Pre-Charge Legal Advice Lawyers in Victoria
What is Pre-Charge Legal Advice and Why is it Important?
Pre-Charge legal advice involves the consultation of a criminal lawyer at the early stages of an investigation. If you have been involved in illegal activity or the police have identified you as a suspect of a crime, you should not wait until you are arrested to speak to a lawyer. Rather, you should contact one of our experienced British Columbia criminal defence lawyers immediately.
The pre-charge phase of a criminal investigation is often where police will gather the most incriminating evidence against the accused. Without knowing what the police may be looking for, or what you should and should not say to the authorities, you put yourself at risk of providing the police with the very information they need to charge you with an offence.
If you want to do everything you can to prevent charges being laid against you and to prevent your potential arrest and detention, it is vital that during this critical phase you seek pre-charge legal advice.
Our experienced lawyers will also equip you with an understanding of what to expect if you become the subject of a criminal investigation.
How Our Pre-Charge Legal Advice Can Help You
Pre-charge legal advice can make a significant difference in how a criminal investigation is handled and whether you will be arrested, detained, or charged.
For a flat rate, we offer a pre-charge legal advice package that includes:
- A comprehensive and careful review of your current situation;
- A careful review of all correspondence you have had with the authorities to date;
- A careful review of all correspondence you have had with potential witnesses or complainants in the case;
- A detailed explanation of the jeopardy you may face and the consequences of being charged or convicted of the offence;
- Assistance with preparing for police interviews/interrogations;
- Drafting correspondence to authorities or investigators;
- Negotiating with authorities to resolve the matter without criminal charges;
- Detailed legal advice about your options and what to do next;
- Standby legal advice as the situation unfolds;
- Standby assistance when interacting with the police; and
- Assistance with bail should you be arrested.
Where pre-charge legal advice leads to avoiding criminal charges, it is unquestionably the best money you could spend on a lawyer. If criminal charges are inevitable, the fee that you pay for our pre-charge advice and assistance will be credited towards our general retainer fee for defending your case.
Do I Need Pre-Charge Legal Advice Even if I Wasn’t the One Who Committed the Crime?
Unfortunately, individuals who did not commit a criminal offence frequently become key suspects in criminal investigations.
This can happen in a variety of ways, including:
- You were in the wrong place at the wrong time;
- You were present while someone you are affiliated with committed a crime; and/or
- You were privy to information about a crime being committed.
Even if you personally did nothing wrong, pre-charge legal advice can play an important role in preserving your innocence. Without a clear understanding of what the police are looking for, and your rights and obligations when being investigated, it is possible that you might say or do something that can lead to charges being laid against you, even if you are innocent.
If you are charged and later found not guilty of the crime, the mere fact that you have been charged with an offence can still negatively impact your life, as significant social stigma often accompanies criminal charges.
This can lead to serious repercussions, such as:
- The loss of your job;
- Inability to find preferable future employment;
- Issues with travel; or
- Mistrust from friends and family members.
Being proactive by engaging one of our experienced criminal defence lawyers to provide pre-charge legal advice can prevent these potential harms.
What’s Next?
With our guidance, you will have the information you need to protect yourself during a criminal investigation. Rest assured, we will do everything we can to insulate you from the stressful and all-consuming experience of being charged with a criminal offence.
If you are interested in seeking out pre-charge legal advice, contact one of our British Columbia offices immediately so we can schedule a consultation at the earliest opportunity.
Pre-Charge Process FAQs
