Paralegal Services

On May 1, 2007, the Law Society of Upper Canada began licensing and regulating the practice of paralegals in Ontario. In connection with this, paralegals were required to be licensed to practice and were required to complete certified paralegal training. This change, together with the increase in the amount that can be claimed in Small Claims Court to $25,000.00, has made it possible for Barriston to offer the services of a licensed paralegal to pursue certain matters in a cost effective and efficient manner.

Creditors and claimants can now pursue a claim with a value of up to $25,000.00 in Small Claims Court. While a claimant can appear without representation in Small Claims Court, the environment and process can be unfamiliar and overwhelming. With the amounts in issue in Small Claims Court it may not always be cost effective to retain a lawyer, but it is advisable to have a representative who is aware of the court processes, the rules of procedure, and the law that applies to the case. Barriston is pleased to offer the services of a licensed paralegal who can provide this representation, with the assistance and oversight of our commercial litigation lawyers as may be necessary. Our licensed paralegal, Samantha Hicks, is well versed in the rules of the court and has appeared on numerous occasions in Small Claims Court.

We would be pleased to meet with you to discuss how we can assist you with our paralegal services for individual collections and claims, or to work together with your collections and account recovery department on an ongoing basis. Our commercial litigation lawyers and our paralegal have developed ongoing relationships with the credit and collections departments of various clients, and can provide advice and assistance as needed.