This section provides links to news, guidelines, forms and many other resources for panel lawyers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
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Tariff and Billing Handbook
The handbook is a plain language interpretation of policies, procedures, and regulations for legal aid billing and the tariff. It is intended for lawyers (and their staff) already on a legal aid panel—duty counsel and/or private bar lawyers.
Disbursements
The Disbursements Handbook lists all disbursements requiring pre-approval. You will need to attach your invoices for such disbursements when billing. Billing unapproved disbursements may result in the denial of your expenditure for payment.
Online resources
Areas of Legal Aid Ontario to contact for help
Legal Aid Ontario serves clients and lawyers out of regions and districts province-wide.
A collection of important forms are available in our Forms library.
Get research, resources and support to lawyers representing legally-aided clients at LAO LAW.
LAO's secure billing website for lawyers and legal office staff to submit and view the status of accounts online is Legal Aid Online
Resources
Learn our acronyms, link to billing information, forms, handbooks and more.
Legal aid panels
Lawyers who represent legal aid clients must belong to the panel(s) for the type(s) of law they practice. The standards for each panel provide the minimum experience and professional development requirements that lawyers must meet. Panel standards help ensure that legal aid clients receive high-quality services.
A road map for panel lawyers
We have developed a manual to help guide panel lawyers through their working relationship with Legal Aid Ontario. Please read it closely. It includes details and hyperlinks for all the facts we think you need to provide legal services to LAO clients. Go to A road map for certificate and duty counsel lawyers.
