Ontario Paralegal Licensing Exam - Ethics and Scope Study Guide
| Questions with 100% Verified Answers | Latest Update
2026/2027
Question: MC1. A client asks you to represent them in a $350,000
wrongful dismissal claim in the Superior Court of Justice and
says they cannot afford a lawyer. What should you do? A)
Accept because the client cannot afford a lawyer. B) Decline,
because Superior Court civil litigation is outside a paralegal's
scope. C) Accept but only handle the trial. D) Accept if the
client signs a waiver.
Answer:
B) Decline. Superior Court civil litigation is outside paralegal scope and sympathy or a
waiver cannot expand scope. Send a non-engagement letter and refer to a lawyer.
Question: MC2. Which matter is WITHIN a paralegal's authorized scope
of practice? A) An indictable murder trial. B) A Superior Court
civil suit. C) A Small Claims Court matter. D) A contested
divorce.
Answer:
C) A Small Claims Court matter. The others are outside scope (indictable, Superior Court
civil, family law).
Question: MC3. Paralegals may generally represent clients in summary
conviction criminal matters where the maximum penalty does
not exceed: A) two years. B) six months imprisonment. C) ten
years. D) any amount.
Answer:
B) Six months imprisonment (agent representation under s. 802.1 of the Criminal Code).
Question: MC4. Which forum is WITHIN a paralegal's scope? A) Family
Court. B) The Landlord and Tenant Board. C) The Court of
Appeal. D) The Superior Court of Justice.
Answer:
B) The Landlord and Tenant Board, a statutory tribunal within scope.
,Question: MC5. A matter is described as "indictable." On the exam this
usually signals the matter is: A) within scope. B) usually outside
a paralegal's scope. C) always within scope. D) automatically a
tribunal matter.
Answer:
B) Usually outside scope. Note that C ("always") is an absolute-answer trap.
Question: MC6. The current monetary limit of the Ontario Small Claims
Court is: A) $10,000. B) $25,000. C) $35,000. D) $100,000.
Answer:
C) $35,000 (effective January 1, 2020).
Question: MC7. After you decline a retainer, best practice is to send the
person: A) nothing. B) a non-engagement letter. C) a final bill.
D) a signed retainer agreement.
Answer:
B) A non-engagement letter, to confirm in writing that you are not acting.
Question: MC8. The main purpose of a non-engagement letter is to: A)
guarantee an outcome. B) confirm that no solicitor-client
relationship was formed. C) create a conflict of interest. D)
waive confidentiality.
Answer:
B) Confirm no solicitor-client relationship was formed and protect both parties from
misunderstanding.
Question: MC9. A well-drafted non-engagement letter should: A) insult
the client. B) note the matter is outside your scope, suggest
the person seek other representation, and mention any
limitation period. C) promise free ongoing advice. D) disclose
the person's confidential details.
Answer:
B) Note the matter is outside scope, recommend other representation, and flag any
limitation period.
Question: MC10. Failing to send a non-engagement letter after declining
can: A) protect you fully. B) leave ambiguity about whether
you agreed to act. C) shorten the limitation period. D) be the
recommended practice.
Answer:
B) Leave dangerous ambiguity about whether a retainer was formed.
, Question: MC11. A conflict of interest exists when: A) you are simply busy.
B) your loyalty to or duties owed to a client are materially
affected by duties to another client or by your own personal
interests. C) you dislike the client. D) the client is wealthy.
Answer:
B) Loyalty or duties to a client are materially affected by other duties or personal
interests.
Question: MC12. During intake you discover another licensee at your firm
acted for the opposing party. You should: A) ignore it. B) run a
conflict check and resolve the conflict before accepting the
retainer. C) accept immediately. D) tell the new client the
former client's secrets.
Answer:
B) Run a conflict check and address the conflict before accepting; one licensee's conflict
can be imputed to the firm.
Question: MC13. To detect conflicts, law firms must maintain: A) no
records at all. B) a conflict-checking system. C) a staff gossip
log. D) shared client passwords.
Answer:
B) A conflict-checking system.
Question: MC14. Which is the MOST accurate statement about conflicts
of interest? A) A paralegal may ALWAYS act despite a conflict.
B) Conflicts NEVER require withdrawal. C) Conflicts can
sometimes be managed with informed consent, but may
require declining or withdrawing. D) Conflicts are ONLY ever
about money.
Answer:
C) Conflicts may sometimes be managed with informed consent but can require
declining or withdrawing. A, B, and D use absolute or overly narrow language.
Question: MC15. A close personal relationship with the opposing party
is: A) always irrelevant. B) a potential conflict that must be
assessed and addressed. C) always acceptable. D) never a
conflict.
Answer:
B) A potential personal-interest conflict that must be assessed.
| Questions with 100% Verified Answers | Latest Update
2026/2027
Question: MC1. A client asks you to represent them in a $350,000
wrongful dismissal claim in the Superior Court of Justice and
says they cannot afford a lawyer. What should you do? A)
Accept because the client cannot afford a lawyer. B) Decline,
because Superior Court civil litigation is outside a paralegal's
scope. C) Accept but only handle the trial. D) Accept if the
client signs a waiver.
Answer:
B) Decline. Superior Court civil litigation is outside paralegal scope and sympathy or a
waiver cannot expand scope. Send a non-engagement letter and refer to a lawyer.
Question: MC2. Which matter is WITHIN a paralegal's authorized scope
of practice? A) An indictable murder trial. B) A Superior Court
civil suit. C) A Small Claims Court matter. D) A contested
divorce.
Answer:
C) A Small Claims Court matter. The others are outside scope (indictable, Superior Court
civil, family law).
Question: MC3. Paralegals may generally represent clients in summary
conviction criminal matters where the maximum penalty does
not exceed: A) two years. B) six months imprisonment. C) ten
years. D) any amount.
Answer:
B) Six months imprisonment (agent representation under s. 802.1 of the Criminal Code).
Question: MC4. Which forum is WITHIN a paralegal's scope? A) Family
Court. B) The Landlord and Tenant Board. C) The Court of
Appeal. D) The Superior Court of Justice.
Answer:
B) The Landlord and Tenant Board, a statutory tribunal within scope.
,Question: MC5. A matter is described as "indictable." On the exam this
usually signals the matter is: A) within scope. B) usually outside
a paralegal's scope. C) always within scope. D) automatically a
tribunal matter.
Answer:
B) Usually outside scope. Note that C ("always") is an absolute-answer trap.
Question: MC6. The current monetary limit of the Ontario Small Claims
Court is: A) $10,000. B) $25,000. C) $35,000. D) $100,000.
Answer:
C) $35,000 (effective January 1, 2020).
Question: MC7. After you decline a retainer, best practice is to send the
person: A) nothing. B) a non-engagement letter. C) a final bill.
D) a signed retainer agreement.
Answer:
B) A non-engagement letter, to confirm in writing that you are not acting.
Question: MC8. The main purpose of a non-engagement letter is to: A)
guarantee an outcome. B) confirm that no solicitor-client
relationship was formed. C) create a conflict of interest. D)
waive confidentiality.
Answer:
B) Confirm no solicitor-client relationship was formed and protect both parties from
misunderstanding.
Question: MC9. A well-drafted non-engagement letter should: A) insult
the client. B) note the matter is outside your scope, suggest
the person seek other representation, and mention any
limitation period. C) promise free ongoing advice. D) disclose
the person's confidential details.
Answer:
B) Note the matter is outside scope, recommend other representation, and flag any
limitation period.
Question: MC10. Failing to send a non-engagement letter after declining
can: A) protect you fully. B) leave ambiguity about whether
you agreed to act. C) shorten the limitation period. D) be the
recommended practice.
Answer:
B) Leave dangerous ambiguity about whether a retainer was formed.
, Question: MC11. A conflict of interest exists when: A) you are simply busy.
B) your loyalty to or duties owed to a client are materially
affected by duties to another client or by your own personal
interests. C) you dislike the client. D) the client is wealthy.
Answer:
B) Loyalty or duties to a client are materially affected by other duties or personal
interests.
Question: MC12. During intake you discover another licensee at your firm
acted for the opposing party. You should: A) ignore it. B) run a
conflict check and resolve the conflict before accepting the
retainer. C) accept immediately. D) tell the new client the
former client's secrets.
Answer:
B) Run a conflict check and address the conflict before accepting; one licensee's conflict
can be imputed to the firm.
Question: MC13. To detect conflicts, law firms must maintain: A) no
records at all. B) a conflict-checking system. C) a staff gossip
log. D) shared client passwords.
Answer:
B) A conflict-checking system.
Question: MC14. Which is the MOST accurate statement about conflicts
of interest? A) A paralegal may ALWAYS act despite a conflict.
B) Conflicts NEVER require withdrawal. C) Conflicts can
sometimes be managed with informed consent, but may
require declining or withdrawing. D) Conflicts are ONLY ever
about money.
Answer:
C) Conflicts may sometimes be managed with informed consent but can require
declining or withdrawing. A, B, and D use absolute or overly narrow language.
Question: MC15. A close personal relationship with the opposing party
is: A) always irrelevant. B) a potential conflict that must be
assessed and addressed. C) always acceptable. D) never a
conflict.
Answer:
B) A potential personal-interest conflict that must be assessed.
