Frequently Asked questions

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The first step is to have a consultation. You can request one by sending us an email or calling our office. During the consultation, we will discuss some basic facts about the case, our fees and provide you with general information about the charges you face and the tasks we will perform.  We cannot give you legal advice during this consultation, as we don’t have all the information we need to competently advise you. Professional advice can only be given after we have diligently reviewed your case and the relevant laws. 

After our consultation, we will review with you our retainer agreement. This is a simply a contract for our services which provides a clear picture of the services you are hiring us for, the fees , our expectations and what you can expect from us. Once this agreement is complete and payment is made, we will begin working on your case. 

1)   Get your side of the story- It’s important for us to document your version of the events while it’s fresh in your mind. This ensures we have the most accurate record to rely upon when it’s time for your case to be heard in court. 

2)  Gather Biographical Information- Who you are is major part of what makes each case unique. We thoroughly enjoy getting to know each of our clients, their family and their history. Your personal story may also have some benefit to your case.

3)  Request a copy of all the Evidence -The police compile volumes of evidence during any investigation and we are entitled to review it before you are required to make any decisions about your case. This is an essential step to any criminal defence.

4)  Review all the Evidence (police reports, video footage, witness statements, documentary records, etc). Once we have all the evidence, we review it thoroughly to assess the strength or weaknesses in any available defences.

5)  Conduct Legal Research – Each case has unique facts and unique legal avenues of defence. We will review the most up-to-date legal authorities to properly advise you which defences are most likely to succeed and how to present them. 

6)  Provide Strategic Legal Advice- After we have reviewed your case, we will discuss our findings with you. You will then have to instruct us on how you wish to proceed. In most instances, the path forward will be obvious from our advice and we can execute our plan. Our role is to ensure you clearly understand your options and make informed decisions that best suit your interests. 

7)  Speak with the Crown Attorney- This is an important meeting. Usually, we get one chance to speak with the Crown Attorney and discuss the case, so it is important to be prepared and have all the facts beforehand. Each case is different, but these conversations usually focus on procedural concerns, outstanding evidence, amicable resolutions, and/or the legal issues that are likely to require litigation in court. 

8)  Speak to the Judge- Not every case requires judicial intervention and comment, but where there is a benefit to involving a Judge we will schedule a meeting called a “Judicial Pre-Trial”. Judges have a wealth of knowledge and experience in resolving disputes and ensuring cases proceed fairly through our system. This meeting is not a formal trial and the judge cannot dispose of your case like they can after a trial, but they can provide useful guidance/feedback on the various.

9)  Make all Court Appearances- Each case will inevitably have more than one court date, sometimes many, so we appear in court on your behalf. You will have to attend some court dates, but not every court. We attend the court dates for you, so you can carry on with your day-to-day activities instead of waiting in court all day. You will be informed about each and every court appearance and told if your attendance will be required. We want you to attend when it is beneficial to your case, so that your time is used most effectively. 

Criminal allegations vary in complexity, so the amount of time which is necessary to complete your case will vary accordingly. Some cases are able to complete in a few months, some go on much longer, but the there are limits to how long a case is allowed to take. The court process occurs in stages and a “trial” is the final stage.  

Trials usually occur 6-12 months after your first court date depending on the court’s availability.

First court dates are mainly an administrative introduction to your case. The court will ensure you understand the formal wording of charges and discuss basic procedural rights such as your right to have a lawyer represent you, your right to review all the evidence, and your right to have a reasonable opportunity to do these tasks prior to making any substantive decisions. 

The first court date is NOT a trial. None of the witnesses, or police officers, will be in court that date, nor are they required to be.

Bring any paperwork you have received, including your charge sheet or information, your release conditions, your promise to appear, and any documents listing your court dates. Any correspondence from the police, along with a written summary of what happened while it is still fresh, is also useful. The more detail you provide, the more clearly we can assess your case and explain your options at the first meeting. 

After you are charged, you will usually be released, either by the police on conditions or through a bail hearing, and any conditions must be followed exactly. Your lawyer then requests disclosure, which is the evidence the Crown intends to rely on, and reviews it with you. The case moves through court appearances and discussions with the Crown before it is resolved by withdrawal, a plea, or a trial. Early legal advice helps you avoid mistakes and understand each step. 

A pre-trial conference is a meeting between the defence, the Crown, and often a judge to discuss the case before trial. It is used to identify the real issues, estimate how long a trial will take, explore whether the matter can be resolved, and deal with scheduling and any legal applications. These discussions can narrow the issues and sometimes lead to a resolution without a trial.

Many kinds of evidence can be used in a criminal case, including witness testimony, statements made to police, physical and forensic evidence, documents, photographs, and electronic evidence such as text messages, social media, and video. To be used at trial, evidence must be relevant and admissible, and your lawyer can challenge evidence that was improperly obtained or is unreliable. 

Surveillance and video evidence can be significant, but it is rarely the whole story. Footage may be unclear, incomplete, or open to interpretation, and the angle, lighting, and timing can all affect what it actually shows. A careful review can reveal that a video does not prove what the Crown suggests, or that it supports the defence. We examine all video evidence closely, along with how and when it was obtained. 

Yes, We represent both adults and young persons charged with criminal offences. Cases involving youth are handled under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, which has its own procedures, protections, and sentencing principles focused on rehabilitation. We tailor the defence to the client, whether the matter is in adult or youth court.