Saskatchewan residents now have more options when seeking legal help.
Amendments to the province’s 1990 Legal Profession Act came into force Wednesday, which allows non-lawyers to apply for limited licences to provide certain legal services like uncontested divorces, small claims, wills and estates and some corporate services.
Pamela Kovacs, senior policy counsel with the Law Society of Saskatchewan, said the model builds on a four-year pilot project and years of consultation.
“This will bring a new regulated legal professional into the legal system in Saskatchewan, in addition to lawyers,” Kovacs said. “Each limited licensee will have an individualized scope of practice connected to their education, training and experience.”
The idea, Kovacs says, is to make services more affordable and free up lawyers to focus on more complex cases.
Limited licensees will be regulated by the Law Society. They will either have a degree in a justice-related studies or a certificate from a recognized school in the subject area of their specialization, Kovacs said. There will also be a requirement of an annual six hours of continuing professional development training.
“They are subject to the same strict ethical requirements as lawyers and also bound by the rules of the Law Society,” she said.
Affordability among touted benefits
For Michelle Linklater, a family law service provider, affordability is the biggest advantage. She said her fees for consented divorces range from $650 to $850 — which she said is well below what many law firms charge.
“I don’t know anyone in a law office that can match my fees,” Linklater said. “The fees that I charge are considerably less than when I was working at a law firm.”
Linklater said the change could also reduce pressure on the courts by resolving more cases through mediation and negotiated agreements. But she is reminding people to ask questions before hiring a service provider to make sure agreements will stand up in court.
New legislation will let non-lawyers who meet certain criteria apply for a limited licence that will let them provide certain services like uncontested divorces, small claims, wills and estates.
Justice Minister and Attorney General Tim McLeod called the initiative an important step toward equity.
“Access to justice is the key to safe communities, strong families and equal opportunities across our province,” he said in a press release.
The first limited licences will be issued in January 2026.
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