If you’re facing a criminal charge and have to go to trial, hiring the right criminal defence lawyer is your best chance at either proving your innocence of a crime or getting the most favourable sentence you can get. Unfortunately, finding a great Toronto criminal defence lawyer is like looking for a needle in a haystack and many criminal lawyers out there don’t have their client’s best interests in mind. However, there are still attorneys out there with a mission and calling for defending your right to a fair trial and they will pull every stop for you to also get justice. Here are some of the questions you should ask a prospective Toronto criminal defence lawyer.
How Long Have You Been Practicing Criminal Law?
This is a very important question. Also, notice how I mentioned criminal law specifically, and not just law. This is because many lawyers jump from the prosecution to the defence side, or just specialize in other areas of law.
But you have to make sure that the lawyer has many years under their belt defending criminal cases. Toronto criminal lawyer David Cohn, for instance, has been defending criminal matters for over 30 years now. A lawyer like this is less likely to be like a deer in the headlights during a trial and may have forged many relationships with prosecutors and judges, which can have an influence on your criminal case. So, make sure that you work with a seasoned Toronto criminal lawyer with lots of court experience and a solid track record.
Are you Familiar with My Type of Case?
From a criminal lawyer, you should also know that criminal law is very vast and can cover things like impaired driving, drug charges, white collar crimes, and more. This is why you should also ask criminal lawyers how many cases like yours they’ve encountered and what was their approach and results as a lawyer.
Will You Actually be Going to Trial for Me?
The sad truth is that many Toronto criminal defence lawyers hate going to court and would rather go for a plea bargain and get things over with, even if you get the short end of the stick. This can also be the sign of a lawyer with little crime trial experience. But not all cases are simple enough to be settled by your lawyer. This is why you should make sure that you work with a lawyer with significant trial experience and who’s both comfortable and skilled.
What About the Fees?
Finances are also very important for many and you have to be clear about the fees with your criminal lawyers before you begin. Usually, Toronto criminal defence lawyers will charge clients based on a flat fee. The fees can vary within a certain range, but their quotes will usually be a flat figure. As your lawyer they should also tell you about all the additional costs associated with your criminal case.
Conclusion
Finding the right criminal defence lawyer or attorney is all about asking the right questions and doing your due diligence. By asking these questions, you’ll be able to start building a list of solid criminal lawyers to represent you for your crime.