Answer: A lawyer is someone who has graduated from law school, has articled for a law firm, then passed the bar licensing exams, is insured, and is licensed to practice law by the Law Society of Upper Canada. The average lawyer has achieved at least 7 years of university education plus their practical training before they can be licensed. A lawyer can represent you at the Superior Court of Justice which is the court of inherent jurisdiction in Ontario, and can represent you in any other court in Canada, including the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. A lawyer can also act as your representative when applying for statutory accident benefits.
A paralegal is someone who may have as little as a few years of college educa tion and who may have graduated from a paralegal college program. Although paralegals have recently been licensed as 'paralegals' by the Law Society of Upper Canada, they have NOT graduated from law school, do NOT have a law degree, and cannot represent you in any court other than Small Claims Court. While they may be able to legally represent you in your claim for accident benefits, they cannot take your case beyond arbitration and cannot issue a claim in negligence for damages from an at fault driver.
Our firm employs only fully licensed lawyers who exclusively practice the law of motor vehicle accidents and personal injury.
