Hiring a Criminal Lawyer

If you have been charged with a criminal offence, or suspect that you are being investigated for a criminal offence, you should still get a lawyer even if you are innocent. While it might seem safe to assume that any investigation of your supposed involvement in a crime will end once you tell the police that you are innocent, this is simply not the ...

A lawyer can effectively defend his or her client only if the client may consult with the lawyer in confidence. Solicitor-client privilege protects legal advice communications between client and lawyer that were intended to be confidential by the parties and that did not have the purpose of furthering unlawful conduct. This privilege exists the moment a client, or potential client, seeks legal advice from ...

At your initial consultation we will typically spend about one hour gathering critical information about yourself and about the charges you are currently facing. We will also want your honest recollection of the events that led to your being charged with an offence. This is a very important meeting because it allows us to gather information about the most fundamental aspects of your case ...

If you cannot afford a lawyer, there are numerous Government funded and charitable legal organizations that may be able to assist you depending on your charges, the jeopardy you face, and your income. You will have to look for the ones in your local area to make sure it's available. All provinces in Canada have a Government funded Legal Aid office that can assist ...

There are advantages and disadvantages to hiring a lawyer from the same place where you were charged with an offence. If you have been charged in a rural area, it is unlikely that a local lawyer will have the same degree of specialization in a particular area of criminal law as a lawyer from a bigger city who practices criminal law exclusively. Lawyers who ...

If you have been charged with an offence, technically you are entitled to act on your own behalf in defending against the charges. Acting as your own representative is inadvisable, however, where the allegations and charges are complex, and the potential consequences you may face are serious. Indeed, a famous quote familiar to most lawyers goes as follows: “A man who is his own ...

Once you retain a lawyer, your lawyer will take over the conduct of your case. This means that your lawyer will order and review disclosure on your behalf, attend your court appearances on your behalf, and speak with the Crown Prosecutor in the hopes of obtaining the best possible resolution for your case. Being charged with a criminal offence and maneuvering the Court system ...

In order to have a productive first meeting with your lawyer, there are some preliminary steps that you can take. You should ensure that you bring all documents given to you by the police or the Court to review with your lawyer at your first meeting. It is also extremely helpful for you to write a detailed summary of the events relating to your ...