Our Practice Areas

Questions clients ask about criminal defence

Right after a charge

• Just charged? Start with our first-week checklist after a criminal charge in Toronto.
• Released with a court date? Here is what happens at a first court appearance in Toronto.
• Worried about time off work? Read whether you must attend court in person or your lawyer can appear for you.
• Missed a date? See what happens after a missed court date in Ontario.

Bail and release

• Arrested on a Friday night or a long weekend? Find out when a weekend or holiday bail hearing happens in Toronto.
• Asked to help a family member with bail? Learn what a surety agrees to in Ontario.

Moving through the courts

• Wondering why early dates keep getting adjourned? Here is what disclosure is in an Ontario criminal case.
• Have a pre-trial coming up? Learn what happens at a judicial pre-trial.
• Heard that the Crown "elected summarily"? Here is what the choice between summary and indictable changes.
• Asked to elect a mode of trial? Read how the choice between a judge and a jury works.
• First charge and hoping to avoid a record? See whether diversion is possible in Toronto.
• Planning ahead? Read what drives the cost of a criminal defence in Toronto.

Outcomes and records

• Comparing resolution options? See what a withdrawal, peace bond, discharge or conviction means.
• Facing a job or volunteer screening? Check whether a withdrawn charge shows up on a police record check.
• Have an old conviction? Read how long you must wait to apply for a record suspension.

Impaired driving

• Blew in the warn range? Here is what happens after a warn-range reading in Ontario.

Sentencing and appeals

• Preparing for sentencing? Learn what a pre-sentence report and a victim impact statement are.
• Facing a possible jail term? Read about conditional sentences served in the community.
• Convicted and thinking about next steps? See how to appeal a criminal conviction in Ontario.

For Persian-speaking clients

• More at ease in Farsi? Read our guide for Persian-speaking people charged with a crime in the GTA.
• Not a citizen yet? Learn how a conviction can affect permanent resident status.

Serving the GTA: local courts and police

• Charged in the city? Read about criminal defence in Toronto: the courts, the bail centre and the police divisions.
• Court date downtown? Here is what to expect at the Toronto courthouse, 10 Armoury Street.
• Someone held for bail in Toronto? See what to expect at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre.
• Case going to the Superior Court? Learn what happens at 361 University Avenue.
• Charged in Richmond Hill, Markham, Thornhill or Newmarket? Read how York Region criminal cases work.
• Date at 50 Eagle Street West? Here is what to expect at the Newmarket courthouse.
• Charged in Vaughan or Woodbridge? See criminal cases in Vaughan.
• Charged in Brampton? Read about criminal cases in Brampton.
• Date at 7755 Hurontario Street? Here is what to expect at the Brampton courthouse.
• Charged in Mississauga? Find out why Mississauga criminal cases are heard in Brampton.

When criminal and family cases meet

• A domestic charge and a family case at the same time in Toronto? Read how the Integrated Domestic Violence Court works.
• Not sure which order applies? Compare a restraining order, a peace bond and a bail condition.
• Need to see your children while on bail? Read how a no-contact condition can be changed.
• Out of the home after a charge? See who keeps the matrimonial home.
• Firearms taken after a domestic call? Learn what happens to seized firearms and licences.
• Accused of a breach? Compare breach penalties for orders and conditions.

Court disputes over money

• Just been served? Find out how many days you have to respond to a lawsuit.
• Case in Toronto Small Claims Court? Here is what to expect at 47 Sheppard Avenue East.
• Found a judgment you never knew about? Read whether a default judgment can be set aside.
• Claim between $35,000 and $50,000? See what the new $50,000 Small Claims limit means.
• Wages being garnished? Learn how much of your wages can be garnished.
• Claim up to $200,000 in the Superior Court? Check whether Simplified Procedure applies.