What does LSO P1 mean?

A licensed paralegal in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario. The "P1" comes from the LSO licence class system. Paralegals can practise within the P1 scope set out in By-Law 4 — generally Small Claims, POA, summary criminal, LTB, and certain tribunal matters.

What is the difference between L1 and L2?

L1 — lawyer in private practice (most lawyers). L2 — in-house counsel (employed by a single organization, not in private practice). Same licence class, different practice context.

Resource

Ontario Legal Acronyms — A Plain-English Glossary

Ontario practice runs on acronyms. This page defines the ones you will see most often on We Draft It and in Ontario court forms.

Courts and tribunals

LTB — Landlord and Tenant Board. Resolves residential tenancy disputes under the RTA. SCJ — Superior Court of Justice. The trial-level civil and family court. OCJ — Ontario Court of Justice. Criminal trial court (summary and indictable election). DC — Divisional Court. SCJ panel that hears statutory appeals and judicial review. COA — Court of Appeal for Ontario. SCC — Small Claims Court (note: also Supreme Court of Canada, context matters). HRTO — Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. WSIAT — Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal.

Statutes

RTA — Residential Tenancies Act, 2006. POA — Provincial Offences Act. HTA — Highway Traffic Act. CYFSA — Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017. LSA — Law Society Act. JRPA — Judicial Review Procedure Act. CJA — Courts of Justice Act.

Rules and procedures

RCP — Rules of Civil Procedure. FLR — Family Law Rules. CCC — Criminal Code of Canada. JR — Judicial Review. NIA — Notice of Intention to Appear (POA Form 7). NCR — No Criminal Record (records suspension / pardon).

Drafting and service

AoS — Affidavit of Service. ASF — Agreed Statement of Facts (or, in a different context, Agreed Statement of Filed Documents). CoS — Certificate of Service.

Licensing

LSO — Law Society of Ontario. L1 — lawyer in private practice. L2 — in-house counsel. P1 — paralegal. P2 — paralegal student. JP — Justice of the Peace.

Frequently asked questions

What does LSO P1 mean?: A licensed paralegal in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario. The "P1" comes from the LSO licence class system. Paralegals can practise within the P1 scope set out in By-Law 4 — generally Small Claims, POA, summary criminal, LTB, and certain tribunal matters.
What is the difference between L1 and L2?: L1 — lawyer in private practice (most lawyers). L2 — in-house counsel (employed by a single organization, not in private practice). Same licence class, different practice context.

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