Celebrating seven years of licensed paralegals

Today is the seventh anniversary of paralegal regulation in Ontario — on this day in 2007, amendments to the Law Society Act came into effect that made us the first law society in the world to count paralegals as members.

2,171 applicants signed up to write the initial licensing examinations, and by the end of 2008, nearly 2,300 were licensed.

Since that first group became licensed paralegals, they have had representation on the governing body of the Law Society, as well as membership on every working committee of Convocation. And this year, paralegals elected five representatives of their profession to sit as full voting members of Convocation, benchers equal in title and stature.

Today, licensed paralegals number more than 6,000 — including a group of brand new paralegals I welcomed in a reception last week.

As I said to them, Ontario’s justice system is remarkable — and often emulated throughout the world — but it faces challenges. We must always strive to make sure that anyone who wants to can access it when they need it, and in the ways that best match those needs.

Access to justice has become a significant concern in the courts of Ontario, among the public, and among the members of the legal profession throughout the province — and paralegals are helping to address that concern.

Like their lawyer colleagues, they are skilled, trained professionals, supported by a full regulatory system that includes a code of professional conduct, liability insurance, ethical standards, and an open and transparent disciplinary process.

And, in many cases, they are Ontarians’ first contact with the legal system.

When you consider the number of people who hire a paralegal because they have a traffic ticket, a landlord/tenant dispute, a workplace or personal injury, or a matter before Small Claims Court, you begin to realize just how much of a positive impact paralegal regulation has had for the residents of this province.

In short, Ontario needs paralegals — and Ontario’s paralegals rise to the challenge every day. I’m proud to be the Treasurer of the law society that regulates them.