A regulated profession
Since 2007, the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) has licensed and regulated paralegals. A licensed paralegal (P1 licence) has passed education and licensing requirements, follows the Paralegal Rules of Conduct, carries mandatory professional liability insurance, keeps client money in a regulated trust account, completes continuing professional development each year, and is subject to the LSO's complaints and discipline process.
Anyone can verify a paralegal's licence in the LSO's public directory. Ghasedak's paralegal licence is P18624.
Forums within P1 scope
| Forum | General authority | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| Small Claims Court | Civil claims within the court's jurisdiction (up to $50,000). | Appeals to the Divisional Court are outside scope. |
| Ontario Court of Justice: Provincial Offences Act | Traffic tickets, summonses and other provincial and municipal offences, including appeals heard in the OCJ. | The charge, consequences and competence must be reviewed. |
| Ontario Court of Justice: permitted Criminal Code matters | Summary conviction proceedings in which an accused could appear by agent under the Criminal Code as it stood before the 2019 amendments, plus four listed driving offences prosecuted summarily (By-Law 4, s. 6). | Not every summary or hybrid allegation is permitted. |
| Administrative tribunals | Proceedings before tribunals established under Ontario or federal legislation. | The tribunal's statute and rules must allow the representation. |
What a paralegal may do within scope
- Give legal advice about a person's legal interests, rights or responsibilities connected with a permitted proceeding or its subject matter.
- Select, draft, complete or revise documents for use in the proceeding, such as claims, defences, applications, notices and affidavits.
- Negotiate on the client's behalf, including settlement.
- Represent the client before the court or tribunal: appearances, examining witnesses and making submissions.
- Commission affidavits and statutory declarations: licensed paralegals are commissioners for taking affidavits by virtue of their licence under the Commissioners for Taking Affidavits Act.
Common matters outside a P1 licence
Superior Court and appeals
Civil cases above the Small Claims limit, Divisional Court appeals and judicial review, and the Court of Appeal.
Family law
Only P1 paralegals who meet the additional family legal services requirements in Part II.1 of By-Law 4 may provide a limited list of family services. Ghasedak does not offer family law services.
Real estate, wills and estates
Property transactions, wills, powers of attorney and estate administration are lawyer work.
Indictable criminal matters
And summary matters not on the LSO's list.
Your protections as a client
- Confidentiality: information about your matter is confidential, and conflicts of interest are checked before a retainer.
- Insurance: licensed paralegals carry mandatory errors-and-omissions insurance.
- Trust funds: money paid in advance is held in a trust account and withdrawn only as the LSO's rules allow.
- Complaints: concerns can be raised with the office and, if unresolved, with the LSO.
One office, three regulated roles
Farnoosh Mostaed is a licensed paralegal (LSO), a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants) and a Notary Public in Ontario. Each role has its own regulator, rules and scope. Paralegal matters are handled under the LSO's rules, immigration matters under the College's rules, and notarial acts under the Notaries Act.
What Ghasedak presents as core services
Our main paralegal services are selected Small Claims Court, Landlord and Tenant Board, and traffic and provincial offences matters. Other tribunals and permitted summary-conviction matters are considered only after an exact scope and competence review.
Official sources
- Law Society of Ontario: About paralegals
- By-Law 4: Licensing
- Paralegal Rules of Conduct
- LSO directory: P18624
This guide is general legal information about Ontario law as of the date above. It is not legal advice for your situation. Laws, forms and fees change; check the official sources before you act.