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Guide to the Paralegal Licensing Examination | The Law Society of Upper Canada
Guide to the Paralegal Licensing Examination
Protecting the Public > Become a Paralegal > Licensing Examinations > Guide to the Paralegal Licensing Examination
This Guide provides important information about the Paralegal Licensing Examination (the “Licensing Examination”) administered by the Law Society of Upper Canada (the “Law Society”). All candidates should thoroughly review this Guide, as well as the Licensing Examination Rules and Protocol, in preparation for writing the Licensing Examination.
While every attempt has been made to provide up-to-date information, the Law Society may change or revise policies and procedures that affect the Licensing Examination. Candidates should regularly check the Licensing Examinations webpage and their online accounts for the most current information about the Licensing Examination. The Law Society provides specific information about specific sittings of the Licensing Examination prior to the dates of those sittings.
Registration for the Licensing Examination
Licensure is the official recognition by the Law Society that a candidate has met all the qualifications specified by the Law Society and is, therefore, approved to provide legal services as a paralegal in Ontario. Pursuant to the Paralegal Licensing Process Policies, all candidates registered in the Paralegal Licensing Process are required to successfully complete the Paralegal Licensing Examination in order to be eligible to become licensed to provide legal services in Ontario.
The Licensing Examination is designed to assess whether a given candidate for licensure demonstrates the minimum level of competence required of an entry-level paralegal.
The Licensing Examination is self-study: candidates are provided with the study materials which support all competencies on the Licensing Examination.
The Licensing Examination tests competencies required for entry-level practice. It focuses on those competencies that have the most direct impact on the protection of the public and on effective and ethical practice.
There are three sittings of the Licensing Examination per licensing year (August, October and February). Candidates who are registered in the Paralegal Licensing Process may register to write the Licensing Examination at any given sitting.
In order to be fully registered for the Licensing Examination sitting they have selected, candidates must ensure that they have paid the prescribed Licensing Examination registration fee at least 30 business days prior to the sitting of the Licensing Examination. Candidates must also ensure that they have provided the Licensing and Accreditation department with the documents required to confirm that they have graduated from an Accredited Legal Services Program, pursuant to the Paralegal Licensing Process Policies.
Candidates who have registered for a sitting of the Licensing Examination and subsequently decide not to attempt that sitting may defer their attempt to a subsequent sitting. Candidates who wish to request a deferral must file a Request Form for Change or Deferment at least five business days prior to the date of that sitting. If the request is approved, the Law Society will refund or defer the Licensing Examination fee paid by the candidate. Where a candidate has registered for a sitting of the Licensing Examination and does not attend, and has not followed the procedure for deferral, the candidate will not be entitled to any refund of the Licensing Examination fee paid for that sitting, and will receive an official result of ‘Unexcused Absence’ for that Licensing Examination.
Candidates who have registered for a sitting of the Licensing Examination and subsequently wish to change the location or choice of language for that sitting must file a Request Form for Change or Deferment at least 30 business days prior to the date of that sitting.
Candidates have three attempts to successfully complete the Licensing Examination within their three-year licensing term. If a candidate has failed the Licensing Examination and still has attempts remaining, they will be eligible to attempt the Licensing Examination again as soon as the next scheduled sitting.
The Law Society provides accommodation for the Licensing Examination to candidates based on conditions arising from enumerated grounds listed in the Human Rights Code, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.19. Candidates seeking accommodation must review the Law Society’s Policy and Procedures for Accommodations for Candidates in the Lawyer and Paralegal Licensing Processes, and will be required to submit an Accommodation Request Form. For more information regarding accommodation, candidates should review the Accommodations page or contact the Examination Administration Accommoddation Coordinator at examinationaccommodation@lsuc.on.ca.
In some cases, candidates become unable to attend a sitting of the Licensing Examination due to serious illness or injury after the deadline for deferral has passed (i.e. within five business days prior to the date of that sitting). Such candidates should contact the Licensing and Accreditation department as soon as possible to explain their circumstances.
The Law Society’s processes for the development, administration, scoring and reporting of the Licensing Examination are consistent with established best practices for professional licensure.
The Law Society engages experts across the legal profession to establish the entry-level competencies that are assessed in the Licensing Examination. A competency is defined as a “knowledge, skill, ability, attitude or judgment required for entry-level practice.” These competencies, which are set out in detail on the Law Society’s website, have undergone a rigorous development and validation process. Candidates are strongly encouraged to thoroughly review the Entry-Level Paralegal Competencies in preparation for the Licensing Examination.
Once established, these entry-level competencies form the basis for the test specifications for the Licensing Examination. These test specifications are a primary component of the Blueprint document which is developed for the Licensing Examination. A Blueprint document is used to ensure that the items being assessed on the Licensing Examination are both content-valid and representative of legal practice. It also ensures that the same categories of competencies are being assessed, to the same standard of competence, even though items being assessed change from one sitting of the Licensing Examination to another. This provides consistency between each sitting of the Licensing Examination, and enhances their reliability, validity, fairness and defensibility. The competencies and the Blueprint parameters are reviewed on a regular basis, in accordance with established best practices for professional licensing examinations.
Practitioners representing all relevant practice areas develop Licensing Examination questions (referred to as “items”) under the guidance of psychometricians with expertise in professional licensing test development and validation. These items are derived from information in the study materials prepared by the Law Society for that licensing year, and are reflective of the established competencies for the Licensing Examination.
All Licensing Examination items undergo a rigorous review and validation process. A Paralegal Advisory Group, comprised of exemplary practitioners from a cross-section of practice areas and firm sizes in Ontario, set the Licensing Examination according to the Blueprint parameters. Setting a Licensing Examination involves approving the items that will be assessed.
The Licensing Examination is 7 hours (420 minutes) in total length and is comprised of a total of approximately 240 multiple-choice items. Each Examination Sitting is comprised of two parts, each of which is 3.5 hours (210 minutes) in length. Part 1 takes place during the morning, and Part 2 takes place during the afternoon, with a break between the two parts. During Part 1, candidates write only Part 1 of the Licensing Examination, and during Part 2, candidates write only Part 2 of the Licensing Examination. Candidates do not have access to Part 2 of their Licensing Examination during Part 1 in the morning, nor do they have access to Part 1 of their Licensing Examination during Part 2 in the afternoon.
The Licensing Examination is administered in an open-book format. Candidates are permitted to bring any print materials prepared for the purpose of assisting them in the writing of the Licensing Examination (including any study materials, notes and textbooks) into the Testing Area at a sitting of the Licensing Examination.
Candidates must mark their answers on an answer sheet provided by the Law Society. Only those answers marked on the answer sheet will be scored. Answers marked within the Licensing Examination booklet will not be reviewed or scored. The answer sheet is numbered from 1 – 200; however, there are only approximately 120 items on each Part of the Licensing Examination. Candidates should periodically check to ensure that the answer bubbles they are filling in on their answer sheet correspond correctly to the respective items they are answering.
All items on the Licensing Examination are in a multiple-choice format. Candidates must choose the best answer from four possible options provided. Each item has only one best answer, and candidates will receive credit only when they have selected the best answer. For any item for which the candidate indicates more than one answer on the candidate’s answer sheet, the answer will be marked as incorrect.
The items on the Licensing Examination assess the following three levels of cognitive ability:
The Licensing Examination will include items in both independent multiple-choice and case-based multiple-choice format. Independent multiple-choice items are independent of each other. Case-based multiple-choice items are preceded by a case scenario which will also apply to other items; however, each item within the series of items preceded by that case scenario is derived directly from that case scenario and is independent of all the others. In other words, determining the correct answer to item #3 in a series of case-based items is not dependent on answering either of items #1 or #2 correctly.
For each sitting of the Licensing Examination, multiple different versions of the Licensing Examination are developed and set. Each candidate who is registered for that sitting is randomly assigned a version of that Licensing Examination. Each version of the Licensing Examination complies with the Blueprint parameters.
The Licensing Examination is marked on a pass/fail basis. Scores equal to or higher than the established passing mark receive a “Pass” result. Scores lower than the passing mark receive a “Fail” result.
At the same time that it sets a Licensing Examination, the Advisory Group also formally sets and approves the passing mark for that Licensing Examination. The passing mark is the same for each different version of the same Licensing Examination. The passing mark represents a single overall score for the Licensing Examination; candidates are not required to individually pass separate sections or areas of law on the Licensing Examination.
The passing mark represents the expected performance of a minimally-competent entry-level paralegal. To ensure consistency between each sitting of the Licensing Examination, the Advisory Groups apply this same standard to the particular set of items on each Licensing Examination. The setting of a passing mark is based on the judgment of these informed subject matter experts, and is determined through rigorous consultation and dialogue.
This approach to setting the passing mark helps to ensure that the same performance standard is applied consistently for each Licensing Examination, so that only those candidates who meet or exceed this standard will pass the Licensing Examination. Only an individual candidate’s performance compared to this standard determines whether that candidate passes the Licensing Examination; the candidate’s performance is not assessed in comparison to the performance of other candidates, by using a curve or otherwise. There is also no pre-determined rate for the proportion of candidates who will pass the Licensing Examination.
The scoring process for the Licensing Examination also conforms to established best practices for professional licensing examinations. The Licensing Examination answer sheets are scanned and scored using computerized scoring devices.
Within six to eight weeks after each sitting of the Licensing Examination, candidates will receive a message in their online account (which is confidential) providing their result. Candidates will receive an email notification of this message, and should ensure that the email address listed in their online account remains accurate.
The only result that is published to candidates is the “Pass” or “Fail” result. In keeping with established best practices for professional licensing examinations, the Law Society does not release the passing score for the Licensing Examination, nor does it release candidates’ individual scores.
A candidate will retain credit for the passing of the Paralegal Licensing Examination for the remaining duration of the candidate’s licensing term.
The Law Society provides all candidates who receive a “Fail” result on the Licensing Examination with a Licensing Examination Profile, which is a detailed performance profile depicting the candidate’s performance across the different competency categories and area of law categories. Candidates who receive a Licensing Examination Profile are encouraged to carefully review their performance in order to assist in focusing their study efforts.
The Law Society develops study materials which support all examined competencies on the Licensing Examination. The Licensing Examination is developed with reference to these Law Society-provided study materials, and no external material or information is required (though candidates are also permitted to bring other external print materials into the Testing Area at a sitting of the Licensing Examination).
Candidates who have registered and paid for Licensing Examination study materials are provided with access to these study materials approximately six weeks prior to the sitting of a Licensing Examination. It is essential that candidates review these study materials carefully in preparation for the Licensing Examination. Candidates are permitted to mark up these study materials and bring them into the Testing Area at a sitting of the Licensing Examination; however, please note that all print materials candidates bring into the Testing Area must remain there and cannot be removed, neither during the break between Part 1 and Part 2 nor at the conclusion of Part 2 of the Examination Sitting.
The study materials are updated once each year, at the beginning of each new licensing year in June. All three sittings of the Licensing Examination during that licensing year are developed with reference to the study materials current to that licensing year. Candidates are required to purchase the version of the study materials that is current to the licensing year in which they register for a sitting of the Licensing Examination.
Tips to Prepare for the Licensing Examination:
Performing successfully on the Licensing Examination requires a strong understanding of the study materials, a positive attitude and sufficient advanced planning and organization. It takes time to adequately prepare for the Licensing Examination. There are no shortcuts. While the tips and best practices below can help you prepare, there is no replacement for taking the time to build a solid base of knowledge, and the best approach will always be the one that gives you the most confidence to feel prepared at the start of the Licensing Examination.
You should develop a systematic approach to studying each topic on the Licensing Examination. This can be accomplished by effectively organizing your preparation time. You should consider the following strategies:
The purpose of a second reading should be to draw out important concepts from the chapter. During this second review, it is best to take notes or highlight main points in the chapter. Before highlighting or making notes, finish reading the paragraph, section or page so that you will give some thought to what you are highlighting. Consider using the Cornell method of note-taking: (1) draw a vertical line down a piece of paper, 2.5 inches from the left-hand column; (2) in the right-hand column, actively summarize or paraphrase the relevant information you have just reviewed; (3) in the left-hand column, write key words or phrases that are cues to the information in the right-hand column; and (4) practice retrieving your knowledge of the topics by covering your notes in the right-hand column and determining whether you can recall concepts by reviewing only the key words in the left-hand column. Finally, review your notes to ensure you have retrieved all the important information related to a topic. Testing yourself in this way will encourage active learning and retrieval, which are skills important to the Licensing Examination.
The Licensing Examination is an open-book format. At the sitting of a Licensing Examination, you are permitted to bring any print materials prepared for the purpose of assisting you in the writing of the Licensing Examination (including any study materials, notes and textbooks) into the Testing Area.
There is a common misconception that open-book examinations require less study and preparation time than closed-book examinations. The Licensing Examination requires candidates to analyze information and apply their knowledge to new situations; therefore, you must thoroughly familiarize yourself with the study materials. Candidates who have not done so will likely waste valuable time searching through documents during the Licensing Examination, instead of devoting that time to thinking about and adequately answering items.
It is especially important in open-book examinations to organize your print materials so that you are able to quickly access relevant information. Prior to the Licensing Examination, you should attempt to make any print materials you intend to bring into the Testing Area (including the study materials provided by the Law Society) as “user-friendly” to yourself as possible. There are many different ways to do this. You should consider creating some or all of the following materials:
All items on the Licensing Examination are in a multiple-choice format. Candidates must choose the best answer from four possible options provided. Each item has only one best answer, and candidates will receive credit only when they have selected the best answer. You should consider the following strategies to optimize your performance:
The Law Society endeavours to ensure that the environment for writing the Licensing Examination is optimal. Candidates may occasionally experience some minor distractions or temperature variations. Candidates should dress appropriately for the weather and consider bringing a sweater, cardigan or hoodie. Candidates who are sensitive to or easily distracted by noise should consider bringing earplugs (please note that electronic earphones or earbuds are prohibited inside the Testing Area).
These sample items for the Paralegal Licensing Examination will give you an indication of the style of items that are assessed, the level of cognitive ability required (recognition, application, analysis), and the degree of difference between incorrect and correct answer options. Correct answers to these items are provided at the end of this section.
(d) Discuss with Max his objectives.
2. Dave is involved in litigation against his neighbour. He instructs Brigitte, his paralegal, not to give the other side any extra time to meet deadlines. How should Brigitte respond to these instructions from Dave?
(b) Advise that she cannot deny reasonable requests if his rights are not prejudiced.
(c) Write a letter to the other side informing them that no extensions will be granted.
4. Before accepting a joint retainer, what must a paralegal tell her clients about conflicts that may develop between the parties?
(c) Information contained in the court record.
(d) As much information as is necessary to collect his fees.
(c) Criminal Code offences.
10. Which one of the following employees would work for a Schedule I employer under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act?
11. What is the most helpful source of procedural rules before administrative tribunals in Ontario?
(a) The Small Claims Court Rules, by analogy.
(d) The prior decision of the tribunal.
(d) Residential Tenancies Act.
13. What section of the Residential Tenancies Act allows a tenant to plead for relief from eviction at a Landlord and Tenant Board hearing?
14. ABC Ltd. (ABC), a manufacturer of employee uniforms, retains Tamika, a paralegal, to represent ABC in a contract dispute with XYZ Inc. (XYZ). In 2012, a contract was entered into in which ABC was responsible to supply a minimum of 1800 uniforms annually. In 2014, XYZ laid off 300 employees and only paid for 1500 uniforms. What type of damages can Tamika claim for ABC?
(a) It may only admit or deny the allegations made in the plaintiff’s claim.
(c) If the defendant does not specifically admit allegations made in the plaintiff’s claim, they are deemed to be denied.
(a)Amended defence.
17. A husband and wife retain a paralegal to bring a Small Claims Court action to recover payment on their travel insurance policy. The insurance company has denied their claim, saying that the husband failed to disclose a pre-existing medical condition. The wife’s evidence will be that she was present when her husband verbally disclosed this information to the travel insurance agent. What is the best way to prepare the wife for her examination-in-chief at the trial?
19. One year after being convicted of a provincial offence, Raphael tells his paralegal that he has not paid the fine imposed by the court. Raphael also tells his paralegal that he cannot renew his driver’s licence. What other consequence(s) could result from Raphael’s non-payment?
(a) Civil proceeding.
(b) A period of imprisonment.
(c) Civil proceeding and a period of imprisonment.
(d) A period of imprisonment in lieu of fine payment.
20. The criminal process can be set in motion by which one of the following documents?