to work: we gather the facts and documents, draft and file what is needed, deal with the other side and prepare you for every step. Each step appears on your case timeline as it happens.
6. We attend with you or for you at settlement conferences, mediations and hearings, and you get reminders before each date.
7. When the matter ends we send a closing letter, settle any money held in trust and keep your file for the period the rules require.

Fees you can see before you start

Most of our services are offered for a fixed fee, listed by practice area on the Services page and kept up to date there. A fixed fee means you know the cost of the work before it begins. Where a matter can't fairly be priced in advance, we use an hourly rate with an estimate, or we quote a fee in writing before starting.

Fees are shown before HST. Government, court and tribunal filing fees, process servers and other out-of-pocket costs (disbursements) are listed separately in your retainer and on your invoices.

• Pay invoices online by card through your portal or our Pay page, or by Interac e-Transfer.
• Payment plans are available for many services when they are agreed in the retainer.
• Money you give us in advance is held in our trust account and only moved to pay fees as the Law Society's rules allow, with a statement you can see.
• Members of a NEO membership plan get the benefits of their plan, shown in their portal.

Your secure client portal

Every client gets their own secure account. It is where your matter lives, so you never have to wonder what is happening or search your email for an attachment.

• The case timeline: each step of your matter, the next steps, and the dates coming up, in plain language.
• Documents: upload photos, PDFs and papers from your phone, and download everything we file or receive.
• Messages with the team, kept with your file.
• Retainers and documents to sign online.
• Invoices, statements, payment plans and online payment.
• Notifications on your phone or computer when something changes, if you switch them on.
• For clients with an account, our AI Case Strength Analyzer and AI Document Drafter give a first look at a situation or a draft document. They are a starting point to discuss with us, not legal advice.

Small Claims Court

Ontario's Small Claims Court hears money claims up to $50,000, and licensed paralegals can represent you there from start to finish. We act for people and businesses on both sides: those who are owed money and those being sued.

• Demand letters that set out the claim clearly and often settle it before court.
• Plaintiff's claims, defences, defendant's claims and third party claims.
• Motions: default judgment, setting aside a default, amendments, extensions and more.
• Settlement conferences, mediation and offers to settle.
• Trial preparation and representation at trial.
• Enforcing a judgment: garnishment of wages or bank accounts, writs of seizure and sale, examinations of the debtor, consolidation orders and renewals.

Landlord and Tenant Board

Tenancy disputes move quickly and the forms are strict. We help landlords and tenants with every stage at the Landlord and Tenant Board.

• For landlords: notices (N4, N5, N6, N7, N8, N12, N13 and others), applications such as the L1, L2, L5, L9 and L10, hearings, mediation and enforcing an eviction order.
• For tenants: applications about repairs and maintenance (T6), harassment and illegal entry (T2), illegal rent or charges (T1), bad-faith notices (T5) and rent reductions, and defending a landlord's application, including raising repair issues at an arrears hearing.
• Repayment agreements, consent orders, requests to review or amend an order, and motions to set aside an order.
• Advice letters on rent increases, deposits, subletting and your rights before a dispute grows.

Traffic tickets and provincial offences

A ticket can mean demerit points, higher insurance and even a suspension. Licensed paralegals represent people charged under the Highway Traffic Act and other provincial laws in the Ontario Court of Justice.

• Speeding, careless driving, stunt driving, distracted driving, failing to stop or yield, and driving while suspended.
• Novice and commercial drivers: G1 and G2 conditions, CVOR, hours of service, inspections and load security.
• Camera and parking tickets, early resolution meetings and screening reviews.
• Licence suspension appeals at the Licence Appeal Tribunal.
• Regulatory and by-law charges: workplace safety, fire code, building code, liquor licence, trespass, dog owners' liability, short-term rental and other municipal by-laws.
• Reopening a conviction entered without a hearing, extensions of time, and appeals.

Criminal matters a paralegal may handle

Licensed paralegals may act on certain summary conviction matters. We help with first appearances, disclosure, peace bonds, diversion programs and resolutions in the matters we are permitted to take. Where a charge is outside a paralegal's scope, we say so at the start and help you find a criminal lawyer quickly.

Employment rights

• Severance packages and termination letters reviewed, explained and negotiated.
• Demand letters for wrongful or constructive dismissal, with your entitlements worked out.
• Employment Standards Act claims: unpaid wages, overtime, vacation pay, final pay, leaves and reprisals, and reviews at the Ontario Labour Relations Board.
• Workplace harassment, accommodation and reprisal complaints.
• Federally regulated workers (banks, airlines, telecoms, trucking across borders): unjust dismissal and wage recovery complaints under the Canada Labour Code.
• For employers: termination letters, compliance reviews, responses to claims and workplace harassment policies.

Human rights

If you were treated unfairly at work, in housing or when receiving a service because of a protected ground such as disability, race, sex, age or family status, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario can order remedies.

• HRTO applications and responses, mediation, motions and hearings.
• Accommodation requests and return-to-work plans.
• Federally regulated employers and services: complaints to the Canadian Human Rights Commission and hearings at the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal.

WSIB and workplace injuries

• Initial claims, mental health and chronic pain claims, and occupational disease claims.
• Objections and appeals to the WSIB's Appeals Services Division and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal (WSIAT), including reconsiderations.
• Loss of earnings, permanent impairment, health care and return-to-work disputes.
• For employers: objections, premium and classification disputes, cost relief and return-to-work plans.

Disability and social benefits

• Ontario Disability Support Program and Ontario Works: internal reviews and appeals to the Social Benefits Tribunal.
• Canada Pension Plan Disability: reconsiderations and appeals to the Social Security Tribunal.
• Employment Insurance, Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement: reconsiderations and Social Security Tribunal appeals.
• Long-term disability internal appeals and coordinating more than one source of benefits.

Car accident benefits

After a motor vehicle collision, Ontario's Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule provides income replacement, medical and rehabilitation, attendant care and other benefits, and disputes go to the Licence Appeal Tribunal.

• Help with the application forms and the insurer's assessments.
• LAT applications, case conferences, preliminary issues and hearings.
• Disputes about income replacement, medical and rehabilitation, attendant care, housekeeping, catastrophic impairment and death and funeral benefits.

Ontario tribunals and boards

• Condominium Authority Tribunal cases for owners: records, noise, pets, parking and nuisance.
• Property tax: requests for reconsideration with MPAC and appeals to the Assessment Review Board.
• Planning and property: Committee of Adjustment applications, Ontario Land Tribunal appeals and property standards orders.
• Municipal licensing hearings, dog designation and muzzle order appeals.
• Licence Appeal Tribunal licensing appeals, such as liquor and cannabis licences, motor vehicle dealers, travel and Tarion new home warranties.
• Access to information requests and appeals to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario.
• The Consent and Capacity Board, the Health Services Appeal and Review Board (OHIP coverage), the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board, school discipline and special education appeals, and the Ontario Parole Board.

Federal tribunals

• The Social Security Tribunal (EI, CPP and OAS appeals).
• The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal and the Canada Industrial Relations Board.
• The Veterans Review and Appeal Board, the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada and the Parole Board of Canada.
• Air passenger complaints to the Canadian Transportation Agency.

Immigration hearings

We represent people before the Immigration and Refugee Board, a federal tribunal: refugee claims at the Refugee Protection Division, appeals at the Immigration Appeal Division, and detention reviews and admissibility hearings at the Immigration Division. For immigration applications filed with IRCC, the rules on who may help for a fee are strict; we tell you at the consultation whether we can act or whether you need a lawyer or a licensed immigration consultant.

Notary and commissioning

• Commissioning affidavits and statutory declarations.
• Notarizing documents and certifying true copies of identity documents, degrees and records.
• Authentication and apostille coordination for documents used outside Canada.
• Travel consent letters for children, identity declarations and witnessing signatures.
• Remote commissioning by secure video, and mobile or after-hours appointments.

Construction and other liens

Through our partner Lien-Pro Inc., a nationwide lien filing agency, we arrange builders', construction, mechanics' and oil and gas lien filings across Canada, lien searches and discharges, and we can review your lien options with you first.

When you need a lawyer instead

Being clear about what a paralegal can and can't do is part of serving you well. Some work belongs to lawyers in Ontario, for example wills, powers of attorney and estates, buying and selling real estate, incorporating and running a corporation, most family law matters (unless the provider holds the Law Society's family legal services licence), claims over $50,000 in the Superior Court of Justice, and appeals to the higher courts. If your matter is one of these, we tell you at the free consultation and help you find the right professional. You won't be charged for finding out.

Getting started

Book your free first consultation from the website, call us, or send us a message. Bring or upload what you have: the claim or notice, the ticket, letters, emails, photos and any deadlines you know about. Deadlines in tribunal and court matters can be short, so reach out early. We will give you a clear plan, a clear fee and a portal where you can follow every step.

Common questions

Is the first consultation really free?

Yes. The first consultation is free and there is no obligation to go ahead. If you decide to work with us, you get a written retainer with the fee before any paid work begins.

Can a paralegal represent me in court?

Yes, in Small Claims Court, in the Ontario Court of Justice for provincial offences such as traffic tickets, in permitted summary conviction matters, and before Ontario and federal tribunals. Licensed paralegals generally cannot appear in the Superior Court of Justice or the appeal courts, and we will tell you if your matter needs a lawyer.

Do you only help people in Pickering and Durham?

No. Our office is in Pickering, and we work with clients across Ontario. Many matters can be handled online: consultations by video, documents uploaded to the portal and retainers signed electronically.

How do I pay?

By card online through your portal or our Pay page, or by Interac e-Transfer. Many services can be paid by instalments when the payment plan is set out in your retainer. Money paid in advance is kept in our trust account.

How will I know what is happening on my file?

Your portal shows the case timeline, the next steps, upcoming dates, documents and messages. You can switch on notifications to hear about changes on your phone or computer.

Is my information kept confidential?

Yes. Everything you tell us is confidential under the Paralegal Rules of Conduct. Your documents are stored privately and open only for you and the team working on your matter.

Photos from Pexels: Working on documents and a laptop · Writing a date in a desk calendar · 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.