Information for lawyers
Accounts & Billing
Good billing practices are important. Legal Aid Ontario has developed billing requirements and guidelines to reduce errors and ensure you get paid promptly.
On this page, we’ve compiled all of the information you need to know about billing, from deadlines and payment schedules, to submitting accounts and more.
Contact the Lawyer Service Centre at 1-866-979-9934 for questions or concerns about billing.
How to bill
Find information on the billing process at Legal Aid Ontario, and learn to bill accounts with fewer mistakes.
Tariff & billing
Information on the legal aid tariff including a downloadable copy of the Tariff & Billing Handbook.
Dockets
Lawyers are required to attach dockets to all hourly billed accounts submitted on Legal Aid Online.
Disbursements
Legal aid lawyers can claim disbursements to cover the costs of getting third parties to help prepare a case.
Discretion
When legal accounts exceed the amount of time permitted under the tariff, lawyers must make a discretion request to have the additional time considered.
Block fees
Get the latest information on block fees, a fixed fee for common criminal charges.
Annual billing limits (hard cap)
Lawyers cannot bill more than 2,350 hours annually.
Billing deadlines
Timelines for submitting accounts for completed and interim cases.
Payment schedules
Timelines for the payment of accounts submitted through Legal Aid Online.
Billing Resources & Forms
Links to forms, manuals, handbooks and other billing references for legal aid lawyers.
Questions
If you have any questions regarding the legal aid tariff or billing Legal Aid Ontario please contact the Lawyer Service Centre.
» Telephone: 416-979-9934
» Toll free: 1-866-979-9934
Representatives are available Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
