How Can Paralegals Help?

If you were charged with a criminal offence, you do not always need a lawyer. An experienced, skilled and educated licensed paralegal can obtain the very same result as an equally experienced, skilled, and educated lawyer. One of the main distinctions between the two professions is that paralegals generally charge significantly lower fees than lawyers. As a licensed paralegal firm, we are able to represent clients at all stages of the criminal defence process with respect to summary convictions where the maximum punishment is:

• a penalty of a fine up to $2,000
• a maximum of six months of jail time

The Goals of Criminal Defence

1. Diversion

A diversion may be reached as a result of negotiations with the prosecution. If a diversion is granted, you do not get a criminal record. You do not enter a guilty or any other plea, and the criminal charge is withdrawn after you have fulfilled certain prescribed conditions within a prescribed period of time. Some examples of these conditions are:

• Donating a certain amount of money to a charity
• Performing volunteer work
• Attending a rehabilitation clinic for addiction
• Attending anger management classes

2. Conditional Discharge

A conditional discharge is usually also reached as a result of negotiations with the prosecution, but you will have to enter a plea (usually a guilty plea). If you are conditionally discharged, you get no criminal record. You will, however, have to fulfill certain conditions. Examples of such conditions include probation, the conditions listed above under “Diversion”, and more. After these conditions have been fulfilled, the case against you will be discontinued.

3. Acquittal

You are “acquitted” if a Judge finds you not guilty after a full trial. Aiming for this outcome implies that you enter a plea of not guilty, and we represent you at trial, where we examine witnesses and analyze evidence.

Paralegals can defend you from charges of:

• Shoplifting (theft under $5,000)
• Dangerous driving
• Common assault, including domestic violence
• Fraud under $5,000
• Mischief under $5,000
• And much more

How We Work

Our work with your criminal defence is based on principles which are common to our entire practice. We:

• realistically assess your case at the outset
• explain the criminal court procedure and your defence
• stay consistently in touch, keeping you updated and answering questions
• maintain a positive relationship with technology to save time
• provide experienced, educated, and professional service

Find our more about us, our founder, and our profession.

How We Build Your Criminal Defence

No matter which goal we may be pursuing in our criminal defence, our aim is to find weaknesses and inconsistencies in the case against you. This helps us negotiate the best possible settlement and form the most effective criminal defence.

Some strategies we may use to improve your criminal defence include:

• Request police reports related to the complainant. Does the person who accused you have a record of trouble-making?
• Request the complainant’s medical history. Could there be some medications or conditions that caused the complaint?
• Analyze every witness statement in detail, looking for contradictions and logical inconsistencies.
• Analyze the complaint: did the complainant behave in a reasonable way given his or her version of events.