OSC Proceedings
Litigation Assistance Program
Following the successful completion of a one-year pilot Litigation Assistance Program (the “Program”), the OSC has approved the official launch of the OSC Program commencing on Thursday, October 18, 2012. The Program is designed to provide duty counsel services to self-represented respondents who are involved in enforcement proceedings before the Commission.
The LAP is provided by a roster of external volunteer counsel and not by the Commission. Although the Commission facilitates applications for assistance under the LAP, it cannot guarantee that legal services will be available in any particular instance.
Litigation Assistance
Under the LAP, any unrepresented Respondent may apply for volunteer legal advice subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis and the availability of volunteer counsel. Volunteer counsel do not provide complete litigation support for all aspects of a proceeding.
Volunteer counsel may provide litigation support to unrepresented Respondents only during one or more of the following stages of an enforcement proceeding: pre-hearing conferences; settlement conferences and / or hearings; sanctions and costs hearings and / or on an exceptional basis, motions. Respondents who wish legal advice outside the Program must arrange their own legal counsel.
To learn more, see the Information Sheet and Terms and Conditions for further details.
Volunteer counsel participating in the LAP are drawn from legal counsel at the following participating law firms: Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Stockwoods LLP, Torys LLP, Wardle Daley Bernstein LLP, Davies Ward Phillips Vineberg LLP, Bennett Jones LLP, Babin Barristers LLP, RBC Law Group and WeirFoulds LLP.
Further Information
To apply for the program or for additional information, please contact the program administrator: LAP@osc.gov.on.ca
