August 20, 2026 | Ontario

Ontario paralegals are licensed legal professionals, so completing a legal course or diploma by itself does not make someone a licensed paralegal. 

According to the Law Society of Ontario's paralegal licensing process, candidates must meet the education requirements, pass the paralegal licensing examination, satisfy the good character requirement, pay the required fees and complete the steps needed to become licensed. 

Here is how the process works. 

Do You Need a Paralegal License in Ontario? 

Yes. The Law Society of Ontario (LSO) licenses and regulates Ontario paralegals who provide legal services to the public. 

Licensed paralegals have an independent but defined scope of practice. According to the LSO's About Paralegals guide, paralegals may provide legal advice, prepare documents and represent clients in areas such as: 

• Small Claims Court 
• Provincial offences, including many traffic matters 
• Certain summary conviction criminal matters 
• Administrative tribunals, including the Landlord and Tenant Board and Workplace Safety and Insurance Board 

This distinction is important when researching a paralegal license in Ontario: graduating from a paralegal program is the educational stage of the process, while becoming licensed requires completing the LSO licensing process afterward. 

How to Become a Paralegal in Ontario: Step by Step 

Step 1: Choose An LSO-Accredited Paralegal Program 

The first major step is completing a paralegal education program accredited by the Law Society of Ontario. 

The LSO explains in its Paralegal Education Program Accreditation Policy that accredited programs must meet requirements related to curriculum, instructional hours, faculty, assessment and field placement. Graduates of accredited programs can then pursue the Ontario paralegal licensing process, provided they meet the other applicable requirements. 

This means students comparing options for a paralegal diploma in Ontario should check whether the specific program is accredited by the Law Society of Ontario. There is also an important distinction for students considering online paralegal courses. The LSO states that accredited colleges are not permitted to offer a fully remote paralegal education program. 

CDI College's Paralegal Diploma Program in Brampton and North York is 51 weeks and delivered in person.  It is an accredited program by the Law Society of Ontario.  

Step 2: Complete Your Paralegal Training and Field Placement 

Paralegal training covers both legal knowledge and the practical skills needed for entry-level practice. 

CDI College's Ontario Paralegal Diploma Program includes training in areas such as: 

• Legal Research and Writing 
• Tribunal Practice and Procedure 
• Provincial Offences and Motor Vehicle Offences 
• Small Claims Court 
• Residential Landlord and Tenant Law 
• Criminal/Summary Conviction Procedure 
• Evidence and the Litigation Process 
• Ethics and Professional Responsibility 
• Advocacy 
• Practice Management and Operating a Paralegal Business 

Practical experience is also part of accredited paralegal education. Under the LSO's current Paralegal Education Program Accreditation Policy, students whose program intake began on or after September 1, 2024 must complete at least 240 hours of field placement. 

CDI's program offers a 240-hour Field Placement/Practicum as part of its 1,120-hour, 51-week program. The placement takes place in a qualified legal environment with supervision from a licensee in good standing with the Law Society. 

The practicum gives students an opportunity to see how legal workplaces operate and apply what they have learned before moving into the licensing and employment stages. 

Step 3: Apply to the LSO Paralegal Licensing Process 

Students do not necessarily have to wait until after graduation to start their licensing application. 

According to the LSO's paralegal licensing application process, applicants can apply if they have: 

• Graduated from an LSO-accredited paralegal education program; or 
• Enrolled in an accredited program they expect to complete within the next six months. 

Eligible applicants create an account through LSO Connects and submit their licensing application there. 

The application includes personal and contact information, proof of legal name, education information, the Good Character Questionnaire, declarations, and the applicable application fee. LSO Connects is also used to register for the licensing examination, access study materials and communicate with the Law Society. 

Step 4: Pass the Ontario Paralegal Licensing Examination 

Completing an accredited diploma does not automatically grant a paralegal license in Ontario. Candidates must also pass the LSO paralegal licensing examination. 

The Law Society's licensing examination information describes the exam as a self-study, multiple-choice, open-book examination that can be written in English or French. 

Under the current LSO examination rules and protocol: 

The examination assesses entry-level competencies related to professional responsibility, Canadian law, civil litigation, administrative law, criminal and quasi-criminal law and other areas relevant to paralegal practice. 

Although the exam is open book, candidates still need to understand their study materials and navigate them efficiently within the examination time. 

Step 5: Meet the Good Character Requirement 

Another important part of becoming licensed is satisfying the Law Society's good character requirement. 

The LSO Good Character Requirement states that applicants for lawyer and paralegal licenses must be of good character and that this requirement continues throughout the licensing term. 

Candidates complete a Good Character Questionnaire and must disclose information or circumstances requested by the Law Society. 

An affirmative answer does not automatically mean that an applicant will be refused a license. The LSO explains that disclosed circumstances are reviewed individually, and applicants may be required to provide additional supporting information. 

Step 6: Complete Licensing and Receive Your P1 License 

Once a candidate has successfully completed the required components of the licensing process, they can move toward receiving a Class P1 License. 

The LSO's Granting of Licence information states that eligible candidates must complete the administrative requirements, pay the applicable P1 license fee and satisfy any outstanding licensing requirements. 

Newly licensed paralegals receive their P1 license number through LSO Connects. The LSO also notes that they cannot begin providing legal services until they have received that number and arranged the required insurance coverage. 

How Long Does It Take to Become a Paralegal in Ontario? 

There is no single timeline because paralegal education and the LSO licensing process are separate stages. 

The CDI College Paralegal Diploma in Brampton and North York is 51 weeks, making it relevant for students comparing approximately 1-year paralegal courses in Canada. 

However, program length alone does not determine whether someone can pursue Ontario paralegal licensing. The program must meet the LSO's education requirements and be accredited for that purpose. 

After entering the licensing process, the Law Society reports that candidates take an average of approximately 9 to 15 months to complete it. Some licensing requirements can be completed concurrently, and eligible students can apply while they are within six months of completing their accredited program, so the program and licensing timelines should not simply be added together. 

Start Your Path Toward Becoming a Paralegal in Ontario 

Understanding how to become a paralegal in Ontario starts with recognizing that education and professional licensing are connected but separate stages. Prospective paralegals should first choose an LSO-accredited education program, complete the required coursework and field placement, and then fulfill the Law Society's licensing requirements. 

For students considering a career-focused route, CDI College's 51-week Paralegal Diploma Program in Ontario combines legal coursework with a 240-hour field placement. Graduates of CDI's accredited North York and Brampton programs can then pursue the next stage of Ontario's paralegal licensing process. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Can You Become a Paralegal in Ontario Without a University Degree? 

An university degree is not required as a universal prerequisite for Ontario paralegal licensing. The key educational requirement is graduating from an LSO-accredited paralegal education program.  

Can You Become a Licensed Paralegal Without Taking the LSO Exam?

No. The LSO licensing process requires candidates to pass the paralegal licensing examination in addition to satisfying the other licensing requirements. 

Is a One-Year Paralegal Diploma Enough in Ontario?

A program of approximately one year can provide the required educational pathway if the specific program is LSO-accredited. The length of the diploma alone does not make a graduate a licensed paralegal. The graduate must still successfully complete the LSO licensing process.