North York Criminal Lawyers

A. Choosing the right North York criminal lawyer is one of the most important decisions you’ll make after being charged with a criminal offence. The lawyer you hire can affect how your case is investigated, negotiated, and presented in court. Before making a decision, look at the lawyer’s experience, reputation, client reviews, and whether they regularly defend the type of criminal charge you are facing.

Ask whether the lawyer has courtroom experience, how often they appear in the Ontario Court of Justice, and whether they will personally handle your case. A former Crown Attorney can also offer valuable insight into how criminal cases are investigated, assessed, and prosecuted. Take time to read Google reviews, review the lawyer’s successful case results, and make sure they explain your options in plain language without making promises they can’t keep.

Most importantly, choose a lawyer you trust. During your consultation, you should feel comfortable asking questions and confident that you understand the possible outcomes, the legal strategy being considered, and what happens next in the criminal court process.

Look for a criminal lawyer with experience defending the type of charge you are facing, strong client reviews, and regular courtroom experience. A lawyer should explain your options clearly and answer your questions honestly. Learn more in our guide on How to Choose the Best Criminal Lawyer.

A. The cost of hiring a North York criminal lawyer depends on several factors, including the type of criminal charge, the complexity of the evidence, the number of court appearances, and whether the case is resolved through negotiations or proceeds to trial. A straightforward matter that resolves early will usually cost less than a case involving extensive disclosure, legal motions, expert witnesses, or a trial.

When you contact Charitsis Law, Nicholas Charitsis will discuss your case, explain the criminal court process, and provide clear information about legal fees before you decide how to proceed. Our goal is to make sure you understand the work involved, the defence strategy that may be available, and the expected costs, so you can make an informed decision without surprises.

Every criminal case is different. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all fee, we assess each case individually and recommend the approach that best fits your circumstances.

Learn more about the cost of hiring a criminal lawyer, including the factors that affect legal fees and what is included in your representation.

A. Everyone has the right to represent themselves in a criminal case.

However, before making that decision, remember what’s involved. Criminal cases often require reviewing police notes, witness statements, disclosure, and legal issues that may not be obvious without legal training. The criminal court process also includes deadlines, negotiations with the Crown Attorney, legal arguments, and court procedures that can affect the outcome of your case.

The real question is, can afford the risk of representing yourself? A criminal conviction can have consequences that last for years, including a criminal record, driver’s licence suspensions for certain offences, employment difficulties, travel restrictions, higher insurance costs, and other long-term consequences.

An experienced North York criminal lawyer understands how to identify legal issues, challenge the evidence where appropriate, and build the strongest defence possible. Before deciding to act on your own, it’s worth at least speaking with a lawyer to understand what they say about your case.

A. Yes we can. Many people still contact a criminal lawyer when they believe they are guilty or think there is no defence. However, many times the facts are often more complicated than they first appear.

In every criminal case, the Crown Attorney must prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt using legally admissible evidence. That includes proving that the police acted lawfully, that your Charter rights were respected, and that the evidence is reliable and does support a conviction.

Pleading guilty should never be your starting point. There may be weaknesses in the Crown’s case, legal issues that affect the evidence, or opportunities to negotiate a more favourable resolution.

In some cases, charges are withdrawn, reduced, or successfully defended at trial. Until the evidence has been carefully reviewed, you may not know what legal options are available.

Before making any decisions, speak with Nicholas Charitsis about your case. He will review the evidence, explain your options, and help you decide on the best course of action.

Every criminal case begins with one question: Can the Crown prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt?

Our job as defence lawyers is to carefully examine the evidence and determine whether there are weaknesses or legal issues that can be used to defend your case.

We review the police investigation, witness statements, disclosure, video evidence, and any forensic or technical evidence that may be available. We then put this together sitting down with you and adding your version of events to get a full picture of what actually happened.

We examine whether the police complied with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, whether proper procedures were followed, and whether the evidence is reliable and admissible in court.

Once we have all the information we then have a preliminary pretrial hearing with the Crown attorney to assess their position on your case, to discuss any issues, and to see if if the case can be withdrawn or if there’s a reduced charge available, e.g. careless driving instead of impaired driving or careless driving instead of a dangerous driving charge.

After that pretrial hearing we then get back to you and discuss the whole case including the meeting with the Crown Attorney to decide whether we go to trial or discuss a resolution.