What a paralegal can defend.
The Criminal Code offences within an Ontario paralegal’s permitted scope — searchable by section number or keyword, grouped the way the Law Society of Ontario sets them out.
This page lists the Criminal Code offences a licensed Ontario paralegal is permitted to handle. It is general information, not legal advice, and it does not create a paralegal-client relationship.
Each entry pairs a section number with a plain-language summary. The summaries are there to help you find the right charge quickly — but the wording of the section in the Criminal Code governs, not our description of it.
Many everyday charges are hybrid offences. A paralegal can act on a hybrid offence only once the Crown elects to proceed by summary conviction; until that election, the matter is treated as indictable and is outside scope.
This reference covers the Criminal Code only. It does not include Provincial Offences Act charges, other federal statutes, or matters before administrative tribunals. The list reflects the Law Society of Ontario roster as of September 19, 2019.
154 offences shown
Hybrid offences
91 offencesA paralegal can act only once the Crown elects to proceed by summary conviction. Until then, these are treated as indictable. This is where most everyday charges — assault, theft and mischief under $5,000, fraud under $5,000 — sit.
- s. 56.1(4)Identity documents
- s. 57(2)False statement in relation to a passport
- s. 66(2)Unlawful assembly with concealment of identity
- s. 73Forcible entry / forcible detainer
- s. 83.231(2)Hoax regarding terrorist activity
- s. 86(3)Careless use of a firearm / contravening storage regulations
- s. 87(2)Pointing a firearm
- s. 88(2)Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
- s. 90(2)Carrying a concealed weapon
- s. 91(3)Unauthorized possession of a firearm, prohibited or restricted weapon
- s. 93(2)Possession at an unauthorized place (firearm / weapon)
- s. 94(2)Unauthorized possession in a motor vehicle (firearm / weapon)
- s. 101(2)Transfer without authority (firearm / weapon)
- s. 104(2)Unauthorized importing or exporting (firearm / weapon)
- s. 105(2)Losing or finding without reporting (firearm / weapon)
- s. 106(2)Destroying without reporting (firearm / weapon)
- s. 107(2)Making false statements (re ss. 105–106)
- s. 108(2)Tampering with a serial number (firearm / weapon)
- s. 117.01(3)Possession contrary to order / failure to surrender authorization (firearm / weapon)
- s. 121.1(4)(b)Selling tobacco products and raw leaf tobacco
- s. 127(1)Disobeying an order of the court
- s. 129Offences relating to a public or peace officer
- s. 130(2)Personating a peace officer
- s. 139(1)Obstructing justice
- s. 140(2)Public mischief
- s. 145(1)–(5.1)Escape and being at large without excuse
- s. 160(1)–(2)Bestiality / compelling commission of bestiality
- s. 162(5)Voyeurism
- s. 162.1(1)Publication of an intimate image without consent
- s. 169Obscene material / immoral theatrical performance / mailing obscene matter
- s. 173(1)–(2)Indecent act / exposure
- s. 204(10)Regulatory offences relating to horse racing / betting
- s. 207(3)(a)Conduct, management or operation of a lottery scheme (permitted lotteries)
- s. 207.1(3)(a)Conduct, management or operation of a lottery scheme (permitted lotteries, international cruise ship)
- s. 241.31(4)–(5)Filing information / contravening regulations (medical assistance in dying)
- s. 263(3)Failing to safeguard an opening in ice / guard an excavation on land
- s. 264(3)Criminal harassment
- s. 264.1(3)Uttering threats
- s. 266Assault
- s. 270(2)Assaulting a peace officer
- s. 273.3(2)Removal of a child from Canada
- s. 282(1)Abduction in contravention of a custody order
- s. 283(1)Abduction
- s. 319(1)–(2)Public incitement of hatred / wilful promotion of hatred
- s. 327(1)Possession of a device to obtain telecommunication service
- s. 334(b)Theft (under $5,000)
- s. 342(1), (3)Theft, forgery, etc. of a credit card / unauthorized use of credit card data
- s. 342.01(1)Instruments for copying credit card data or forging credit cards
- s. 342.1(1)Unauthorized use of a computer
- s. 342.2(1)Possession of a device to obtain unauthorized computer use or commit mischief
- s. 347(1)Criminal interest rate
- s. 348(1)(e)Breaking and entering (place other than a dwelling-house)
- s. 349(1)Being unlawfully in a dwelling-house
- s. 351(1)Possession of a break-in instrument
- s. 353.1(4)Tampering with a vehicle identification number (VIN)
- s. 355(b)Possession of property obtained by crime (under $5,000)
- s. 355.5(b)Trafficking in property obtained by crime (under $5,000)
- s. 356(3)Theft from mail
- s. 362(2)(b)False pretence or false statement
- s. 367Forgery
- s. 368(1.1)Use, trafficking or possession of a forged document
- s. 368.1Forgery instruments
- s. 372(4)False information / indecent or harassing communications
- s. 380(1)(b)Fraud (under $5,000)
- s. 380.2(4)Failing to comply with a prohibition order (in relation to fraud)
- s. 382.1(2)Tipping (insider trading)
- s. 402.2(5)Identity theft / trafficking in identity information
- s. 403(3)Identity fraud
- s. 412(1)Forgery of trademarks and trade descriptions (ss. 407–411)
- s. 415(g)Offences in relation to a wreck
- s. 417(2)Unlawful transactions in public stores
- s. 420(1)Military stores
- s. 422(1)(g)Criminal breach of contract
- s. 423(1)Intimidation
- s. 425.1(2)Threats and retaliation against employees
- s. 430(3)Mischief (testamentary instrument / property over $5,000)
- s. 430(4)Mischief (other property)
- s. 430(4.2)Mischief in relation to cultural property
- s. 430(5)Mischief in relation to computer data
- s. 430(5.1)Act or omission likely to constitute mischief
- s. 432(1)–(2)Unauthorized recording of a movie / recording for sale
- s. 437False alarm of fire
- s. 446(2)Causing damage or injury (captive animals conveyed or abandoned)
- s. 462.31(2)Laundering proceeds of crime
- s. 462.33(11)Failing to comply with a restraint order
- s. 463(d)Attempts, accessories — hybrid offences
- s. 487.0552(1)Failure to comply with an order or summons
- s. 487.08(4)Use of bodily substances
- s. 490.031(1)Failing to comply with an order (National Defence Act / International Transfer of Offenders Act)
- s. 490.0311Knowingly providing false information (Sex Offender Information Registration Act)
- s. 490.8(9)Contravening a restraint order (offence-related property)
Summary conviction offences
57 offencesThese carried a maximum penalty of six months’ imprisonment before Bill C-75 came into force on September 19, 2019.
- s. 54Assisting a deserter
- s. 56Offences in relation to members of the RCMP
- s. 66(1)Unlawful assembly
- s. 83(1)Engaging in a prize fight
- s. 89(2)Carrying a weapon while attending a public meeting
- s. 134(1)Perjury (where not required to make oath, etc.)
- s. 174(1)Nudity
- s. 175(1)Causing a disturbance, indecent exhibition, loitering, etc.
- s. 176(2)–(3)Disturbing religious worship or certain meetings
- s. 177Trespassing at night
- s. 201(2)Person found in, or owner permitting use of, a gaming or betting house
- s. 206(4)Buying a ticket in an unlawful lottery or game of chance
- s. 207(3)(b)Participation in a lottery scheme (permitted lotteries)
- s. 207.1(3)(b)Participation in a lottery scheme (permitted lotteries, international cruise ship)
- s. 210(2)Landlord, inmate, etc. (common bawdy-house)
- s. 211Transporting a person to a bawdy-house
- s. 213(1)–(1.1)Stopping or impeding traffic / communicating (sexual services for consideration)
- s. 278.9(2)Publication prohibited (in relation to a production order)
- s. 278.95(2)Publication prohibited (admissibility hearing re complainant’s sexual activity)
- s. 320.19(2)Operation while impaired — low blood drug concentration
- s. 320.36(4)Unauthorized use or disclosure of a bodily substance or results
- s. 335(1)Taking a motor vehicle or vessel, or found therein, without consent
- s. 339(2)Dealer in second-hand goods (lumbering equipment without consent)
- s. 353(3)–(4)Failing to keep a record of transaction; sale of an automobile master key
- s. 364(1)Fraudulently obtaining food, beverage or accommodation
- s. 393(3)Fraudulently obtaining transportation
- s. 398Falsifying an employment record
- s. 401(1)Obtaining carriage by false billing
- s. 419Unlawful use of military uniforms or certificates
- s. 425Offences by employers
- s. 438(2)Interfering with the saving of a wreck
- s. 439(1)Interfering with a marine signal (making fast a vessel or boat)
- s. 442Interfering with boundary lines
- s. 447.1(2)Breach of an order (cruelty to animals)
- s. 454Slugs and tokens
- s. 456Defacing current coins
- s. 457(3)Likeness of bank-notes
- s. 463(c)Attempts, accessories — summary offences
- s. 464(b)Counselling an offence that is not committed — summary offences
- s. 465(1)(d)Conspiracy — summary offences
- s. 486.6(1)Failing to comply with an order restricting publication (sexual offences; victims and witnesses)
- s. 487.0197Contravening a preservation demand
- s. 487.0198Contravening a preservation or production order
- s. 487.0199Destruction of preserved data
- s. 487.08(3)Use of bodily substances
- s. 487.2Contravening a restriction on publication (warrant)
- s. 490.0312Obligation to advise police service (NCR finding outside Canada)
- s. 517(2)Failing to comply with an order (matters not to be published for a specified period)
- s. 539(3)Failing to comply with an order (publication of evidence at a preliminary inquiry)
- s. 542(2)Restriction on publishing preliminary inquiry reports (confession or admission)
- s. 648(2)Restriction on publication (portion of trial where jury absent)
- s. 649Disclosure of jury proceedings
- s. 672.37(3)Federal employment application requiring disclosure of an NCR verdict (absolute discharge / no disposition)
- s. 672.501(11)Failing to comply with an order restricting publication (sexual offences, NCR)
- s. 732.11(4)Prohibition on use of a bodily substance (probation)
- s. 742.31(4)Prohibition on use of a bodily substance (conditional sentence)
- s. 810.4(4)Prohibition on use of a bodily substance (recognizance)
Driving offences (restored to scope)
4 offencesThese four Criminal Code driving offences were within scope for years, were briefly removed by Bill C-46 (in force December 21, 2018), and were then deliberately brought back.
- s. 320.13(1)Dangerous operation
- s. 320.16(1)Failure to stop after an accident
- s. 320.17Flight from a peace officer
- s. 320.18(1)Operation while prohibited
Non-offence proceedings
2 offencesCertain hearings that are not themselves offences. Including but not limited to the examples below.
- s. 111Application for a prohibition order (firearm prohibition hearings)
- s. 810Sureties to keep the peace (peace bond hearings)
Compiled from the Law Society of Ontario’s list of permitted Criminal Code summary conviction offences for licensed paralegals, as it stood on September 19, 2019. Where this summary and the Criminal Code differ, the Code governs. Scope can change as the Law Society and Parliament amend the rules — confirm any specific charge with us before relying on it.
Find the charge. Then call.
If your matter is on this list, it may be one we can take. If it isn’t, we’ll tell you who can. The first call is free, confidential, and without obligation.