Effective March 12, 2009, lawyers across Ontario have access to the Parental Leave Assistance Program – a new three-year pilot parental leave program launched by the Law Society. The initiative is designed to enable lawyers to stay in practice after the birth or adoption of a child.
From the media release:
…the Parental Leave Assistance Program provides financial benefits to practising lawyers in firms of five lawyers or fewer who do not have access to other maternity, parental, or adoption financial benefits under public or private plans and who meet the eligibility criteria.
The Law Society explains that the payments are intended to be business income replacement, which should help foot the cost of keeping law offices up and running during a birth or adoption leave. Additionally, the Law Society is launching a registry of lawyers who can provide interim legal services in the place of lawyers who are away.
For more information, visit: www.lsuc.on.ca