The Basics of Criminal Defence
While facing a criminal offence may seem intimidating, learning the basics of criminal law and hiring a good criminal lawyer can help reduce some of your stress and anxiety. To help you better understand criminal law, we discuss the basics of criminal defence below. Defining criminal offences The government has created
How to Clear Your Criminal Record in Canada
A criminal record can severely hinder your access to jobs, education and scholarship opportunities, public assistance, and housing. In some instances, a criminal record can even affect your child’s well-being. Furthermore, an arrest record can have a lasting impact even if you are acquitted. While expungement may help solve these problems,
When to Plead Guilty in a Criminal Case
If you’ve been accused of a crime, you want to know you’ll be well represented and get the best possible outcome. A top criminal lawyer in Vancouver, who knows the justice system inside out, will advocate for you and present a solid defence, giving you confidence and peace of mind. However,
Do I Need a Lawyer When Charged with a Crime?
If you’ve been charged with a crime, you may be wondering whether the cost of hiring a criminal lawyer is worth it, especially if it’s your first offence, you’re innocent, you think you’re guilty or you’re planning to plead guilty. This article discusses the benefits of having a criminal lawyer on
How Do You Know You’ve Found the Right Lawyer for Your Case?
Are you facing criminal charges and need legal assistance? While you can represent yourself in a criminal case, the judicial system is complex and overwhelming. Hiring an experienced criminal lawyer is necessary to provide you with the best possible legal outcome. But not any lawyer will do. You must ensure a
Is It Possible to Change Lawyers in the Middle of a Case?
In British Columbia, if you’re not satisfied with your lawyer, you have the right to change counsel in the middle of a criminal case. However, it’s not simple and may not be the best decision. You will likely need permission from a judge to changelcounsel. The judge will consider many factors
What Does a Criminal Defence Lawyer Do?
If you are charged with a crime, having an experienced criminal defence lawyer on your case gives you the best chance of a desirable outcome. The desirable outcome may be a dismissal of charges, an acquittal or a reduced sentence. A defence lawyer is optional; however, their training, expertise and experience,
Why Do You Need a Criminal Lawyer?
Need a Criminal Lawyer Have you been accused of a crime and are facing a court case? Are you worried about what you could lose? An experienced criminal lawyer can assist you through the entire judicial process and help protect your legal rights. If you are facing criminal charges, here are
Potential Defences to Criminal Harassment Charges
In Canada, if you engage in conduct that causes another person to fear for their safety or the safety of their loved ones, you are guilty of an unlawful act known as criminal harassment. Criminal harassment includes activities such as: Regularly following another person Repeatedly communicating with a person against their
Is Cyberstalking a Crime?
Before the digital age, stalking involved a perpetrator following a victim from place to place or appearing wherever the victim happened to be. However, with the internet, a new form of stalking emerged—cyberstalking. What is cyberstalking? Cyberstalking refers to the use of electronic communication to support aggressive behaviour by an individual
What Types of Cases Do Criminal Lawyers Handle?
Criminal cases are complex matters that can have life-changing consequences. For that reason, you should hire a criminal defence lawyer if you are facing charges for a crime. Having an experienced lawyer on your side will increase the likelihood of a favourable outcome in your case. Types of criminal cases Below
5 Signs You Should Fire Your Defence Lawyer
When selecting a defence lawyer, careful consideration is required. But what happens after you have signed a retainer agreement and things aren’t working out as planned? Here are five signs you should fire your defence lawyer. Lack of communication One major sign it may be time to part ways with your
How to Dispute a Distracted Driving Ticket
If a driver uses a handheld electronic device while operating a motor vehicle, they are committing an offence under the Motor Vehicle Act, known as distracted driving. Electronic devices include cell phones, GPS devices, music players and any other device used to process or compute data. Use of an electronic device
Prominent Vancouver Lawyer Gets Law Society of B.C. Award
The Law Society of B.C. has released a video tribute to one of the province’s top criminal defence lawyers in recognition of his “extraordinary” contributions to the legal community. The tribute to the career of Leonard Doust was produced due to the fact that a dinner to present the Law Society
4 Strategies Used by Criminal Defence Lawyers
Criminal defence lawyers employ legal tactics to negate elements of a crime and possibly gain a defendant’s freedom or sentence reduction. Depending on the crime, this can involve examining witness testimonies, analyzing the prosecutor’s case, analyzing police reports, and gathering evidence. If you’ve been charged with a crime, your criminal lawyer
Is Marijuana Legal or Illegal in BC?
When non-medical cannabis became legal in Canada in October 2018, limits were put in place to control its production, distribution and possession, and to, most importantly, prevent it from getting into the hands of Canadian youth. Although the main priority of the Cannabis Act is to prevent young people below age
Criminal Law: Know Your Rights
Criminal Law: Know Your Rights If you have ever been arrested, then you may remember feeling lost or confused about what to do next. If so, you are not alone. Many individuals who have been arrested do not know their basic rights when it comes to criminal law. The Canadian Charter
Will a Self-Defence Plea Keep You Out of Prison?
Will a Self-Defence Plea Keep You Out of Prison? It is generally believed and accepted that as individuals, we have the right to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our property from harm. Any infringement on this right triggers a defence mechanism that, at times, is purely instinctive. Self-defence is the
Domestic Violence Charges During COVID-19
Although there are talks of reopening the BC courts soon, there is still uncertainty about when that will happen. If you were charged with domestic violence and are awaiting trial during the Coronavirus pandemic, you might be wondering what that means for your case. There may be extreme delays in your
The New Impaired Driving Laws in Canada You Need to Follow
In December 2018, the Government of Canada implemented changes to impaired driving laws. However, many are still unaware of what those changes entail. Here’s what you know about the new impaired driving laws: Mandatory alcohol screening Once a police officer has an approved screening device available, they can now demand a
Mistakes to avoid when hiring a criminal lawyer
If you’ve been charged with a crime, you should hire a criminal lawyer right away. The sooner you have a legal professional working on your case, the stronger your defence will be. However, although you should act quickly to hire a criminal lawyer, the decision still requires careful consideration. Here are
Should You Hire a Criminal Defence Lawyer for a Domestic Assault in Vancouver?
Domestic assault is a serious criminal offence. If convicted in Vancouver, you could be imprisoned for up to 5 years. There could also be other restrictions enforced as part of your sentence. Furthermore, a conviction for domestic assault could seriously damage your reputation. Following a conviction, you may find that it
Reasons You Should Hire a Drug Defence Lawyer
If you’ve been arrested for a drug-related offence in Vancouver, you may be wondering if you should hire a Vancouver drug defence lawyer. The answer is yes. Drug crimes in Vancouver are serious offences with potentially life-long consequences. If you are facing a drug charge, here some ways a drug defence
Should You Hire a Traffic Offence Ticket Lawyer?
You may think that when you commit a traffic offence you will simply need to pay a fine and then go about your merry way. However, some traffic offences in British Columbia can also have serious consequences with long-term effects. So, while you don’t need a lawyer to dispute every traffic
Reasons You Should Hire a Criminal Defence Lawyer
Have you been accused or charged with a criminal offence? If so, then you should seriously consider hiring a criminal defence lawyer and here’s why: Criminal defence lawyers are trained, knowledgeable and experienced to help you. An accused person has the right to defend him or herself in criminal court.