01.
Immigration law
Refusals, appeals and judicial review, plus sponsorship, work permits and study permits.
Paralegal services in Ontario
Paralegal services in Ontario exist so that a claim worth a few thousand dollars does not cost more to pursue than it is worth.
About this practice area
What can a licensed paralegal do in Ontario?
Ontario licenses paralegals through the Law Society of Ontario, and the scope of practice is defined rather than general. A licensed paralegal may represent you in Small Claims Court, before administrative tribunals such as the Landlord and Tenant Board, on Provincial Offences matters including Highway Traffic Act charges, and on summary conviction matters within a limited range.
Matters outside that scope go to a lawyer. We will tell you which side of the line your matter falls on at the first conversation rather than after you have paid a retainer.
Our approach
A clear path forward
The same four steps on every matter, whether it is a refusal at the Federal Court or a ticket at the Provincial Offences court.
Book a consultation01
Understand
We take the full history and read the documents before offering an opinion. Most bad advice comes from acting on half the facts.
02
Assess
You get a candid read on strength, timeline and cost, including when the honest answer is that you do not need to hire anyone.
03
Act
We prepare the application, the defence or the appeal properly the first time, because fixing a weak record later is harder and dearer.
04
Report
You hear from us at each stage, and you hear what a wait actually means rather than a date chosen to sound better.
Who we take
Are we the right firm for this?
3 reasons either way
Worth reading before you book. Turning away a matter we should not take costs us a file and saves you a retainer.
We are a fit if
- Your matter is inside paralegal scope and you want it run at paralegal rates
- It is Small Claims, a tribunal hearing or a provincial offence
- You want a realistic read on whether it is worth defending at all
We are probably not if
- The matter needs a lawyer and you would like a paralegal to run it anyway
- You want the cheapest filing with no assessment behind it
- You want the result confirmed before the file has been read
Where to go next
Ask what a matter will cost to run before you file, and compare it against what you can realistically recover.
Paralegal services in Ontario make small claims viable precisely because that comparison comes out differently at paralegal rates.
Also from Rathod Law Firm
Other practice areas
02.
Personal injury
Motor vehicle collisions, slip and fall, long term disability and accident benefits.
05.
Notarization
Affidavits, statutory declarations, certified true copies and travel consent letters.
06.
Traffic tickets
Speeding, stunt driving, red light and careless driving charges under the Highway Traffic Act.
08.
Civil litigation
Contract and commercial disputes, debt claims, real estate litigation and Small Claims.
09.
Legal consultation
A first assessment of where you stand, what it costs, and whether you need us at all.
Common questions
What do people ask about paralegal services?
3 answered here
The ones that come up before somebody decides to ring at all. Each answer is the whole answer, not a teaser for a telephone call.
What can you claim in Small Claims Court?
Small Claims Court in Ontario hears monetary claims up to $50,000, not counting interest and costs, under section 1(1) of O. Reg. 626/00. Above that figure the matter belongs in the Superior Court of Justice, and a claim can be abandoned down to the limit where that trade is worth making.
Filing fees are set by the province and depend on whether you are an infrequent or frequent claimant. Most claims are directed to a settlement conference before trial, and a large share resolve there.
How long does a Small Claims matter take?
From filing to settlement conference commonly runs several months, and a trial date can be further out again depending on the court location. Enforcement after judgment is a separate step, and a judgment against a defendant with no assets is a piece of paper.
Whether a defendant can actually pay is worth assessing before filing rather than after winning.
Which tribunal matters do you take?
Landlord and Tenant Board applications and defences, Provincial Offences and Highway Traffic Act charges, debt and contract disputes within the Small Claims limit, and document preparation and filing for parties who intend to appear themselves.
Speak to someone this week
Paralegal services in Ontario are what keep a smaller claim worth pursuing at all.
Law Society of Ontario licensedFederal Court filingsEnglish, Hindi, Gujarati and PunjabiFee quoted before you commit