TORONTO, April 1, 2014 /CNW/ - Ontario's licensed paralegals elected five of their peers to become Law Society benchers and members of the Paralegal Standing Committee during an online election held March 12 to 31, 2014.
The five elected paralegals are: Robert Burd of Brampton, Cathy Corsetti of Mississauga, Michelle L. Haigh of Burlington, Brian Lawrie of Mississauga and Marian Lippa of Newmarket. As benchers, they will participate in and vote at Convocation, the Law Society's governing body. The length of the term of office is four years.
The election was the second to be held since the Law Society began regulating Ontario's paralegals in 2007. Passage last December of Bill 111, Modernizing Regulation of the Legal Profession Act, 2013, increased the number of paralegal benchers from two to five.
Through the Paralegal Standing Committee, elected paralegals play a prominent role in the governance of their profession by developing policy options relating to the regulation and licensing of paralegals. Paralegal benchers also sit as adjudicators to consider cases related to the licensing, competence, conduct and capacity of paralegals.
"Convocation is pleased to welcome the five elected paralegal benchers," says Law Society Treasurer Thomas G. Conway. "Their participation at Convocation will enhance the governance of the profession."
The Law Society regulates lawyers and paralegals in Ontario in the public interest. The Law Society has a mandate to protect the public interest, to maintain and advance the cause of justice and the rule of law, to facilitate access to justice for the people of Ontario and to act in a timely, open and efficient manner.
SOURCE: The Law Society of Upper Canada
Susan Tonkin, Communications Advisor, at 416-947-7605 or [email protected]. The Law Society of Upper Canada, Osgoode Hall, 130 Queen Street West Toronto, ON M5H 2N6, www.lsuc.on.ca
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