About LAWPRO
Lawyers’ Professional Indemnity Company (LAWPRO) is owned by the Law Society of Upper Canada and is licensed to provide professional liability insurance and title insurance in numerous jurisdictions across Canada. Through its malpractice insurance program, LAWPRO insures over 25,000 practising lawyers in Ontario, as well as providing them with risk and practice management information under the practicePRO banner.
LAWPRO's Posts
Putting the insurance puzzle together
LAWPRO’s primary Errors & Omissions (E&O) program is a key piece of the insurance puzzle for any lawyer and law firm. But additional insurance coverage is often required to protect against the full constellation of risk faced by a law firm. Remember that all insurance policies are drafted to cover only a specific set of… Read More »
Categories: Law Practice ManagementCommon HST errors in real estate transactions
Determining HST-applicability to real estate transactions can be more complicated than many lawyers assume. What’s more, a lack of clarity and errors can often lead to substantial unforeseen costs for clients. This is a dangerous combination from a claims perspective. This paper discusses the common categories of HST errors and provide tips on how to… Read More »
Categories: Real EstateAmendments to Non-Resident Speculation Tax
On March 29, 2022, the Ontario government announced amendments to the Land Transfer Tax Act which impacts the Non-Resident Speculation Tax. Effective March 30, 2022, the government is: Increasing the Non-Resident Speculation Tax to 20 per cent Expanding the tax to apply province-wide Eliminating the rebates for international students and foreign nationals working in Ontario… Read More »
Categories: Real EstateSuperior Court of Justice guidelines and virtual courtroom etiquette rules take effect April 19, 2022
The Superior Court of Justice posted on its website: guidelines to determine the mode of proceeding in criminal, family, civil and Small Claims Court matters, virtual courtroom etiquette rules, and the gowning requirement The guidelines and virtual courtroom etiquette rules will take effect on April 19, 2022.
Categories: AnnouncementsChange to deadline in Small Claims Court to email documents to staff
Effective February 22, 2022, the deadline for parties in Small Claims Court to email documents to staff will change to 10 days before the hearing. This is a change from the current deadline of 3 days before the hearing. More information is in the Small Claims Court public notice
Categories: Limitations ClaimsWatch for real estate frauds involving private mortgages
In a hot real estate market fraudsters are even more motivated than usual – there is a lot of money to be had and lawyers are common targets. LAWPRO is seeing a significant increase in the number of real estate frauds involving private mortgages. The Toronto Police Service recently issued a news release about ongoing… Read More »
Categories: Fraud PreventionGoal setting: Setting S.M.A.R.T. Goals
Part of reflective practice involves setting goals and working towards them. Write them down and make them S.M.A.R.T. Write Them Down Take time at the start of the year and on a regular basis to take a break from your daily grind to write down your goals. Taking the time to write down your goals… Read More »
Categories: Career ManagementNew Ontario Court forms that come into force Jan 1st that will impact on wills & estates lawyers
New Ontario Court forms come into force on January 1, 2022. The amended forms, now available on the Ontario Court Forms website, have a simplified format and helpful instructions. Old forms will not be accepted after January 1, 2022, unless the court orders otherwise. The rule and form amendments also include consequential amendments prompted by… Read More »
Categories: Wills & Estates