Meritorious Service Medal
Awarded on: 2020-11-20
Invested on: 2025-06-11
William J. Simpson, M.S.M., Q.C. (deceased)
Ottawa, Ontario
Lawyer William Simpson was a strong advocate for regulating and licensing paralegals in Ontario. He played a lead role in negotiating certification requirements that allowed them, for the first time, to represent clients in some court matters. The progressive change has resulted in enhanced credibility and more jobs for paralegals, in addition to more options for legal representation and better access to justice for Ontarians.