Michelle Haigh is a Licensed Paralegal and the President and owner of Precision Paralegal Services. She was the first Paralegal Bencher to serve the maximum term of 12 years at the Law Society of Ontario (the regulating body for all Ontario Lawyers and Paralegals). Michelle was instrumental in building the process around regulating paralegals, developing the Professional Code of Conduct, and the discipline process. From 2016-2020 Michelle sat as a director on the board at Legal Aid Ontario where she focused on how the legal industry can utilize paralegals better, especially in under-serviced areas that create access to justice issues. Michelle represented the Law Society of Ontario from 2017-2018 on the Federation of Law Societies and is the only Paralegal who has served in the federation. In 2018, Michelle went to Ukraine to discuss the role of paralegals in Canada on behalf of the Government of Canada. She is a strong advocate for Paralegal regulation across Canada and has spoken to the Law Societies of Manitoba, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia.

During her 12 years as a Bencher, Michelle was an active Adjudicator sitting on three-person panels for Good Character Hearings and Discipline Matters. She was also appointed to the Proceedings Authorization Committee which is an integral part of the discipline process. Michelle now represents Lawyers and Paralegals before the LSO Tribunal and has re-directed her personal practice to focus on professional discipline matters.

In 2020 Michelle was awarded the William J. Simpson Distinguished Paralegal Award recognizing her extraordinary commitment to her profession. Having operated Precision Paralegal Services since 1996, she has mentored countless paralegals and frequently shares her expertise through professional education programs. She has been instrumental in the significant advances made in paralegal regulation in Ontario through her leadership and contribution as a Law Society Bencher.

Precision Paralegal has grown to become Canada’s largest Small Claims Court focused paralegal firm servicing clients in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia. Precision’s experienced paralegals and lawyers have handled over 10,000 matters, have 20,000 combined hours of courtroom experience, and have recovered over twenty-five million dollars for their clients.

In addition to managing the firm, Michelle handles complex individual, corporate and professional discipline matters. Michelle likes to be challenged by her files and wishes to continuously expand her knowledge.

Michelle graduated with Honours from the Paralegal Studies program at Sheridan College in 1996.  She also holds Faculty of Law Certificate(s) in ADR/Advanced ADR from the University of Windsor.

Paralegal Studies Program (Honours) at Sheridan College in 1996

Faculty of Law Certificate(s) in ADR/Advanced ADR from the University of Windsor

William J. Simpson Distinguished Paralegal Award

Law Society of Ontario 2020