Lawyer Richard Auger Prepares a Case

If you have been charged with a criminal offence, now is the time to take the responsible step of hiring the best Ottawa criminal defence lawyer for your case.   How do you do that?

Many accused start with the list of lawyers they receive at the Ottawa police station.  Maybe you were charged late at night and called for legal advice from the jail.  Is that the person who you want to handle your very serious case? Consider whether the experienced lawyer you want on your case is answering his phone in the middle of the night. Many lawyers consider the midnight calls to be the role for very junior counsel.

A second place you may look for an experienced criminal defence lawyer is the Yellow Pages.  Do you find you can obtain meaningful information from a Yellow Pages ad?  Many prospective clients have noted that the lawyers in the Yellow Pages pretty much all sound the same.

You are probably getting closer by checking out the lawyer’s website.  Does the website include helpful information, available for free, to answer your basic questions?  Does the website include case results and client testimonials?  The more helpful information you get from the defence lawyer’s website, the more comfortable you may feel knowing (a) that this is a real criminal defence lawyer who knows his stuff and (b) that this is a lawyer who will take the time to explain and educate you about the legal process.

Without exception, however, there is no substitute for meeting face to face with the criminal defence lawyer for a free consultation.  The lawyer should welcome you to meet him at his office.  The lawyer’s staff should be courteous.  The lawyer should actively answer your questions and talk specifically about your case.  (Having said that, no lawyer will be able to predict the outcome of your case at the initial client meeting.)  At the meeting you should take the time to ask all the questions you have about trial experience, past cases on similar charges and anything else you want to know before selecting a lawyer.  A competent criminal defence lawyer will make you feel comfortable while you ask the questions you need to make an excellent choice.

It is not easy to pick an impaired driving lawyer when you are not a lawyer yourself. In many ways, they all look the same. But are they? Here are some facts to consider:

Fact #1

Not all lawyers have the same experience. A lawyer may have a great resume and might have argued many high profile cases. But, if your lawyer does not have specific experience fighting impaired driving charges, you should keep looking. The law surrounding impaired driving, over 80, and related charges is technical and constantly changing. You need someone who is current on the law.

Fact #2

Just because a lawyer advertises that he or she is a criminal lawyer, that does not mean that he or she has defended any, or many, impaired driving or related charges. You must ask!

Fact #3

Not every lawyer who takes impaired driving cases is willing to take them to trial. Some lawyers are able and willing to try to get you a good deal for your charges. However, if no deal is offered, they will encourage you to plead guilty rather than running a trial for you. While sometimes a guilty plea makes sense, you should never feel like you don’t have a choice.

Fact #4

The Legal Aid list, or an internet lawyer directory service, or the yellow pages is not the way to find the best impaired driving lawyer for your case. None of those listings do any review to ensure that the lawyer listed has experience in the particular area. There is no substitute for your own research and for interviewing the lawyer.

Ontario’s Attorney General Chris Bentley made it clear this weekend there is unlikely to be a change in the Legal Aid Plan any time soon.  The AG acknowleged that there is no money for lawyers doing legal aid but suggested that the time for asking for higher tariffs is not now.

With legal aid hourly rates so low, many experienced lawyers will not, or cannot, take legal aid cases.  If you are accused of a serious crime, consider hiring a criminal defence lawyer privately, on a payment plan.  Trial dates are usually far enough in advance that an affordable plan can be put in place so that you can receive the representation you want and need to get the best outcome for your criminal charges.

A criminal defence lawyer at Auger Hollingsworth will speak to you about your case at an initial consultation.  If you would like to speak to a criminal lawyer in Ottawa, Smiths Falls, Perth, Kingston, Toronto or Cornwall, email info@criminaldefenceottawa.ca.