If you have been charged with a criminal offence in Canada, it is important to retain a criminal lawyer as soon as possible. Because a criminal conviction can be very serious and can affect the rest of your life, it is critical to have someone who knows the highly specialized area of criminal law representing your interests.

 Where to Find a Canada Criminal Lawyer

If you want to enlist the services of a criminal lawyer from a private law practice, one of the best resources is the Internet. The online directory Canadian-Lawyers.ca is a good site to search. You just have to use the “Find A Lawyer” search box which can be found on the right-hand side of the page. The site provides search tips and you can expand your search to cities that are in close proximity. When you do a search for criminal lawyers in your area, you will be shown a list of lawyers. You can learn more about each lawyer by clicking on the lawyer’s name or by clicking on the link that says “more info.” The “more info” link is located next to each listing. In the profile section, there should be a link to the lawyer’s website.

Going to individual lawyer websites will allow you to learn more about the lawyer, services offered, and the law firm itself. It is always a good idea to hire a Canadian criminal lawyer with an office in the place where you are facing a criminal charge.

What to look for in a Canada Criminal Lawyer

When researching criminal lawyers, take the time to review their biographies. Check to see if the lawyers have experience in the criminal law area you require. You also should hire a lawyer that has trial experience. In addition, check to see if they belong to any reputable legal associations. You can also do an online search to see if they have any law articles posted online. Check their Frequently Asked Questions web page as this page can provide answers to important questions or concerns you may have.

Another option is to check the online archives of your area newspaper to see if something has been written about the lawyers you are considering. You can also contact your provincial law society to find out if the lawyers you are researching are in good standing. In addition, ask for references as it can be very helpful to talk to others about their experience with a particular lawyer.

Criminal Lawyer Experience

It is a good idea to hire a lawyer with several years experience. It is especially helpful to have a lawyer that has a few years experience in your particular criminal charge. Some lawyers can specialize or note that they have a lot of experience in such areas as assaults, DUI, drug crimes, traffic offenses, sexual assaults, domestic assaults, or white collar crimes. It is also wise to hire a criminal lawyer that has a good working relationship with the Crown Attorney’s office because many criminal cases will result in a plea deal between the defence and prosecutor.

Criminal Lawyer’s Staff

A criminal lawyer will have a staff to help him or her with legal cases. You should make sure you are comfortable with the staff. The staff should be friendly, professional, and courteous. Often you will be dealing directly with the staff as criminal lawyers are very busy.

Cost of Representation

Criminal attorneys in Canada will charge by the hour or by a flat fee that is payable up front. Fees can be competitive so shop around. However, criminal lawyers with a lot of experience and have a solid reputation tend to be more expensive. Although, because criminal charges are very serious, it may be worth spending more and look at it as an investment in your future.

My client was charged with Trafficking in Cocaine, which was withdrawn after I was able to convince the crown that there was no reasonable prospect of conviction.

Client was charged with Conspiracy to Import Ketamine, Importing Ketamine and Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Ketamine. All charges were withdrawn after numerous meetings with Judge and the Federal Crown, as well as several meetings with the Crown, where I was successful in persuading the Federal Crown not to proceed with the charges.

Client was charged with Possession of the Purpose of Trafficking in Marijuana and Possession of a Substance, specifically Marijuana. The charges were withdrawn after several pretrial meetings with the Judge and the Federal Crown, where I was able to persuade the Crown that the matter is jeopardized as a result of late disclosure.

Client was charged with Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking in Methamphetamine and Possession of Proceeds of Crime. The charges were withdrawn after several fruitful discussions with the Crown, where I was able to convince them that there was no reasonable prospect of conviction.

If you are charged with a criminal offence it is important that you get the best defence possible. The best defence entails contacting a criminal defence lawyer to help explain your rights and receive advice as to the best course of action.

My office provides a free initial consultation because I am a firm believer that everyone charged with a criminal offence should be aware of what they are charged with, what defences are available, what the court process involves, what the possible outcomes are, and to receive answers to any questions that you may have. I take pride that my clients are aware of what is going on with their criminal matter during the entire process. This is accomplished through the personalized, detailed service that I offer.

My areas of practice include:

• Shoplifting
• Theft
• Fraud
• Credit Card offences
• Assault – domestic
• Aggravated Assault
• Sexual Assault
• Drinking and Driving Offences
• Dangerous Driving
• Robbery
• Possession of Stolen Property
• Proceeds of Crime
• Drugs Trafficking
• Possession of Drugs
• Marihuana Grow Operation
• Youth Court Cases
• Constitutional Applications
• Search Warrants
• Bails

Client was charged with three counts of Production of Marijuana and Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking in Marijuana. All charges were withdrawn after extensive discussions with the Crown about potential problems with the Crown’s case.