Hiring a criminal defence lawyer to handle your case is an important decision to make. It is best to ensure that the criminal lawyer you retain understands and provides you with realistic expectations about the court process. It important for clients to understand that the criminal court process is a lengthy one and one that requires a significant amount of patience.
Following the first court appearance, your lawyer will hopefully receive initial disclosure, be able to review that disclosure with you and discuss your options. However, given the court is currently facing a backlog, clients should understand that often disclosure is currently not being received for several months. This delay from the Crown’s office in providing to disclosure to the defence, although frustrating, could assist in an argument being made that your 11(b) Charter Rights were violated.
Once disclosure is received your lawyer should set a Crown Pre Trial or Judicial Pre-Trial to discuss your case, see if there is a potential resolution, or if your case is to proceed to trial.
The best criminal lawyers are ones who keep you informed throughout the process and provide you with realistic expectations. Savena Bhangal, Mississauga Criminal Defence Lawyer, serving Toronto and the GTA.