OBA Has Made Submissions For Continuing and Expanding the Law Society of Ontario Certified Specialist Program

In May 2022, further to recommendations by the Competence Task Force of the Law Society of Ontario (“LSO”), Convocation voted to wind up its Certified Specialist Program (“CSP”). The CSP is intended to recognize licensees who have met established standards of experience and knowledge requirements in one or more designated areas of law and have maintained exemplary standards of professional practice.  Certification as a specialist in an area of specialization is recognized by the Law Society of Ontario with the “C.S.” designation. This designation is intended to show the public and colleagues in the legal profession that a lawyer with the designation is accomplished and has been acknowledged to be so by the Law Society of Ontario.

Following feedback from the profession with respect to its decision, Convocation suspended the CSP windup and instead committed to a consultation with the profession on the issue. The OBA has been a part of this consultation, and has prepared submissions that it sent to the LSO prior to the October 1^st submission deadline. This has been relevant to the OBA Trusts and Estates section as there is a Certified Specialist in Trusts and Estates Law designation that some OBA members currently maintain.