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Why do I need to report my employment status?

A lawyer or paralegal's status and associated category determines whether they are required to pay fees and the amount of the annual fee. Licensees with a fee-paying status may pay a reduced fee while on parental leave.

There is also a fee exemption for licensees who qualify based on incapacity (By-Law 5 and By-Law 8).

By-Law 8 requires licensees to notify the Law Society immediately after any change in their status and/or contact information.

Fee-paying Statuses and Categories

There are various fee paying statuses and associated categories, which determine the percentage of the annual fee that is due:

Parental leave (25% fees) may be applicable to all categories except 1H. There are no reduced fees for part-time work.

Explanation of Categories

100% of Annual Fee - Licensees who practise law or provide legal services, whether they do so in Ontario or in some other part of the world, including law teachers who practise or provide legal services, or federal, provincial and municipal government, corporate employees and other licensees who provide legal advice, opinions, or services.

50% of Fee - Licensees who work but do not practise law or provide legal services, including those employed in education, in government or in a corporation in a position where they are not required to practise law or provide legal services.

25% of Fee - Licensees who do not engage in any remunerative work and do not engage in the practice of law or provision of legal services in or outside of Ontario, or who are in full-time attendance at a university, college or designated educational facility and not practising law or providing legal services, or licensees who are on pregnancy or parental leave and who do not practise law or provide legal services.

10% of Fee - Licensees who are over 65 years of age and no longer practising law or providing legal services may apply to be approved for the Over 65 (Retired) 10% Annual Fee category and for an exemption from submission of the Annual Report Filing.

By-Law 5 outlines the requirement to pay an Annual Fee. Unless exempted from the requirement, a licensee shall pay an annual fee, in an amount determined in accordance with the By-Law and any taxes that the Society is required to collect from the licensee in respect of the payment of the annual fee.

Lawyers and paralegals of any age who are not suspended and are incapacitated and unable to meet any of their obligations as a licensee may apply to be exempt from the requirement to pay the Law Society annual fee and submit the Law Society annual report. For more information contact By-Law Administration Services by email at bylawadmin@lso.ca.

Parental Leave

The Law Society makes special provisions for licensees taking parental leave, which is defined as leave from employment or practice for reasons of maternity, paternity or adoption. Under this policy, licensees may apply for a reduction in the fee to the 25% category for each full month for which parental leave is taken, as long as the licensee is not engaged in any remunerative work.

I have more than one status change to report. How can I do this?

The Change of Information area is only able to accept one status change at a time. You may submit the first change and check back in 2-3 business days to see if the status has been updated, then submit a second status change. In some instances a status change will not be processed in 2-3 business days; if this is the case, please contact Membership Services by email at records@lso.ca to see if additional information is required.