There are no restrictions on the types of law that Oshawa lawyers can practice. Lawyers in Oshawa can appear and represent clients in court. You would likely want to consult a lawyer for advice and assistance on:
- Divorce or separation
- Criminal charges
- Drafting a will
- Buying or selling a home
- Employment issues
- Personal injury matters
- Motor vehicle accident matters
- Suing or being sued
- Buying or selling a business
- Dealing with an estate
- Incorporating a business
Oshawa lawyers have ethical obligations to clients. A lawyer’s principal responsibility is to ensure that each client obtains the benefit of their legal rights and is made aware of their legal obligations. Oshawa lawyers have three fundamental obligations. They must:
- Serve clients competently
- Be loyal to clients
- Keep client communications confidential
Additionally, Oshawa lawyers must provide a certain quality of service. The types of services they should provide are:
- Answering legal questions
- Helping clients find answers
- Appearing in court on a client’s behalf
- Mediating disputes
- Counseling clients
- Planning estates
- Administering wills
- Drafting contracts
- Structuring private business deals
- Lobbying government to change laws
- Drafting legislation
- Writing letters and opinions
- Taking steps to avoid litigation
- Negotiating case settlements
- Providing advice about clients’ legal problems and possible outcomes
I’ve Been Charged for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs. What Should I Do?
There are three main categories of driving crimes involving alcohol and drugs:
- Impaired driving
- Driving with more than the legal limit of alcohol or drugs in your blood
- Refusing a test to check for alcohol or drugs
Impaired driving is when your ability to drive is affected by alcohol or drugs. It doesn’t matter if you only consumed a small amount of alcohol or drugs. If your ability to drive is even slightly affected, you have committed a crime.
Even if the alcohol or drugs in your body aren’t obviously affecting your ability to drive, there are still legal limits for how much alcohol or drugs you can have in your body while driving.
It can be a crime to drink alcohol or take drugs and then try to drive somewhere quickly before your blood fully absorbs the alcohol or drugs. If your blood goes over the legal limit within two hours of when you stop driving, you have still committed a crime.
It is a crime to:
- Refuse to blow into a breath machine to check for alcohol
- Not blow into a breath machine properly (pretending to blow into it)
- Refuse a body-fluid sample to check for drugs
If you refuse a breath or drug test, the law considers it the same as if you have the highest amount of alcohol in your body. If you refuse a breath test or drug test, you could potentially receive the highest possible sentence.
Penalties for driving crimes can include:
- Fines and jail time
- License suspension
- A fee to get your license back
- An immediate fine
- Vehicle impounded
- Attend an alcohol treatment program
- Use a breath device to turn on your vehicle
- Medical evaluation to see if you’re fit to drive
Can I Have a Criminal Trial in French?
The Criminal Code of Canada says that if you’re French-speaking, you have the right to have your preliminary inquiry and trial in French. In these cases, the judge, the prosecutor, and the jury must be able to speak and understand French.
Oshawa lawyers or judges must tell you about your right to have your preliminary inquiry and trial in French.
If you want to have your trial in French, you must first apply. The deadline for filing your application depends on what you’ve been charged with and the court where your trial will be held. The deadline will be before your trial date.
You don’t have an automatic right to have your trial in French. Evidence is the information the police and prosecution have about your case. The court can order that some evidence be translated at no cost to you to prepare and present your defense.
Your right to have proceedings in French doesn’t apply to other types of hearings such as bail hearings, first appearances, or guilty pleas.
How Can I Prepare for a Family Law Trial?
A trial is your chance to prove what you said and asked for in your initial court pleadings. Trials involve presenting your evidence. Evidence can include documents or witnesses that support your case or go against your partner’s case. Consider hiring an experienced family law attorney before going to trial.
Judges are neutral and impartial. Judges don’t take sides and can’t give you legal advice.
Judges decide family cases on their own without a jury. They make decisions using the family law rules and laws. Judges consider the evidence you give. Judges use a test called the balance of probabilities. Your evidence has to be more believable than your partner’s evidence.
You can talk to a family law attorney who can explain the court process.
What Should I Do Before I Go to Court?
Before you go to court, remember to:
- Wear suitable clothing. Don’t wear clothes with inappropriate language or images
- Bring all the documents you need
- Plan to be at the courthouse at least 15 minutes before your hearing. Give you and your
- Oshawa lawyers enough time to go through security and find your courtroom
- Be prepared for a possible security search at the courthouse
What Should I Do When I’m in the Courtroom?
While you’re in the courtroom:
- Don’t bring any food or drink. Only water is allowed in a courtroom
- Don’t chew gum
- Remove your hat
- Turn off cell phones, laptops, or other electronic devices
- Be respectful and polite
- Stand when the judge enters or leaves the courtroom. Stand when you are speaking to the judge
- Address the judge as “Your Honor”
- Speak directly to the judge, not to your partner or Oshawa lawyers
- Refer to other people in the courtroom by “Mr.” or “Ms.” or “Doctor.” Do not use first names
- Take notes so you can properly respond to any issues that are raised
- Do not interrupt when the judge is speaking
- Do not interrupt when another person is speaking unless you want to object to an inappropriate question during an examination of a witness
- Let the judge know if you are having trouble hearing anyone speaking
- Hand documents you wish to give the judge to the Court Registrar
How Can I Find Lawyers in Oshawa?
Use LegalMatch to find the best lawyers in Oshawa. Our database can help you find criminal, civil, or family lawyers in Oshawa. Use LegalMatch to find Oshawa lawyers today.