The Law Society of Ontario (“LSO”) is soliciting comments on a draft regulatory framework that would allow lawyers and paralegals to provide legal services to the clients of registered civil society organization – at no cost to the clients of those organizations.

The framework is intended to facilitate access to justice particularly for individuals who may not perceive that they have legal issues or who may face additional barriers to accessing lawyer and paralegal services, such as mobility or geographical, cultural, or linguistic factors.

However, the proposed framework will apply only to registered charities, not-for-profit corporations incorporated under the laws or Ontario, and not-for-profit corporations permitted under the laws of Ontario to operate in Ontario. Lawyers and paralegals will not be able to provide legal services to the clients of not-for-profit organizations that are not incorporated.

Comments on the LSO’s framework will be accepted until January 18, 2019 and can be sent via email or mail. You can find contact details for comments here (link).

For more information on the proposed framework, you can read the LSO’s Report of the Alternative Business Structures Working Group here (link).