The Law Society exists to govern the legal profession in the public interest.
The Law Society Can
Address your complaints about a lawyer by:
Assisting you with concerns about your lawyer's service
Investigating complaints about a lawyer's behaviour or conduct
Disciplining lawyers who are found guilty of professional misconduct
Compensate you for some financial losses resulting from an ontario lawyer's dishonesty.
You can apply to the Law Society's Compensation Fund for reimbursement for money or property lost as a result of a
lawyer's dishonesty.
Help you find a lawyer.
You can contact our Lawyer Referral Service when you need help finding a lawyer.
The Member Directory is particularly useful if you are looking for a specific lawyer.
our Directory of Certified Specialists lists lawyers who have been certified as an expert in certain areas of law.
Tribunal decisions record details of recent discipline cases resulting from our complaints process.
The Law Society's Client Service Centre can help if you are looking for information about a member's practising status or discipline history or if you are looking for the location of a certain lawyer's files - for example if you are trying to locate an original will and the lawyer who prepared it has retired.
Support Access to Justice
The Law Society supports a number of services, such as the Public Legal Education Task Force and Pro Bono Law ontario, that help to make sure the public is well served by the legal system of ontario. Read the Access to Justice Fact Sheet for more about these and other programs.
The Law Society Cannot
Investigate complaints about lawyers' fees.
The Law Society cannot order your lawyer to reduce the amount billed to you for services provided.
If you have a problem with your bill, there are two things you can do: talk to your lawyer contact the Assessment office of the Superior Court of Justice to make an appointment to have your bill reviewed
Provide legal advice.
Staff in the Law Society's Client Service Centre cannot provide legal advice, but can give you information about our complaints process, and direct you to other legal resources.
Order your lawyer to compensate you for losses resulting from negligent acts.
All practising lawyers in ontario are required to have professional liability insurance. They are insured by LAWPRo, the Lawyers' Professional Indemnity Company. If you believe your lawyer was negligent, you may obtain the advice of another lawyer to pursue a claim for compensation.
Office phone: 416-947-3300
Toll-free: 1-800-668-7380
Fax: 416-947-5263
E-mail: lawsociety@lsuc.on.ca
Address: The Law Society of Upper Canada, Osgoode Hall, 130 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario M5H 2N6
Complaints:
Toll-free: 1-800-268-7568
General line: 416-947-3310
E-mail: comail@lsuc.on.ca
If you are e-mailing a complaint, please include your full name, address and phone number.
Lawyer Referral Service (LRS)
Toll line: ($6.00/call): 1-900-565-4LRS (4577)
E-mail: lawrefer@lsuc.on.ca
If in crisis, contact: Toll-free: 1-800-268-8326 or 416-947-3330 (i.e. victims of domestic violence; incarcerated or institutionalized callers)
Paralegal Regulation
The Law Society will receive calls of inquiry at 416-947-3315.
