More lawyers, more litigation? Exploring trends in litigation and the legal profession in Ontario, Canada

Authors

  • Avner Levin Ryerson University
  • Asher Alkoby Ryerson University

Keywords:

Litigation trends, access to justice, Ontario, Canada, legal profession, Tendencias en litigios, acceso a la justicia, Canadá, profesión jurídica

Abstract

This brief paper explores the correlation and potential relationship between the composition of the legal profession and trends in litigation, in Ontario, Canada. Specifically, we ask whether there is a positive correlation between the numbers of lawyers and paralegals licensed to practice in the province, and the amount of civil litigation initiated across the province. The paper then discusses possible reasons for the trends in the profession and in litigation, and considers traditional objections, such as the argument that an increase in the number of lawyers will lead to 'litigation explosion'. The paper concludes with suggestions for future research in this area.

Este breve artículo se adentra en la correlación y posible nexo entre la composición de la profesión jurídica y las tendencias en demandas en Ontario, Canadá. Concretamente, nos preguntamos si existe correlación positiva entre el número de abogados y profesionales parajudiciales con licencia en ejercicio, y el número de litigios civiles iniciados. Después, el artículo comenta posibles razones de las tendencias en la profesión y en las demandas, y toma en consideración objeciones que tradicionalmente se han hecho, como que el aumento en el número de abogados conducirá a una “explosión de demandas”. Concluimos con sugerencias para investigaciones futuras.

Available from: https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl/0000-0000-0000-1118

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
Views 466
Downloads:
PDF 335
XML 269


Author Biographies

Avner Levin, Ryerson University

Department of Law and Business, Ted Rogers School of Management, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street Toronto, Ontario, M5B 2K3 Canada. Email address: avner.levin@ryerson.ca

Asher Alkoby, Ryerson University

Department of Law and Business, Ted Rogers School of Management, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street Toronto, Ontario, M5B 2K3 Canada. Email address: aalkoby@ryerson.ca

Downloads

Published

01-04-2021

How to Cite

Levin, A. and Alkoby, A. (2021) “More lawyers, more litigation? Exploring trends in litigation and the legal profession in Ontario, Canada”, Oñati Socio-Legal Series, 11(2), pp. 535–556. Available at: https://opo.iisj.net/index.php/osls/article/view/1167 (Accessed: 29 March 2024).