Referrals - Law Society Referral Service (LSRS)

The Law Society of Upper Canada has a Law Society Referral Service, which provides a toll free telephone line for Ontarians requiring assistance in finding a lawyer or licenced paralegal.

Features of the service at 1-800-268-8326:

• The service operates from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, and is telephone-based or you can go to their website and fill in an online form.

• One of the (non-lawyer) representatives will provide the name and phone number of a lawyer or licenced paralegal who meets the caller’s required needs – i.e. area of law, preferred location, and whether the caller needs a lawyer who takes Legal Aid certificates

• Names of lawyers/paralegals are provided on a rotational basis – they cannot provide referrals to specific lawyers or paralegals at callers’ request, even if those lawyers or paralegals are LSRS subscribers

• Callers will receive a consultation of up to ½ hour, either by phone or in person (3 business days are allowed after the referral for the lawyer/paralegal to make initial contact with the caller)

• The purpose of the consultation is to answer any general questions the prospective client may have – it does not serve as entitlement to ½ hour of free legal advice

• Lawyers are not obliged to represent those to whom they have given consultations

• If the lawyer is unavailable for a consultation, the caller may phone back to receive another referral

• This line may also be used by callers who need a lawyer immediately and cannot wait for a consultation to be arranged, or for those who wish to choose their own lawyer from a list provided to them and do not want a consultation

• Callers to this line are given the names and phone numbers of three subscribing lawyers in their requested location and area of law

If you have any questions, please call:

Law Society Referral Service

The Law Society of Upper Canada

(416) 947-4058 or toll free: 1-800-668-7380 ext. 4058

Or visit their website for more details:  http://www.lsuc.on.ca/faq.aspx?id=2147486372.

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Paralegals

Read the Law Society of Upper Canada's pamphlet, Lawyers and Paralegals: Helping You With Your Legal Needs." 

This pamphlet explains the difference between lawyers and paralegals and will help you choose which one you need for your type of case.  It also outlines how and where to complain about services provided by lawyers or paralegals.

Visit the Law Society's website for more information on paralegal regulation.