241:
306:
1384:
356:
36:
514:
528:
1316:
279:
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.
275:, 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.
342:
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
278:
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
366:
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
301:
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
302:
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.
1029:
335:. 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
488:
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
410:
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.
317:. 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
328:
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".
1506:
440:, 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.
1154:
1470:
343:
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
482:
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.
321:, officially the Report of the Royal Commission Inquiry into Civil Rights (1968), a wide-ranging set of law reform recommendations for Ontario developed under the leadership of
625:
905:
1002:
1329:
427:
973:
240:
444:
1411:
711:
542:
402:
licensees in Ontario. Paralegals are licensed to provide limited legal services, such as providing representation before provincial tribunals.
1542:
854:
476:
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.
1547:
1050:
1272:
1347:
1562:
1455:
297:
The Law Society's first home was at Wilson's Hotel, then from 1799 to 1832 at various temporary locations at York (Toronto) until
1230:
1421:
1299:
1248:
548:
152:
1404:
213:
1460:
1128:
260:
and is the oldest self-governing body in North America. The Society governed the legal profession in the coterminous
1537:
1268:"The Gatekeeper's Jurisdiction: The Law Society of Ontario and the Promotion of Diversity in the Legal Profession"
1440:
1397:
660:
1483:
287:
1211:(March 1971). "Authority, Accountability, and Democracy in the Government of the Ontario Legal Profession".
1567:
1450:
1552:
1490:
1240:
879:
467:
828:
1389:
626:"'It doesn't have the dignity': Law Society of Upper Canada considers changing 'anachronistic' name"
1213:
1003:"Ontario's law society ditches controversial statement on diversity but loses none of its acrimony"
571:
772:
Martin, Andrew Flavelle (2016). "The Immunity of the Attorney General to Law Society Discipline".
436:. The treasurer is elected by the benchers, who comprise "Convocation" – in effect, the Society's
1445:
1285:
1267:
305:
252:
The Law Society of Upper Canada was established in 1797 to regulate the legal profession in the
1511:
1435:
265:
1088:
829:"Law Society to drop 'Upper Canada' from its name after report calls it elitist and offensive"
1557:
1361:
1338:
1179:
777:
322:
291:
253:
244:
Receipt dated February 5, 1836, for application to the Law Society of Upper Canada issued to
1222:
294:, and Bartholomew Crannell Beardsley, inaugurated the Law Society pursuant to the 1797 act.
1516:
8:
1327:
Romney, Paul (1995). "Upper Canada (Ontario): The Administration of Justice, 1784–1850".
1289:
1155:"Malcolm Mercer, new Law Society Tribunal chairperson, is known for work in legal ethics"
283:
1383:
437:
386:, the Law Society has required that potential licensees demonstrate "good character".
1352:
1305:
1295:
1254:
1244:
415:
245:
1030:"Ontario's law society is tying itself in knots over diversity and compelled speech"
355:
447:(elected on June 15, 2022), and the current CEO of the Law Society is Diana Miles.
344:
116:
930:
1234:
193:
120:
1348:"Twelve Angry (White) Men: The Constitutionality of the Statement of Principles"
974:"'No one thought this would happen': outgoing benchers react to turnover at LSO"
599:
533:
1309:
35:
1531:
1478:
1320:
1258:
1208:
1089:"Tending the Bar: The "Good Character" Requirement for Law Society Admission"
1007:
630:
495:
318:
906:"Amendments to legislation make Law Society of Ontario name change official"
376:
359:
332:
298:
257:
82:
261:
201:
72:
1419:
347:, while opponents argued that acknowledging equal rights was essential.
519:
368:
1033:
433:
399:
209:
513:
943:
941:
1319:
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
1110:
372:
217:
93:
89:
1236:
The Law Society of Upper Canada and Ontario's Lawyers, 1797–1997
953:
938:
205:
880:"Convocation votes to change name to "Law Society of Ontario""
394:
Effective May 1, 2007, as a result of amendments to Ontario's
271:
The Law Society was authorized, although not created, by the
282:
On July 17, 1797, at Wilson's Hotel in Newark, Ontario (now
339:
as part of the 2018 provincial budget implementation bill.
313:
The Law Society was reformed by statute in 1970, under the
855:"Law Society of Upper Canada votes to scrap half its name"
1291:
The Legal Profession in Upper Canada in Its Early Periods
1051:"Ontario lawyers to combat systemic racism in profession"
932:
Plan for Care and Opportunity Act (Budget Measures), 2018
898:
731:
729:
670:
668:
657:
An act for the better regulating the practice of the law
273:
Act for the better regulating of the practice of the law
808:
1377:
796:
753:
726:
665:
428:
List of treasurers of the Law Society of Upper Canada
1068:
784:
680:
509:
1184:
Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges of Canada
886:. The Law Society of Upper Canada. November 2, 2017
872:
692:
638:
1529:
1345:
959:
947:
846:
163:
934:, SO 2018, c 8, Sch 15, s 2
331:The Law Society faced calls to change the name
138:
543:CCH Canadian Ltd v Law Society of Upper Canada
418:became the chair of the Law Society Tribunal.
1405:
594:
592:
398:, the Law Society regulates more than 8,000
232:), its name was changed by statute in 2018.
1273:University of Toronto Faculty of Law Review
566:
564:
248:, the future first prime minister of Canada
178:The Law Society of Upper Canada (1797–2018)
1412:
1398:
1382:
765:
34:
1000:
589:
1294:. Toronto: Law Society of Upper Canada.
1265:
1172:
1152:
1001:Humphreys, Adrian (September 11, 2019).
814:
561:
354:
304:
264:from 1841 to 1867, and in Ontario since
239:
1284:
1207:
1153:Carolino, Bernise (November 23, 2020).
1086:
1074:
853:Gallant, Jacques (September 28, 2017).
852:
802:
759:
674:
456:Coat of arms of Law Society of Ontario
204:responsible for the self-regulation of
1530:
1326:
971:
771:
735:
686:
466:The coat of arms was confirmed by the
1422:Federation of Law Societies of Canada
1393:
1229:
1045:
1043:
996:
994:
826:
790:
698:
644:
623:
549:Federation of Law Societies of Canada
405:
153:Federation of Law Societies of Canada
1543:Legal organizations based in Ontario
827:Brean, Joseph (September 29, 2017).
624:Brean, Joseph (September 21, 2017).
367:sanctions range from admonitions to
1548:1797 establishments in Upper Canada
617:
382:Beginning in 1970, pursuant to the
13:
1040:
991:
14:
1579:
1563:Organizations established in 1797
1369:
1346:Sealy-Harrington, Joshua (2020).
286:), a group of lawyers, including
1314:
526:
512:
1146:
1121:
1103:
1080:
1022:
965:
924:
820:
741:
432:The Law Society is headed by a
16:Canadian provincial law society
972:Jerome, Amanda (May 6, 2019).
704:
650:
1:
554:
414:Effective November 16, 2020,
389:
1134:. Law Society Tribunal. 2014
421:
350:
56:; 227 years ago
7:
1241:University of Toronto Press
505:
468:Canadian Heraldic Authority
222:Law Society of Upper Canada
10:
1584:
1201:
425:
235:
1499:
1456:Newfoundland and Labrador
1428:
443:The current Treasurer is
309:Seal of the Society, 1889
220:. Founded in 1797 as the
172:
158:
148:
136:
126:
110:
100:
78:
68:
50:
42:
33:
26:
1286:Riddell, William Renwick
1180:"Law Society of Ontario"
714:. Law Society of Ontario
600:"Senior Management Team"
27:
1538:Law societies of Canada
1087:Woolley, Alice (2007).
572:"Law Society Treasurer"
450:
604:Law Society of Ontario
576:Law Society of Ontario
363:
310:
249:
230:Barreau du Haut-Canada
229:
197:
186:Law Society of Ontario
87:130 Queen Street West,
22:Law Society of Ontario
1507:Northwest Territories
1266:P'ng, Justin (2019).
1115:lawsocietytribunal.ca
1093:Dalhousie Law Journal
960:Sealy-Harrington 2020
948:Sealy-Harrington 2020
748:Law Society Act, 1970
661:37 Geo III, c 13
384:Law Society Act, 1970
358:
323:James Chalmers McRuer
315:Law Society Act, 1970
308:
292:Robert Isaac Dey Gray
243:
1471:Prince Edward Island
1330:Manitoba Law Journal
1129:"Annual Report 2014"
1036:. September 6, 2019.
362:stained glass window
198:Barreau de l'Ontario
28:Barreau de l'Ontario
1568:Regulatory colleges
1484:Chamber of Notaries
1362:2020 CanLIIDocs 583
1339:1995 CanLIIDocs 136
1214:Canadian Bar Review
778:2016 CanLIIDocs 153
774:Canadian Bar Review
457:
284:Niagara-on-the-Lake
23:
1553:Lawyers in Ontario
1231:Moore, Christopher
1223:1971 CanLIIDocs 30
978:The Lawyer's Daily
455:
438:board of directors
406:Tribunal decisions
364:
311:
250:
112:Official language
21:
1525:
1524:
1353:Ottawa Law Review
1301:978-0-665-77544-4
1250:978-1-4426-2337-8
503:
502:
496:Let Right Prevail
445:Jacqueline Horvat
416:Malcolm M. Mercer
371:. It is based in
246:John A. Macdonald
214:Canadian province
182:
181:
132:Jacqueline Horvat
1575:
1441:British Columbia
1414:
1407:
1400:
1391:
1390:
1386:
1381:
1380:
1378:Official website
1365:
1342:
1318:
1317:
1313:
1281:
1262:
1226:
1195:
1194:
1192:
1190:
1176:
1170:
1169:
1167:
1165:
1150:
1144:
1143:
1141:
1139:
1133:
1125:
1119:
1118:
1107:
1101:
1100:
1084:
1078:
1072:
1066:
1065:
1063:
1061:
1047:
1038:
1037:
1026:
1020:
1019:
1017:
1015:
998:
989:
988:
986:
984:
969:
963:
957:
951:
945:
936:
928:
922:
921:
919:
917:
902:
896:
895:
893:
891:
876:
870:
869:
867:
865:
850:
844:
843:
841:
839:
824:
818:
812:
806:
800:
794:
788:
782:
781:
769:
763:
757:
751:
745:
739:
733:
724:
723:
721:
719:
708:
702:
696:
690:
684:
678:
672:
663:
654:
648:
642:
636:
635:
621:
615:
614:
612:
610:
596:
587:
586:
584:
582:
568:
536:
531:
530:
529:
522:
517:
516:
470:on May 15, 2019.
458:
454:
345:compelled speech
168:
165:
140:
64:
62:
57:
38:
24:
20:
1583:
1582:
1578:
1577:
1576:
1574:
1573:
1572:
1528:
1527:
1526:
1521:
1495:
1424:
1420:Members of the
1418:
1376:
1375:
1372:
1315:
1302:
1251:
1204:
1199:
1198:
1188:
1186:
1178:
1177:
1173:
1163:
1161:
1151:
1147:
1137:
1135:
1131:
1127:
1126:
1122:
1109:
1108:
1104:
1085:
1081:
1073:
1069:
1059:
1057:
1049:
1048:
1041:
1028:
1027:
1023:
1013:
1011:
999:
992:
982:
980:
970:
966:
958:
954:
946:
939:
929:
925:
915:
913:
904:
903:
899:
889:
887:
878:
877:
873:
863:
861:
851:
847:
837:
835:
825:
821:
813:
809:
801:
797:
789:
785:
770:
766:
758:
754:
750:, SO 1970, c 19
746:
742:
734:
727:
717:
715:
710:
709:
705:
697:
693:
685:
681:
673:
666:
655:
651:
643:
639:
622:
618:
608:
606:
598:
597:
590:
580:
578:
570:
569:
562:
557:
532:
527:
525:
518:
511:
508:
453:
430:
424:
408:
396:Law Society Act
392:
353:
337:Law Society Act
238:
175:
174:Formerly called
162:
141:
129:
119:
113:
103:
88:
86:
60:
58:
55:
29:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1581:
1571:
1570:
1565:
1560:
1555:
1550:
1545:
1540:
1523:
1522:
1520:
1519:
1514:
1509:
1503:
1501:
1497:
1496:
1494:
1493:
1488:
1487:
1486:
1481:
1473:
1468:
1463:
1458:
1453:
1448:
1443:
1438:
1432:
1430:
1426:
1425:
1417:
1416:
1409:
1402:
1394:
1388:
1387:
1371:
1370:External links
1368:
1367:
1366:
1343:
1324:
1300:
1282:
1263:
1249:
1227:
1209:Arthurs, H. W.
1203:
1200:
1197:
1196:
1171:
1159:Law Times News
1145:
1120:
1102:
1079:
1067:
1039:
1021:
990:
964:
962:, p. 205.
952:
950:, p. 202.
937:
923:
897:
871:
845:
819:
807:
795:
793:, p. 284.
783:
764:
752:
740:
738:, p. 187.
725:
703:
691:
689:, p. 186.
679:
677:, p. 133.
664:
649:
637:
616:
588:
559:
558:
556:
553:
552:
551:
546:
538:
537:
534:Ontario portal
523:
507:
504:
501:
500:
499:
498:
493:
490:
486:
483:
480:
477:
474:
471:
464:
452:
449:
423:
420:
407:
404:
391:
388:
352:
349:
254:British colony
237:
234:
180:
179:
176:
173:
170:
169:
160:
156:
155:
150:
146:
145:
142:
137:
134:
133:
130:
127:
124:
123:
114:
111:
108:
107:
104:
101:
98:
97:
80:
76:
75:
70:
66:
65:
52:
48:
47:
44:
40:
39:
31:
30:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1580:
1569:
1566:
1564:
1561:
1559:
1556:
1554:
1551:
1549:
1546:
1544:
1541:
1539:
1536:
1535:
1533:
1518:
1515:
1513:
1510:
1508:
1505:
1504:
1502:
1498:
1492:
1489:
1485:
1482:
1480:
1477:
1476:
1474:
1472:
1469:
1467:
1464:
1462:
1459:
1457:
1454:
1452:
1451:New Brunswick
1449:
1447:
1444:
1442:
1439:
1437:
1434:
1433:
1431:
1427:
1423:
1415:
1410:
1408:
1403:
1401:
1396:
1395:
1392:
1385:
1379:
1374:
1373:
1363:
1359:
1355:
1354:
1349:
1344:
1340:
1336:
1332:
1331:
1325:
1322:
1321:public domain
1311:
1307:
1303:
1297:
1293:
1292:
1287:
1283:
1279:
1275:
1274:
1269:
1264:
1260:
1256:
1252:
1246:
1242:
1238:
1237:
1232:
1228:
1224:
1220:
1216:
1215:
1210:
1206:
1205:
1185:
1181:
1175:
1160:
1156:
1149:
1130:
1124:
1116:
1112:
1106:
1098:
1094:
1090:
1083:
1076:
1071:
1056:
1052:
1046:
1044:
1035:
1031:
1025:
1010:
1009:
1008:National Post
1004:
997:
995:
979:
975:
968:
961:
956:
949:
944:
942:
935:
933:
927:
912:. May 8, 2018
911:
907:
901:
885:
881:
875:
860:
856:
849:
834:
833:National Post
830:
823:
817:, p. 86.
816:
811:
805:, p. 13.
804:
799:
792:
787:
779:
775:
768:
762:, p. 11.
761:
756:
749:
744:
737:
732:
730:
713:
707:
701:, p. 13.
700:
695:
688:
683:
676:
671:
669:
662:
658:
653:
647:, p. 15.
646:
641:
633:
632:
631:National Post
627:
620:
605:
601:
595:
593:
577:
573:
567:
565:
560:
550:
547:
545:
544:
540:
539:
535:
524:
521:
515:
510:
497:
494:
491:
487:
484:
481:
478:
475:
472:
469:
465:
462:
461:
460:
459:
448:
446:
441:
439:
435:
429:
419:
417:
412:
403:
401:
397:
387:
385:
380:
378:
374:
370:
361:
357:
348:
346:
340:
338:
334:
329:
326:
324:
320:
319:McRuer report
316:
307:
303:
300:
295:
293:
289:
285:
280:
276:
274:
269:
267:
266:Confederation
263:
259:
255:
247:
242:
233:
231:
227:
223:
219:
215:
211:
207:
203:
199:
195:
191:
187:
177:
171:
167:
161:
157:
154:
151:
147:
143:
135:
131:
125:
122:
118:
115:
109:
105:
99:
95:
91:
84:
81:
77:
74:
71:
67:
53:
49:
45:
41:
37:
32:
25:
19:
1558:Legal ethics
1491:Saskatchewan
1465:
1357:
1351:
1334:
1328:
1290:
1277:
1271:
1235:
1218:
1212:
1187:. Retrieved
1183:
1174:
1162:. Retrieved
1158:
1148:
1136:. Retrieved
1123:
1114:
1105:
1096:
1092:
1082:
1077:, p. 4.
1075:Arthurs 1971
1070:
1058:. Retrieved
1054:
1024:
1012:. Retrieved
1006:
981:. Retrieved
977:
967:
955:
931:
926:
914:. Retrieved
909:
900:
888:. Retrieved
883:
874:
862:. Retrieved
859:Toronto Star
858:
848:
836:. Retrieved
832:
822:
810:
803:Arthurs 1971
798:
786:
773:
767:
760:Arthurs 1971
755:
747:
743:
716:. Retrieved
712:"Chronology"
706:
694:
682:
675:Riddell 1916
656:
652:
640:
629:
619:
607:. Retrieved
603:
579:. Retrieved
575:
541:
442:
431:
413:
409:
395:
393:
383:
381:
377:Osgoode Hall
365:
360:Osgoode Hall
341:
336:
333:Upper Canada
330:
327:
314:
312:
299:Osgoode Hall
296:
281:
277:
272:
270:
258:Upper Canada
251:
225:
221:
189:
185:
183:
149:Affiliations
102:Area served
83:Osgoode Hall
79:Headquarters
43:Abbreviation
18:
1500:Territorial
1461:Nova Scotia
1337:: 183–213.
1189:October 20,
1099:(1): 27–77.
1060:January 19,
890:November 3,
884:The Gazette
864:November 6,
838:November 6,
736:Romney 1995
687:Romney 1995
609:February 9,
262:Canada West
202:law society
144:Diana Miles
73:Law society
1532:Categories
1429:Provincial
1310:1129351627
1164:October 4,
1138:October 4,
1014:October 4,
983:October 4,
910:CNW Cision
791:Moore 1997
699:Moore 1997
645:Moore 1997
555:References
520:Law portal
485:Supporters
479:Escutcheon
426:See also:
390:Paralegals
369:disbarment
288:John White
228:; French:
210:paralegals
1280:: 82–107.
1259:904376526
1034:CBC Radio
815:P'ng 2019
434:treasurer
422:Treasurer
400:paralegal
351:Oversight
268:in 1867.
200:) is the
128:Treasurer
1446:Manitoba
1288:(1916).
1233:(1997).
1055:CBC News
916:June 18,
718:July 18,
581:June 28,
506:See also
96:, Canada
1512:Nunavut
1475:Quebec
1466:Ontario
1436:Alberta
1202:Sources
776:: 434.
373:Toronto
236:History
218:Ontario
212:in the
206:lawyers
159:Website
117:English
106:Ontario
94:Ontario
90:Toronto
59: (
51:Founded
1308:
1298:
1257:
1247:
1111:"Home"
194:French
121:French
1517:Yukon
1360:(1).
1221:(1).
1132:(PDF)
492:Motto
489:Vert.
473:Crest
463:Notes
375:, at
1306:OCLC
1296:ISBN
1255:OCLC
1245:ISBN
1191:2021
1166:2021
1140:2021
1062:2017
1016:2021
985:2021
918:2018
892:2017
866:2017
840:2017
720:2022
611:2018
583:2022
451:Arms
226:LSUC
208:and
184:The
69:Type
61:1797
54:1797
1479:Bar
256:of
216:of
190:LSO
166:.ca
164:lso
139:CEO
46:LSO
1534::
1358:51
1356:.
1350:.
1335:23
1333:.
1304:.
1278:77
1276:.
1270:.
1253:.
1243:.
1239:.
1219:49
1217:.
1182:.
1157:.
1113:.
1097:30
1095:.
1091:.
1053:.
1042:^
1032:.
1005:.
993:^
976:.
940:^
908:.
882:.
857:.
831:.
728:^
667:^
659:,
628:.
602:.
591:^
574:.
563:^
379:.
325:.
290:,
196::
192:;
92:,
1413:e
1406:t
1399:v
1364:.
1341:.
1323:.
1312:.
1261:.
1225:.
1193:.
1168:.
1142:.
1117:.
1064:.
1018:.
987:.
920:.
894:.
868:.
842:.
780:.
722:.
634:.
613:.
585:.
224:(
188:(
85:,
63:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
