Operating a Paralegal Firm

• Ontario paralegals who are interested in running their own business but need some guidance from an experienced paralegal business owner.

• Ontario paralegals who run their own business but are looking for ways to increase their client base, efficiency, and overall success of their business.

• Students from Ontario paralegal programs who wish to refresh their knowledge, prior to opening their own business.

Opening a Paralegal Business

1. Business Structures

   1. By-law 7

   2. Sole-proprietorship

   3. Partnership

   4. Limited Liability Partnership

   5. General Partnership

   6. Professional Corporation

   7. Association and Affiliation

   8. Multi-Discipline Practices and Partnerships

2. Government Requirements

   1. Business registration/incorporation

   2. Business number

3. Law Society Requirements

   1. Business Name

   2. Certificate of Authorization for Professional Corporation

   3. General partnership to Limited Liability Partnership

4. Developing a business plan

   1. Defining your practice

   2. Goals and strategy

   3. Market assessment and marketing plan

   4. SWOT Analysis

5. Developing a financial plan

   1. Start-up expenses

   2. Anticipated expenses

   3. Anticipated income

• Downloadable supplements include:

  • LSO Business Registration Forms

  • A sample financial plan

  • A sample business plan

Marketing Your Paralegal Business and Generating Clients

1. Marketing and advertising rules for Paralegals

2. Where and how to advertise (including samples)

   1. TV, Radio, Print

   2. Social media and emails

   3. Network and community

   4. Court/tribunal decisions re advertising in the legal profession

3. Advertising legal fees

4. Screening clients and conflict of interest

• Downloadable supplements include:

  • A sample conflict checking database

  • A conflict checking database template

  • LSO advertising compliance checklist

Growing Your Paralegal Business

1. Determining legal fees

   1. Rule 5.01(1) and Case Law

   2. The math behind the hourly rate

   3. Block fees, flat fees, hourly fees

   4. Contingency fees

      1. Limitations: Rule 5.07 (7), statutes

2. Managing Clients

   1. Rules 3.01, 3.02, 3.03, 3.08

   2. Communication and reporting

   3. Retainer Agreement and Non-engagement letters

   4. Withdrawing from services

3. Maintaining books and records

   1. Client identification and verification- By-law 7.1, s. 23 (14)

   2. By-law 9, s. 23

4. Annual Law Society compliance

   1. Renewal of Certificate of Authorization

   2. Annual Report - by-law 8

   3. CPDs - by-law 6.1

   4. Annual license fees - by-law 5

   5. E&O Insurance - by-law 6

   6. Practice Audits (using Paralegal Basic Management Checklist from the LSO)

• Downloadable supplements include:

  • A sample client retainer agreement and non-engagement letter

  • A sample letter to clients and others for withdrawing from services

  • LSO-compliant sample forms for client identification and verification

These recorded 90 minute webinars are available for a 180-day rental period. The videos can be accessed instantly after purchase from your Digital Purchases dashboard. Accompanying presentation PDFs are available for download.