Ontario Barrister and Solicitor Practice Exam 2025 - Free Barrister and Solicitor Practice Questions and Study Guide

The primary statute governing the practice of law in Ontario is the Law Society Act. This legislation outlines the establishment, powers, and responsibilities of the Law Society of Ontario, which is the regulatory body responsible for the governance of the legal profession in the province. The Law Society Act is central to how lawyers must conduct themselves, ensuring compliance with professional standards, and it provides the framework for the licensing of lawyers and paralegals, as well as the discipline of members of the legal profession.

While other options, such as the Legal Profession Act and the Rules of Professional Conduct, play important roles in the regulation of legal practice, they are subordinate to the Law Society Act. The Legal Profession Act, for example, includes provisions related to specific aspects of legal practice but operates within the framework established by the Law Society Act. The Rules of Professional Conduct are also necessary, as they provide ethical guidelines and standards, but once again, they derive authority from the overarching Law Society Act. The Ontario Bar Act is a historical piece of legislation that has been largely replaced or absorbed by the Law Society Act, reinforcing its primacy as the main statute governing legal practice in Ontario.