A practical overview of ethical, administrative, and strategic issues in managing a paralegal practice.
Included with our Passes – Learn more
Justin Rochester and John Paul Rodrigues
April 1, 2026
$150
5 hours
Attend Live Online and On-Demand Recording
This practical workshop is designed to support newly licensed Ontario paralegals in building and managing a compliant, organized, and client-focused practice. Covering the full lifecycle of a file—from initial consultation to file closure—the course addresses essential practice management skills, including client intake, communication, file organization, time management, and ethical compliance. Participants will gain a clear understanding of their obligations under the Law Society of Ontario Rules, best practices for handling challenging clients, and strategies for maintaining professionalism and efficiency. With hands-on guidance and real-world tips, this session equips paralegals with the foundational tools needed to run their practice confidently and responsibly.
• Initial Client Consultation
• Information to gather during the consultation
• Client Intake Forms and Checklists
• Conflict Checks
• Client Identification and Verification
• Setting up the file system (case management software, physical storage systems)
• Importance of maintaining client confidentiality when opening a file
• Retainer Agreements
• Client Communication
• Managing client expectations
• Strategies for maintaining client trust and confidence
• Setting and maintaining boundaries in professional relationships
• Ethical considerations in client interactions
• Identifying problematic clients (e.g., demanding, difficult, non-compliant)
• Effective communication techniques for diffusing tense situations
• Managing expectations and setting clear terms of service
• When to refer a client to a colleague or another professional
• Ethical obligations when dealing with problematic clients (maintaining professionalism, withdrawing from representation)
• Physical vs. Electronic Files
• Best practices for maintaining both types of files
• Storing confidential client information securely (Encryption, secure storage solutions)
• Retention Policy: How long to keep files, when to dispose of them.
• Backup Systems
• The role of cloud storage and case management software in modern legal practice
• Balancing multiple cases and clients
• Prioritization techniques
• Task management tools and software for paralegals
• Efficient scheduling and handling client appointments
• The Paralegal Rules of Professional Conduct
• Other Law Society Requirements
• Client Contingency Planning
• Key ethical obligations
• Managing conflicts of interest
• Supervision and delegation of work when necessary (if applicable)
• Professional liability and insurance considerations for paralegals in Ontario
• Importance of staying up to date with legislative changes and caselaw
• Building a professional support network (other paralegals, lawyers, legal administrators).
Fulfill your CPD requirements with our expertly curated passes. Dive deep into specialized topics or explore a wide range of courses—all in one convenient package. Learn more.
John Paul Rodrigues
Lawyer and Legal Instructor
This session will be moderated by John-Paul Rodrigues, who is an award-winning legal instructor, being a past recipient of Career College Ontario’s Excellence in Teaching Award and the Instructor of the Year at one of the colleges that he teaches at. He is passionate about helping paralegal students accomplish their dreams and goals at a number of colleges, where he is focused on developing and nurturing future legal practitioners into becoming strong and successful advocates.
J.P. is also the host of the Justice in Pieces Guest Speaker Series, where he has discussed with 500+ lawyers, paralegals, judges, politicians and other guests about various areas of the law. J.P. is also an experienced lawyer, working as telephone duty counsel, providing advice to those in need.
Paralegal and Legal Instructor
Justin is a seasoned legal professional with over eight years of experience and more than 7,000 court appearances to his name. His extensive courtroom experience, both as an agent and handling his own matters, has given him a deep understanding of legal procedures and judicial reasoning. Serving as a Set Date Court Agent, he has engaged in countless interactions with Justices of the Peace and Judges, gaining valuable insights into their decision-making processes. Beyond advocacy, Justin has trained lawyers and paralegals in law firms and has been actively involved in mentoring students through college co-op placement programs. His passion for education extends to his role as a professor at Centennial College, where he teaches courses on Summary Offences, Provincial Offences, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Practice Management, and Legal Communication & Writing. His teaching responsibilities include developing course materials, creating assessments, and instructing students on key legal skills such as filing motions, examining charging documents, and understanding legislative frameworks. Through his work in both the courtroom and the classroom, Justin remains committed to shaping the next generation of legal professionals while continuing to advocate for his clients with dedication and expertise.
Have questions? We’re here to help. Check out our FAQs to learn more about this Course.
Absolutely. Every LPEN course is recorded, and the recording is added to your account within a few business days. You can log in anytime to watch it on demand and still receive your digital certificate of completion.
LPEN seeks accreditation for each course from the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) and the Law Society of Ontario (LSO),the Law Society of BC (LSBC) when applicable. Accreditation details and approved CPD hours are listed in the CPD Credits section on each course page, so you can easily confirm how the course qualifies toward your professional development requirements.
A digital certificate of completion will be available once the course recording has been uploaded. After that, you can follow the steps at the top of your My Courses page—where you’ll also find a short video explaining how to download your certificate. Be sure to save it as part of your documentation for your CPD hours.
This course may be included in one or several LPEN Passes. Passes offer discounted rates and access to multiple courses, making CPD compliance simpler. Check out our Passes page to see where it is included.
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