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Law Society of Ontario

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practise at the bar of any of His Majesty's courts in this province, unless such person shall have been previously entered of and admitted into the said society as a student of the laws ... and shall have been duly called and admitted to the practice of the law as a barrister, according to the constitutions and establishment thereof". Incorporation of the Society occurred in 1822.
286:, a 1797 statute. Section 1 of the act simply authorized those at the time "admitted in the law and practising at the bar" in the province to form themselves into a "society". The 1797 statute allowed the Law Society to impose requirements for admission to the bar of Upper Canada and to test applicants against these standards. 353:
In 2017, the Law Society enacted a requirement that licensees acknowledge an "obligation to promote equality, diversity and inclusion", referred to as a "statement of principles". The requirement was phased in over several months in late 2017. Following a public campaign called "StopSOP", under which
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That statute made no express provisions for any other people to become members of the Law Society: but the power to admit others than the existing practitioners was considered to be implied by section 5. Section 5 provided that "no person other than the present practitioners ... shall be permitted to
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The Law Society regulates the more than 50,000 lawyers in Ontario. It is responsible for ensuring that lawyers are both ethical and competent. The Society has the power to set standards for admission into the profession. It is empowered to discipline lawyers who violate those standards. Available
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was built in 1832. The Law Society continued to retain its original name, even though Upper Canada ceased to exist as a political entity in 1841. Throughout the early 1800s, the Law Society imposed increasingly onerous requirements on potential Upper Canadian lawyers, at one point requiring
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students-at-law to live at Osgoode Hall while they completed their legal studies. Historian Paul Romney argues such licensing requirements enhanced the legal profession's "prestige" in the young colony, as compared to its position in other North American colonies or the United States.
1040: 346:. Benchers voted to drop the name and replace it with a new one. On November 2, 2017, the Society's governing body (Convocation) chose "Law Society of Ontario" as the new name. The name change was made official on May 8, 2018, following amendments to the 499:
Dexter the figure of Hercules holding in the dexter hand a club, sinister the figure of Justice holding in the sinister hand a sword erect proper pommel and hilt and with a balance Or suspended from the blade, both standing on a grassy mount
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The Law Society Tribunal is an independent adjudicative tribunal within the Law Society of Ontario that processes, hears and decides regulatory cases about Ontario lawyers and paralegals. It began operations on March 12, 2014.
328:. That statute defined the Society as "a corporation without share capital composed of the Treasurer, the benchers, and other members from time to time". Many of the reforms in the 1971 act were inspired by the 339:
On October 27, 1994, the Law Society adopted a "role statement" holding that it "exists to govern the legal profession in the public interest" and has the "purpose of advancing the cause of justice".
1517: 451:, as the Society is an Ontario Corporation without share capital. All lawyer-benchers are elected by the Society's members, and eight lay benchers are appointed by the provincial government. 1165: 1481: 354:
a number of benchers were elected who pledged to repeal the requirement, the requirement was repealed in September 2019. Some StopSOP advocates argued that the measure was an example of
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Sable on a chevron between two stags trippant in chief and a rose in base Argent barbed and seeded, an open book proper bound Azure edged and clasped Or between two maple leaves Gules.
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licensees in Ontario. Paralegals are licensed to provide limited legal services, such as providing representation before provincial tribunals.
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Upon a rocky mount proper a mantle Ermine lined Murrey thereon a beaver couchant proper holding in its mouth a sprig of two maple leaves Or.
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The Law Society's first home was at Wilson's Hotel, then from 1799 to 1832 at various temporary locations at York (Toronto) until
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and is the oldest self-governing body in North America. The Society governed the legal profession in the coterminous
1548: 1279:"The Gatekeeper's Jurisdiction: The Law Society of Ontario and the Promotion of Diversity in the Legal Profession" 1451: 1408: 671: 1494: 298: 1222:(March 1971). "Authority, Accountability, and Democracy in the Government of the Ontario Legal Profession". 1578: 1461: 1563: 1501: 1251: 890: 478: 839: 1400: 637:"'It doesn't have the dignity': Law Society of Upper Canada considers changing 'anachronistic' name" 1224: 1014:"Ontario's law society ditches controversial statement on diversity but loses none of its acrimony" 582: 783:
Martin, Andrew Flavelle (2016). "The Immunity of the Attorney General to Law Society Discipline".
447:. The treasurer is elected by the benchers, who comprise "Convocation" – in effect, the Society's 1456: 1296: 1278: 316: 263:
The Law Society of Upper Canada was established in 1797 to regulate the legal profession in the
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Receipt dated February 5, 1836, for application to the Law Society of Upper Canada issued to
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Romney, Paul (1995). "Upper Canada (Ontario): The Administration of Justice, 1784–1850".
1300: 1166:"Malcolm Mercer, new Law Society Tribunal chairperson, is known for work in legal ethics" 294: 1394: 448: 397:, the Law Society has required that potential licensees demonstrate "good character". 1363: 1316: 1306: 1265: 1255: 426: 256: 1041:"Ontario's law society is tying itself in knots over diversity and compelled speech" 366: 458:(elected on June 15, 2022), and the current CEO of the Law Society is Diana Miles. 355: 127: 941: 1245: 204: 131: 1359:"Twelve Angry (White) Men: The Constitutionality of the Statement of Principles" 985:"'No one thought this would happen': outgoing benchers react to turnover at LSO" 610: 544: 1320: 46: 1542: 1489: 1331: 1269: 1219: 1100:"Tending the Bar: The "Good Character" Requirement for Law Society Admission" 1018: 641: 506: 329: 917:"Amendments to legislation make Law Society of Ontario name change official" 387: 370: 343: 309: 268: 93: 272: 212: 83: 1430: 358:, while opponents argued that acknowledging equal rights was essential. 530: 379: 1044: 444: 410: 220: 524: 954: 952: 1330:
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
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The Law Society of Upper Canada and Ontario's Lawyers, 1797–1997
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Effective May 1, 2007, as a result of amendments to Ontario's
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The Law Society was authorized, although not created, by the
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On July 17, 1797, at Wilson's Hotel in Newark, Ontario (now
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as part of the 2018 provincial budget implementation bill.
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The Law Society was reformed by statute in 1970, under the
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The Legal Profession in Upper Canada in Its Early Periods
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Plan for Care and Opportunity Act (Budget Measures), 2018
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An act for the better regulating the practice of the law
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Act for the better regulating of the practice of the law
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List of treasurers of the Law Society of Upper Canada
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Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges of Canada
897:. The Law Society of Upper Canada. November 2, 2017 883: 703: 649: 1540: 1356: 970: 958: 857: 174: 945:, SO 2018, c 8, Sch 15, s 2 342:The Law Society faced calls to change the name 149: 554:CCH Canadian Ltd v Law Society of Upper Canada 429:became the chair of the Law Society Tribunal. 1416: 605: 603: 409:, the Law Society regulates more than 8,000 243:), its name was changed by statute in 2018. 1284:University of Toronto Faculty of Law Review 577: 575: 259:, the future first prime minister of Canada 189:The Law Society of Upper Canada (1797–2018) 1423: 1409: 1393: 776: 45: 1011: 600: 1305:. Toronto: Law Society of Upper Canada. 1276: 1183: 1163: 1012:Humphreys, Adrian (September 11, 2019). 825: 572: 365: 315: 275:from 1841 to 1867, and in Ontario since 250: 1295: 1218: 1164:Carolino, Bernise (November 23, 2020). 1097: 1085: 864:Gallant, Jacques (September 28, 2017). 863: 813: 770: 685: 467:Coat of arms of Law Society of Ontario 215:responsible for the self-regulation of 14: 1541: 1337: 982: 782: 746: 697: 477:The coat of arms was confirmed by the 1433:Federation of Law Societies of Canada 1404: 1240: 1056: 1054: 1007: 1005: 837: 801: 709: 655: 634: 560:Federation of Law Societies of Canada 416: 164:Federation of Law Societies of Canada 1554:Legal organizations based in Ontario 838:Brean, Joseph (September 29, 2017). 635:Brean, Joseph (September 21, 2017). 378:sanctions range from admonitions to 1559:1797 establishments in Upper Canada 628: 393:Beginning in 1970, pursuant to the 24: 1051: 1002: 25: 1590: 1574:Organizations established in 1797 1380: 1357:Sealy-Harrington, Joshua (2020). 297:), a group of lawyers, including 1325: 537: 523: 1157: 1132: 1114: 1091: 1033: 976: 935: 831: 752: 443:The Law Society is headed by a 27:Canadian provincial law society 983:Jerome, Amanda (May 6, 2019). 715: 661: 13: 1: 565: 425:Effective November 16, 2020, 400: 1145:. Law Society Tribunal. 2014 432: 361: 67:; 227 years ago 7: 1252:University of Toronto Press 516: 479:Canadian Heraldic Authority 233:Law Society of Upper Canada 18:Law Society of Upper Canada 10: 1595: 1212: 436: 246: 1510: 1467:Newfoundland and Labrador 1439: 454:The current Treasurer is 320:Seal of the Society, 1889 231:. Founded in 1797 as the 183: 169: 159: 147: 137: 121: 111: 89: 79: 61: 53: 44: 37: 1297:Riddell, William Renwick 1191:"Law Society of Ontario" 725:. Law Society of Ontario 611:"Senior Management Team" 38: 1549:Law societies of Canada 1098:Woolley, Alice (2007). 583:"Law Society Treasurer" 461: 615:Law Society of Ontario 587:Law Society of Ontario 374: 321: 260: 241:Barreau du Haut-Canada 240: 208: 197:Law Society of Ontario 98:130 Queen Street West, 33:Law Society of Ontario 1518:Northwest Territories 1277:P'ng, Justin (2019). 1126:lawsocietytribunal.ca 1104:Dalhousie Law Journal 971:Sealy-Harrington 2020 959:Sealy-Harrington 2020 759:Law Society Act, 1970 672:37 Geo III, c 13 395:Law Society Act, 1970 369: 334:James Chalmers McRuer 326:Law Society Act, 1970 319: 303:Robert Isaac Dey Gray 254: 1482:Prince Edward Island 1341:Manitoba Law Journal 1140:"Annual Report 2014" 1047:. September 6, 2019. 373:stained glass window 209:Barreau de l'Ontario 39:Barreau de l'Ontario 1579:Regulatory colleges 1495:Chamber of Notaries 1373:2020 CanLIIDocs 583 1350:1995 CanLIIDocs 136 1225:Canadian Bar Review 789:2016 CanLIIDocs 153 785:Canadian Bar Review 468: 295:Niagara-on-the-Lake 34: 1564:Lawyers in Ontario 1242:Moore, Christopher 1234:1971 CanLIIDocs 30 989:The Lawyer's Daily 466: 449:board of directors 417:Tribunal decisions 375: 322: 261: 123:Official language 32: 1536: 1535: 1364:Ottawa Law Review 1312:978-0-665-77544-4 1261:978-1-4426-2337-8 514: 513: 507:Let Right Prevail 456:Jacqueline Horvat 427:Malcolm M. Mercer 382:. It is based in 257:John A. Macdonald 225:Canadian province 193: 192: 143:Jacqueline Horvat 16:(Redirected from 1586: 1452:British Columbia 1425: 1418: 1411: 1402: 1401: 1397: 1392: 1391: 1389:Official website 1376: 1353: 1329: 1328: 1324: 1292: 1273: 1237: 1206: 1205: 1203: 1201: 1187: 1181: 1180: 1178: 1176: 1161: 1155: 1154: 1152: 1150: 1144: 1136: 1130: 1129: 1118: 1112: 1111: 1095: 1089: 1083: 1077: 1076: 1074: 1072: 1058: 1049: 1048: 1037: 1031: 1030: 1028: 1026: 1009: 1000: 999: 997: 995: 980: 974: 968: 962: 956: 947: 939: 933: 932: 930: 928: 913: 907: 906: 904: 902: 887: 881: 880: 878: 876: 861: 855: 854: 852: 850: 835: 829: 823: 817: 811: 805: 799: 793: 792: 780: 774: 768: 762: 756: 750: 744: 735: 734: 732: 730: 719: 713: 707: 701: 695: 689: 683: 674: 665: 659: 653: 647: 646: 632: 626: 625: 623: 621: 607: 598: 597: 595: 593: 579: 547: 542: 541: 540: 533: 528: 527: 481:on May 15, 2019. 469: 465: 356:compelled speech 179: 176: 151: 75: 73: 68: 49: 35: 31: 21: 1594: 1593: 1589: 1588: 1587: 1585: 1584: 1583: 1539: 1538: 1537: 1532: 1506: 1435: 1431:Members of the 1429: 1387: 1386: 1383: 1326: 1313: 1262: 1215: 1210: 1209: 1199: 1197: 1189: 1188: 1184: 1174: 1172: 1162: 1158: 1148: 1146: 1142: 1138: 1137: 1133: 1120: 1119: 1115: 1096: 1092: 1084: 1080: 1070: 1068: 1060: 1059: 1052: 1039: 1038: 1034: 1024: 1022: 1010: 1003: 993: 991: 981: 977: 969: 965: 957: 950: 940: 936: 926: 924: 915: 914: 910: 900: 898: 889: 888: 884: 874: 872: 862: 858: 848: 846: 836: 832: 824: 820: 812: 808: 800: 796: 781: 777: 769: 765: 761:, SO 1970, c 19 757: 753: 745: 738: 728: 726: 721: 720: 716: 708: 704: 696: 692: 684: 677: 666: 662: 654: 650: 633: 629: 619: 617: 609: 608: 601: 591: 589: 581: 580: 573: 568: 543: 538: 536: 529: 522: 519: 464: 441: 435: 419: 407:Law Society Act 403: 364: 348:Law Society Act 249: 186: 185:Formerly called 173: 152: 140: 130: 124: 114: 99: 97: 71: 69: 66: 40: 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1592: 1582: 1581: 1576: 1571: 1566: 1561: 1556: 1551: 1534: 1533: 1531: 1530: 1525: 1520: 1514: 1512: 1508: 1507: 1505: 1504: 1499: 1498: 1497: 1492: 1484: 1479: 1474: 1469: 1464: 1459: 1454: 1449: 1443: 1441: 1437: 1436: 1428: 1427: 1420: 1413: 1405: 1399: 1398: 1382: 1381:External links 1379: 1378: 1377: 1354: 1335: 1311: 1293: 1274: 1260: 1238: 1220:Arthurs, H. W. 1214: 1211: 1208: 1207: 1182: 1170:Law Times News 1156: 1131: 1113: 1090: 1078: 1050: 1032: 1001: 975: 973:, p. 205. 963: 961:, p. 202. 948: 934: 908: 882: 856: 830: 818: 806: 804:, p. 284. 794: 775: 763: 751: 749:, p. 187. 736: 714: 702: 700:, p. 186. 690: 688:, p. 133. 675: 660: 648: 627: 599: 570: 569: 567: 564: 563: 562: 557: 549: 548: 545:Ontario portal 534: 518: 515: 512: 511: 510: 509: 504: 501: 497: 494: 491: 488: 485: 482: 475: 463: 460: 434: 431: 418: 415: 402: 399: 363: 360: 265:British colony 248: 245: 191: 190: 187: 184: 181: 180: 171: 167: 166: 161: 157: 156: 153: 148: 145: 144: 141: 138: 135: 134: 125: 122: 119: 118: 115: 112: 109: 108: 91: 87: 86: 81: 77: 76: 63: 59: 58: 55: 51: 50: 42: 41: 26: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1591: 1580: 1577: 1575: 1572: 1570: 1567: 1565: 1562: 1560: 1557: 1555: 1552: 1550: 1547: 1546: 1544: 1529: 1526: 1524: 1521: 1519: 1516: 1515: 1513: 1509: 1503: 1500: 1496: 1493: 1491: 1488: 1487: 1485: 1483: 1480: 1478: 1475: 1473: 1470: 1468: 1465: 1463: 1462:New Brunswick 1460: 1458: 1455: 1453: 1450: 1448: 1445: 1444: 1442: 1438: 1434: 1426: 1421: 1419: 1414: 1412: 1407: 1406: 1403: 1396: 1390: 1385: 1384: 1374: 1370: 1366: 1365: 1360: 1355: 1351: 1347: 1343: 1342: 1336: 1333: 1332:public domain 1322: 1318: 1314: 1308: 1304: 1303: 1298: 1294: 1290: 1286: 1285: 1280: 1275: 1271: 1267: 1263: 1257: 1253: 1249: 1248: 1243: 1239: 1235: 1231: 1227: 1226: 1221: 1217: 1216: 1196: 1192: 1186: 1171: 1167: 1160: 1141: 1135: 1127: 1123: 1117: 1109: 1105: 1101: 1094: 1087: 1082: 1067: 1063: 1057: 1055: 1046: 1042: 1036: 1021: 1020: 1019:National Post 1015: 1008: 1006: 990: 986: 979: 972: 967: 960: 955: 953: 946: 944: 938: 923:. 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Index

Law Society of Upper Canada

Law society
Osgoode Hall
Toronto
Ontario
English
French
Federation of Law Societies of Canada
lso.ca
French
law society
lawyers
paralegals
Canadian province
Ontario

John A. Macdonald
British colony
Upper Canada
Canada West
Confederation
Niagara-on-the-Lake
John White
Robert Isaac Dey Gray
Osgoode Hall

McRuer report
James Chalmers McRuer
Upper Canada

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