When Do You Need a Criminal Lawyer?
If you have been charged or arrested under suspicion of committing a crime, you should immediately contact an experienced criminal defense lawyer. It is generally recommended that you hire a criminal lawyer whenever you have been charged with committing a crime.
This is especially true when the charges involve a felony offense and is even more critical when that felony resulted in another party’s serious bodily harm or death (e.g., an aggravated or violent felony).
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Criminal Lawyer in Canada?
If you are looking to hire a criminal lawyer in Canada, the chances are that you are in a difficult situation and need the assistance of a criminal defense lawyer quickly. Whether minor or more severe, facing criminal charges is often a grave matter with consequences. These may include jail time, creating a criminal record, monetary fines, loss of future employment opportunities, or more. Therefore, it is often in your best interests to find and hire an experienced and well-qualified criminal defense lawyer to assist you with your charges.
Criminal defense lawyer costs will typically vary based on various factors. These may include the severity of the charges you are facing, the notoriety or experience of the lawyer, the complexity of the legal issues, and whether the case goes to trial. Thus, discussing the attorney’s fees before entering into a written contract when hiring a criminal defense lawyer is essential.
According to a Canadian Lawyer’s Legal Fees Survey, the average amount of fees charged to defend a client in a one-day criminal offense trial came out to $6,111.
What to Look for in a Criminal Lawyer
The following is a list of some crucial questions that a person may want to ask a potential criminal defense lawyer in advance of retaining them.
These include:
- Whether the consultation session is free, and if not, what do they charge for it?;
- How do they structure their fee arrangements? (e.g., do they bill by the hour, or is it a flat fee?);
- Have they ever handled similar cases? If so, how many and what were the outcomes of those cases?;
- How long does the lawyer expect the case to go on? (note that this will vary drastically by case and may even change during it);
- How often does the lawyer update their clients? Is there a certain method they use to stay in touch with clients? What is it? Are they reachable by that same method?; and
- Will the attorney-client privilege cover details about the case disclosed in the meeting? Will the privilege still apply, even if the lawyer is not chosen to represent them?
How to Prepare for Your Consultation With the Criminal Lawyer
There are certain documents that a defendant should compile before they meet with their criminal lawyer. Some documents that they should gather and bring with them to the meeting include:
- Documents that pertain to their current felony case (e.g., search warrants, arraignment papers, etc.);
- Documents that relate to a prior criminal case (e.g., rap sheet, arrest record, past conviction, etc.);
- Evidence that supports dropping the felony case, such as recordings, images, videos, text messages, and so on;
- If possible, a list of both eyewitnesses and character witnesses along with their contact information; and
- Any other documents that could help the defendant clear the felony charges.
In addition, the defendant should also prepare a list of questions for the criminal lawyer. For example, they should ask them questions about their services, like what percentage of felony cases they have won in the past and how much they charge to take a case.
Alternatively, if a person has already hired a criminal lawyer, they should ask them questions about the felony case. For example, the penalties they might receive if they are convicted and the lawyer’s strategies to create a strong defense.
Where to Find the Best Criminal Lawyers in Canada
Use LegalMatch to find the most experienced criminal defense lawyers in Canada. A well-qualified criminal defense lawyer will be able to help you assert any available defense to the charges brought against you, defend you in court, and guide you through the entire criminal process. You can also find information about affordable legal counsel through the Canadian Legal Aid Program here.
