By Timothy Ellis | MTS Paralegal Services | Licensed Paralegal, Ontario

After more than twenty-three years providing licensed paralegal service in Ontario, I have lost count of how many times I have heard the phrase: “just a paralegal.”

Let’s be clear.

That phrase is not modest. It reflects a misunderstanding — one that has lingered far too long within both the legal community and the public conversation about access to justice in Ontario.

So what does twenty-three years of professional paralegal service actually look like?

Over 1,250 Court Appearances — and Counting

It looks like appearing in Small Claims Court more than 1,250 times. Standing before judges. Presenting evidence. Cross-examining witnesses. Arguing points of law. Securing outcomes for clients who had nowhere else to turn. Many lawyers never see that volume of courtroom experience in an entire career — yet the word “just” still manages to appear before the title.

Substantive Legal Work Across Multiple Practice Areas

Licensed paralegal service in Ontario is not a single-lane profession. Over twenty-three years, that experience looks like working alongside personal injury lawyers as a knowledgeable legal professional, contributing to litigation strategy, managing complex files, communicating with clients, and ensuring cases move forward efficiently. This is not administrative support. It is substantive legal work grounded in training, judgment, and years of experience.

It looks like helping families navigate emotionally charged family law matters. These are not abstract problems. They are real people facing real crises, and they deserve careful, precise, and compassionate guidance throughout the process.

It looks like contributing to Superior Court civil litigation through pleadings, discoveries, and detailed preparation that keeps complex matters on track. Not peripheral work — essential work that strengthens the administration of justice.

The Reality of Licensed Paralegal Service in Ontario

In Ontario, paralegals are licensed and regulated by the Law Society of Ontario. We are authorized advocates who represent clients before courts, tribunals, and regulatory bodies every single day.

For many Ontarians, professional paralegal service is not simply an option — it is their only realistic path to justice. Accessible legal representation matters deeply to working families, tenants, employees, and small business owners. Without paralegals, many individuals would face the legal system entirely alone.

Throughout this career, clients have been represented in matters involving eviction defence and landlord-tenant disputes, wrongful dismissal and employment matters, summary conviction offences, and regulatory and tribunal proceedings that directly impact livelihoods.

Every file receives the same preparation, professionalism, and accountability expected anywhere in the legal profession. That standard does not change based on file size, client background, or complexity of the matter.

Why Words Matter — and Why This Conversation Does Too

Describing someone as “just a paralegal” implies something lesser. Something secondary. Something unimportant. But dismissing the profession also dismisses the clients who depend on it most — people seeking fair, skilled, and affordable legal representation across Ontario.

Behind every one of those appearances was a person who needed someone in their corner.

The modern paralegal profession is regulated, experienced, and essential to meaningful access to justice. After more than two decades of service, thousands of court appearances, and a career built on helping people navigate their most difficult legal moments, one thing is certain:

It is time to retire the phrase “just a paralegal” for good.

Timothy Ellis Licensed Paralegal | MTS Paralegal Services 23+ Years of Experience | Small Claims Court | Tribunal Matters | Civil Litigation Support Serving clients across Ontario