When you get into legal trouble the only person you need to rely on is a criminal lawyer. You want to find someone to represent who has the experience, and the ability to help you. There are many different things to think about when hiring one to represent you. Here are some of the most important things you will want to look for in this professional.
Talk to your friends, business acquaintances, and colleagues to see if they can refer someone they have used before. This will help you build a list of possible options that you can consider. In almost every city there will be many choices, so you’ll need a list to narrow down people who can do the job for you.
Experience is something that should be high on your list of qualifications. Most people don’t realize when you talk about criminal cases you want someone with enough experience to be in your corner. It will make you more at ease as you have someone who has been through it before. Do not underestimate the value of experience in hiring this professional.
Costs should also be high on your list of priorities to look at when hiring someone
When you hire this professional the number of fees may vary depending on the situation. As the severity of the offense increases usually so will the costs. Many will also ask to stay ahead of time before they will do anything for you in your case. Fees will vary, so make sure you look around for the best deal.
Make sure they belong to a variety of different societies like the American Bar Association and others. This tells you that they are serious about their craft and doing the best job possible. Most Toronto Criminal Lawyers would belong to several of them, and you want the person you hire to belong to at least a few.
Don’t be afraid to look online for applicants as well
There are many online directories that you will want to look for potential people to represent you. The one thing you have to do is not limit your choices and the Internet opens up many possibilities for you.
Sit down and talk to each candidate because you will want to know how they will deal with your case. Ask your criminal lawyer plenty of questions, because this will help you better decide which one is best for you. Don’t be afraid to feel all professionals out, because you’ll need to join whoever you hire.
Each will have an impact on who you can hire. Above are some of the important things that should be looked at very carefully.
Advantage of Keeping a Criminal Lawyer
There are two types of crimes in Canada, each with its own procedural stages: summary conviction offenses and indictable offenses. Most offenses are dual-procedure, or hybrid.
Summary Conviction Offenses
These offenses generally carry a sentence of up to a maximum of six months imprisonment, with some exceptions. There are two procedural stages: pre-trial and trial, and different strategies applicable to each stage can be used by an experienced Criminal Defense Solicitor.
The pre-trial stage involves three procedural steps:
1) Obtain a complete disclosure of all evidence from the Crown Attorney;
2) Pre-Crown Trial meeting; a
3) Pre-Judicial Trial.
The initial disclosure made during the first or second court appearance when facing a lawsuit in a Toronto court is incomplete in most cases. A criminal defense attorney will carefully review each disclosure and make a second or third request for additional material that appears to be missing from the disclosure package. These additional materials are almost always useful to the client. Once the full disclosure receive, the criminal defense attorney will review the materials with the client before moving on to the next step.
A Criminal Defence Lawyer Toronto will arrange a pre-trial meeting with the Crown Attorney. An effective strategy for a criminal defense lawyer is to fully publicize all issues and identify any weaknesses in the Crown’s case. In some cases, the Crown will then consider reducing or withdrawing the charge.
A pre-judicial proceeding is a hearing before a judge attended by the Crown Attorney
The Criminal Defense Attorney and can be arranged in Toronto, in most cases. An effective strategy for an experienced criminal defense lawyer is to seize this opportunity to argue any weakness in the Crown case and to encourage the judge to face the Crown to review whether the charges should be reduced or withdrawn.
In addition, the Crown may specify a conviction site in a preliminary conviction application and this will discuss with the judge. Once the issues narrow, and if the trial is to continue, how many witnesses will call and how long the trial will take discussion.
After the pre-trial session ends, the criminal defense attorney will discuss the trial strategy with the client and instruct to set a trial date. In Toronto, the case is being held in one of Ontario’s five Courts of Justice.
An offense worth a charge
These are more serious offenses, with a maximum sentence of up to two years to life imprisonment. The Ontario Court of Justice allows the selection of a criminal defense attorney for a preliminary hearing before a judge. Which is held after the pre-trial session and before the trial session. In Toronto, there are five Ontario Courts of Justice where criminal cases hear:
Old City Hall, Parkland, Scarborough Court, and two in North York
Like the case, the Crown calls its witnesses and the criminal defense attorney has the opportunity to cross-examine each witness. There is no plea of guilty or not guilty, and no inquiry of guilty or not guilty. Instead, the judge must decide whether there is enough evidence to go to trial at the Superior Court of Justice. Located on University Avenue in downtown Toronto, which deals only with guilty felons.
This is a good opportunity for an experienced criminal defense lawyer to examine Crown evidence and uncover the weaknesses of the Crown case. If the judge decides there is not enough evidence for trial, the charges dismiss and the client can go. If a trial is to proceed, the criminal defense attorney may use the evidence provided by witnesses during their examination and question at the preliminary hearing against them at trial.
To effectively represent a client facing criminal charges in Toronto. An experienced criminal defense lawyer will take advantage of all of these opportunities to successfully dispose of charges at every stage of the case.
Read More: Property Dispute Lawyers: What You Should Know Before Hiring One
