Purpose
Lawyers who practise law in another jurisdiction or have a career that is unrelated to the practise of Ontario law may wish to surrender their licence to practise law under By-Law 4 if they do not foresee returning to practise law in Ontario.
Paralegals who perform work that is unrelated to the provision of legal services may wish to surrender their licence under By-Law 4 if they do not foresee they will provide legal services in Ontario for which a licence is required.
By surrendering their licence, lawyers or paralegals relinquish entitlement to practise law or provide legal services in Ontario and cease to pay annual fees and submit annual filings. Lawyers or paralegals who have surrendered their licence who wish to return to practise or provide legal services in Ontario must submit a formal application for licensing.
Who can apply
- Lawyers and paralegals of any age that are in good standing and are no longer practising law or providing legal services in Ontario
- Lawyers and paralegals of any age that are in good standing who never practised law or provided legal services in Ontario
Application Requirements
- A completed and original Application for Surrender of Licence
- Submission of all applicable outstanding Annual Reports
- Evidence that all trust/mixed trust accounts have been closed and have a zero balance (for applicants who were Sole Practitioners in Ontario at any time within the last 3 years from the date of their application)
- Evidence that all open estates (lawyers only) have been closed and applicant no longer has signing authority
- Evidence that the applicant no longer has any signing authority over any trust/mixed trust accounts (for applicants who were Partners, Employees or Associates in Ontario at any time within the last 3 years from the date of their application)
- A written request for exemption from publication, where applicable
Ongoing Requirements
Former lawyers or paralegals who wish to resume their membership in the Law Society must make an application for licensing under Part II of By-Law 4 and are subject to the terms of the licensing process. Any fees outstanding at the time their licence was surrendered are payable as part of the licensing application.
Application Process
All applications and pertinent attachments are reviewed by Administrative Compliance (AC). If the review reveals that the application and/or attachments are deficient, an AC Representative will contact the applicant to request additional information or clarification or to advise of changes necessary for compliance to By-law 4, Part III s.25.
AC requires up to 45 business days to process surrender of licence applications.
Administrative Fees
There is no fee for the application for surrender of licence to practise law or to provide legal services in Ontario. Applicants may wish to pay their annual fees up to and including the current year.
Links to Applications and additional information for closing your practice
Links to Applications and additional information for closing your practice
Questions
Application and annual filing related questions should be directed to Administrative Compliance by contacting the Resource Centre at (416) 947-3315 (toll-free 1-800-668-7380 x3315) and asking to be transferred, or email AC using the Contact Page.
To pay annual fees contact the Membership Services department by calling the Resource Centre at (416) 947-3315 (toll-free 1-800-668-7380 x3315) and asking to be transferred, or email Membership Services using the Contact Page.