Important Changes at the Law Society of Ontario – Effective March 31, 2026

Contingency Plans:  Licensees will be required to have a written contingency plan in place in the event they unexpectedly stop practicing, whether temporarily or permanently.  The minimum components of a contingency plan are listed in by-law 7-1 and include the appointment of one or more licensees as administrator(s) to take all steps necessary to preserve and carry on, or to wind up, the licensee’s professional business. The plan must contain  information about various aspects of the practice including client files, trust and other accounts, accounting records and contact information for all bookkeepers or accountants that worked for the licensee in connection with their professional business.  The Member Annual Report requires confirmation that the contingency plan is in place.  It must be reviewed annually and remain current.

Further information and a template is available from the Law Society – https://lso.ca/lawyers/about-your-licence/manage-your-licence/client-contingency-planning.  

Enhanced Reporting of Charges and Dispositions:  By-law 8 will require all licensees to inform the Law Society in writing, as soon as reasonably practicable after receiving notice, of the following:

• The laying of a charge for any of the following:
  • an offence under the Criminal Code (Canada) or a comparable offence in a jurisdiction outside Canada,
  • an offence under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Canada) or a comparable offence in a jurisdiction outside Canada,
  • an offence under the Income Tax Act (Canada), under an Act of the legislature of a province or territory of Canada in respect of the income tax law of the province or territory, or a comparable offence in a jurisdiction outside Canada,
  • an offence under the Excise Tax Act (Canada) or a comparable offence in a jurisdiction outside Canada,
  • an offence under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Ontario), under an Act of Parliament or of the legislature of a province or territory of Canada in respect of the occupational health and safety law of Canada or of the province or territory, or a comparable offence in a jurisdiction outside Canada,
  • an offence under an Act of the legislature of a province or territory of Canada in respect of the securities law of the province or territory, or a comparable offence in a jurisdiction outside Canada,
  • an offence under another Act of Parliament, under another Act of the legislature of a province or territory of Canada, or a comparable offence in a jurisdiction outside Canada, where the charge alleges, explicitly or implicitly, dishonesty on the part of the licensee or relates in any way to the professional business of the licensee.
• Disposition of any charges listed above.
• Findings of guilt of an offence under an Act of Parliament, under an Act of the legislature of a province or territory of Canada, or under legislation in a jurisdiction outside Canada, where the penalty for the offence includes imprisonment or a fine over $5,000.
• Finding of civil or criminal contempt of court.
• Bail condition or conditions on release in connection with a charge or finding listed above.
• Appeal arising out of a charge or a finding mentioned above and the disposition of the appeal.

Enhanced Reporting of Practice Outside Ontario or in Another Profession:  Licensees will be required pursuant to by-law 8 to inform the Law Society in writing if they are:

• Licensed to practise law in another Canadian province or territory.
• Subject to any terms, limits, or restrictions on the practice of law in another Canadian jurisdiction or in another regulated profession in Canada.
• A member of another regulated profession in Canada.
• Subject to discipline proceedings or any finding of professional misconduct, incompetence, or incapacity in respect of the practice of law in another Canadian jurisdiction or in another regulated profession in Canada.

Enhanced Reporting of Business Contact Information:  The requirement to provide the Law Society with business contact information in by-law 8 will include:

• all names under which the licensee operates the licensee’s professional business,
• business address,
• business telephone number,
• business facsimile number, and
• business e-mail address.

More information is available on the LSO website:  https://lso.ca/about-lso/initiatives/increased-transparency

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