Convocation April 2009: Paralegal Standing Committee

Report to Convocation
April 30th, 2009
Paralegal Standing Committee
Committee Members
Paul Dray, Chair
Susan McGrath, Vice-Chair
Marion Boyd
James R. Caskey
Seymour Epstein
Michelle L. Haigh
Glenn Hainey
Paul Henderson
Brian Lawrie
Douglas Lewis
Margaret Louter
Stephen Parker
Cathy Strosberg
Purpose of Report: Decision
Information
Prepared by the Policy Secretariat
Julia Bass 416 947 5228
TABLE OF CONTENTS
For Decision
Housekeeping Amendment to Form 7A ............................................................... TAB A
For Information .......................................................................................................TAB B
Public Release of Two Year Report on Paralegal Regulation
Review of Exemptions in By-law 4
Meeting with Paralegal Organizations
POA Consultation
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COMMITTEE PROCESS
1.
The Committee met on April 8th, 2009. Committee members present were Paul Dray,
Chair, Susan McGrath (Vice-chair), Marion Boyd, James Caskey, Seymour Epstein,
Michelle Haigh (on the telephone), Glenn Hainey, Paul Henderson, Brian Lawrie, Doug
Lewis, Margaret Louter, Stephen Parker and Cathy Strosberg (on the telephone). Staff
members in attendance were Malcolm Heins, Terry Knott, Elliot Spears, Roy Thomas,
Sybila Valdivieso, Arwen Tillman, Sheena Weir, Lisa Mallia, Mark Andrew Wells and
Julia Bass.
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Form 7A
Notice of Intention to Surrender a Certificate of Authorization
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO SURRENDER A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORIZATION
(Name of professional corporation applying
for permission to surrender a certificate of authorization, in capital letters)
Pursuant to section 10 of By-Law 7 made under paragraph 28.1 of subsection 62 (0.1) of the Law
Society Act, the above named hereby gives notice of its intention to surrender its certificate of
authorization.
The above named has (carried on the practice of law or provided legal services or carried on the
practice of law and provided legal services) at (identify where the above named has carried on
the practice of law or provided legal services or carried on the practice of law and provided
legal services) (or has not carried on the practice of law or has not provided legal services or has
not carried on the practice of law or provided legal services since (date)) (or has never (carried
on the practice of law or provided legal services or carried on the practice of law or provided
legal services) in Ontario).
Dated at (place)
(Date)
(Name of professional corporation)
(Signatures of all directors)
________________________________ Formulaire 7A
Avis d’intention de rendre un certificat
AVIS D’INTENTION DE RENDRE UN CERTIFICAT D’AUTORISATION
(Dénomination sociale de la société professionnelle qui demande la permission
de rendre un certificat d’autorisation, en majuscules)
Conformément à l’article 10 du Règlement administratif no 7 adopté en vertu de la disposition
28.1 du paragraphe 62 (0.1) de la Loi sur le Barreau, la société susnommée donne avis de son
intention de rendre son certificat d’autorisation.
La société susnommée (se livre à l’exercice du droit ou fournit des services juridiques ou se livre
à la pratique du droit et fournit des services juridiques) à (indiquer où la société susnommée se
1 FOR INFORMATION
PUBLIC RELEASE OF TWO YEAR REVIEW OF PARALEGAL REGULATION
7.
In November, Convocation approved the Report that the Law Society Act required the
Law Society to submit to the Attorney General on the implementation of paralegal
regulation in Ontario. The Report was formally delivered to the Attorney General on
January 16th and was tabled in the legislature by him on March 30th. The Law Society
held a celebratory reception the same day. The Report is now a public document.
REVIEW OF PARALEGAL EXEMPTIONS IN BY-LAW 4
8.
In keeping with the provisions of By-law 4, in January the Committee commenced
discussion of the exemptions set out in the By-law, and continued work on this topic at
the meetings in February and April. It has become apparent that proper consideration of
the exemptions will require closer study, including further discussions with government
representatives and stakeholders who will potentially be affected by the Committee’s
decisions. Accordingly, the Committee has established a Working Group to conduct
further research on this issue, with the objective of developing recommendations and
reporting back to the Committee in the fall.
MEETING WITH PSO AND LPAO
9.
The Committee met with representatives of both the Paralegal Society of Ontario and the
Licensed Paralegal Association (Ontario) immediately following the Committee
meeting, to discuss issues of current concern. The next meeting with these organizations
will be on November 26th, 2009.
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CONSULTATION ON CHANGES TO THE POA
10.
The ministry of the attorney general has released a paper proposing changes to the
procedures under the Provincial Offences Act (POA). This was distributed to the Law
Society, the Ontario Bar Association, the Paralegal Society of Ontario and the Licensed
Paralegal Association (Ontario) for comment. The deadline for responses has been
extended to April 17th, 2009. Details of the report and the extended deadline were
placed on the Law Society website.
22/04/2009 7:02 AM
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