What a paralegal does
In Ontario, licensed paralegals are regulated by the Law Society of Ontario and can provide legal services directly to clients within a defined scope. That scope includes matters such as Small Claims Court, many provincial offences, certain summary conviction matters and proceedings before tribunals like the Landlord and Tenant Board. Paralegals also work inside law firms and organizations, supporting lawyers on files and managing their own matters where permitted.
Because the title is used loosely, the first step is confirming what your role needs. If the paralegal will provide legal services to clients within the licensed scope, they need an active P1 licence, and Finch checks the Law Society of Ontario directory before you meet them. For supervised support roles, many employers still prefer a licensed candidate. Either way, we look closely at the files, courts and tribunals each candidate has handled.
Typical responsibilities
- Represent clients in Small Claims Court, at tribunals and in provincial offences matters within the licensed scope
- Interview clients, gather evidence and prepare case files
- Draft claims, defences, applications, submissions and correspondence
- Negotiate settlements and attend mediations, hearings and settlement conferences
- Manage deadlines, disclosure and filings for an assigned caseload
- Support lawyers on larger files where the matter falls outside paralegal scope
Qualifications and credentials
- An active P1 paralegal licence from the Law Society of Ontario for roles that involve providing legal services
- Completion of a Law Society-accredited paralegal education program
- Experience in the relevant area, such as small claims litigation, landlord and tenant, traffic or employment matters
- Strong advocacy, writing and negotiation skills
- Knowledge of the procedural rules for the courts and tribunals the role involves
Who hires a paralegal
- Paralegal firms and practices
- Law firms with litigation, landlord and tenant or employment practices
- Insurance companies and claims departments
- Property management companies handling tenancy matters
- Collection agencies and corporate credit departments
Where we recruit paralegal candidates
We fill paralegal roles for employers across Toronto and the GTA, including North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Burlington, Oshawa and Pickering, and for employers across Canada. GTA employers can meet us at our North York office by appointment.
What Finch checks before you meet a candidate
- Licence status and any restrictions, confirmed through the Law Society of Ontario directory
- Courts and tribunals they have appeared before and the types of matters they handled
- Advocacy and written submissions, discussed in detail with examples
- Caseload volume and how they manage deadlines and client communication
- Professional conduct, confirmed through references
Interview questions to ask
- Describe a hearing or trial you handled. How did you prepare, and what was the outcome?
- How do you decide when a client's matter falls outside your licensed scope, and what do you do then?
- How do you keep clients informed when a matter is delayed?