The Federation of Ontario Law Associations (FOLA) is raising concerns over access to justice as the number of practising law professionals in rural and remote areas of the province dwindles.

FOLA, which represents 46 district and county associations in Ontario, put forward a motion last week that calls on the Law Society of Ontario to develop a strategy for attracting and retaining law professionals in underserved communities.

“We hear from communities all across Ontario about the lack of lawyers that are moving to fill gaps in service in smaller communities, and these are predominantly northern communities and rural communities,” said Douglas Judson, FOLA’s chair.

FOLA says it’s seeing people leave the profession without succession plans in place, often creating gaps in smaller communities.

Judson, a lawyer in a more rural area of northwestern Ontario, said the shrinking of the bar can also be attributed to a general shrinking of population in some communities and the emerging trend of people practising law virtually.

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CBC News
May 10, 2023