Best Toronto Criminal Lawyers

If you’ve been charged with a crime, the first thing you might do is search for the “Best Toronto Criminal Lawyers.”

You might scroll through Google reviews and pick the lawyer with the most stars. But be careful. Many lawyers today buy reviews from marketing companies. Some even pay to have bad reviews deleted.

It can be hard to know what’s real. Google stars are easy to manipulate, and trusting them blindly could cost you everything. You can’t pick the best criminal lawyer based only on stars.

Your future deserves better. You need to dig deeper and make sure you are hiring based on real, proven experience, not popularity.

The best Toronto criminal lawyers in have been practicing for 20 years or more.

Experience wins in criminal defence, not flashy ads or a fancy website. They’ve fought hundreds of cases, made mistakes, learned from them, and sharpened their skills. A shiny website can make anyone look good, but nothing beats the lessons that come from real battles in courtrooms.

If you want the best chance at winning your case, choose experience over marketing hype, ask about recent wins in court. Always ask yourself: Would you rather have a real fighter or someone who looks good online?

Don’t just take a lawyer’s word for it. Ask who you’re actually speaking with. Is it a real lawyer or just an intake clerk trying to sign you up?

Ask the lawyer how many years they personally have been practicing criminal law and what types of cases they handle most often. Make them prove it.

Request to see their law school diploma and ask for the year they graduated. Look for details, not vague promises. The longer they’ve been fighting cases, and the more complex cases they’ve handled, the better for you.

A real professional won’t hesitate to give you this information upfront.

Some lawyers even hire marketing companies to flood their profiles with made up 5-star reviews. Then even paying to get any bad reviews removed.

If a lawyer has hundreds of perfect reviews but only a few years of experience, be skeptical. Look closely at how far back the reviews go. Reviews that only start a few years ago are a red flag.

Also, pay attention to the language in the reviews. Fake reviews often sound overly enthusiastic but vague, without mentioning specific details. Real reviews from real clients usually mention the lawyer’s name, describe the situation, and explain how the lawyer helped.

Some of the best criminal lawyers in Toronto started their careers as Crown Attorneys.

They prosecuted criminal cases every day, all day at the Toronto criminal courts for years. That means they know how the Crown thinks. They understand the weaknesses in cases. They know what evidence matters and what doesn’t, and how to win your case.

Former Crown Attorneys have deep insight into how the other side builds cases and where their weaknesses lie. They know the prosecutors personally and understand the courtroom dynamics. This kind of inside knowledge can make a huge difference when planning a defence strategy.

Hiring a criminal defence lawyer with experience as a Provincial Crown Attorney gives a major advantage to anyone facing criminal charges.

Not every criminal lawyer is right for every case. The best ones specialize.

If you’re charged with impaired driving or DUI, hire someone who’s a DUI expert. If it’s assault charges, hire someone with real experience defending assault charges. Specialized lawyers have deeper knowledge in their specific areas. Ask them:

• Have you taught courses on this area of law?
• Have you published articles or guides?
• Have you worked in higher courts like the Ontario Court of Appeal? Specific answers show real expertise and not just talk. Specialization means your lawyer knows the small legal details that can mean the difference between a win and a loss.

When looking for the best possible defence, the lawyer who specializes and has a background in your types of charges will have an advantage over many others.

Listen carefully when you speak to a lawyer. Are they polite and professional? Or do they sound casual, use slang, or rush you?

Courtrooms are formal. Judges expect clear, respectful language. A sloppy or casual lawyer can make a terrible impression on a judge, which can hurt your case. The best criminal lawyers in Toronto treat every conversation like they’re already speaking to a judge.

If they can’t show you respect on the phone, they won’t show respect to the court either.

Couldn’t be more satisfied with this outcome and I will forever be grateful. I can now proceed with my life without the worry of having a criminal conviction on my record.

Where your lawyer works says a lot about them.

A real, professional office means they’re serious. It shows stability, investment in their practice, and that they are not likely to disappear halfway through your case. If a lawyer wants to meet you at Tim Hortons, be careful.

You need privacy to discuss sensitive details about your charges. A full-time office manager is also a good sign. It means the lawyer has proper support and systems in place to manage your case efficiently and communicate with you when needed.

A real, stable law office with an office manager (not a coffee shop meeting!) shows professionalism and reliability.

Legal fees are a big concern, but cheap is rarely best.

You’re not shopping for a bargain TV. You’re hiring someone to protect your licence, reputation and your future from a criminal record for life. A lawyer who charges a lot less than others may lack the skill or experience you really need.

Paying more for an experienced, proven criminal lawyer is one of the smartest investments you can make. Choosing the wrong lawyer could end up costing you more in fines, a criminal record, or even jail time.

It’s tempting to hire based on cost, but a cheaper lawyer could cost you more in the long run if they mess up your case.

★★★★★ Nicholas went out of the way treating me like a family member. I would absolutely recommend Nicholas to anyone who is looking for a skilled lawyer with the compassion of a friend more like family. Thank you for everything. NameWithheld LawyerRatingZ.com

When speaking with the lawyer, ask how they will fight your case. What strategy will they use?

Pay attention to the lawyers degree of detail in answering this question. Listen for specialized knowledge about legal arguments, reference to precedents, quoting case law, referring to Charter of Rights and Freedoms arguments, and what section of the Charter might be applicable to your specific case.

Legal arguments win cases, not the lawyers “friendship” with the crown attorney or judge at the court house. If you ask the lawyer how they will fight your case, and the lawyer says: “don’t worry, we know the judges and Crown attorney and we will get your charges dropped”… Run away!

This is a lawyer that lacks the experience to win your case, and lacks the morals and ethics to earn your trust with protecting your future.

Nicholas Charitsis Toronto Criminal Lawyer

Nicholas Charitsis is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto and earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree (with distinction) from the Schulich School of Business at York University, graduating in the top 5% of his class.

Mr. Charitsis has extensive experience as a criminal defence lawyer, and has appeared in thousands of cases in the criminal courts since 2004. Mr. Charitsis has often been interviewed by major news outlets reporting on his cases, and has appeared as a guest speaker on multiple radio stations to discuss issues in criminal law ranging from Impaired Driving, Sexual Assault, and Domestic Assault charges.

Nicholas has appeared as legal counsel at the Ontario Court of Justice, Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Appeal as a criminal defence lawyer.

Nicholas has worked as an Assistant Crown Attorney for the Attorney General’s office of Ontario at the Old City Hall courts, College Park Courts, Toronto Finch Ave courthouse, and 311 Jarvis Courthouse in Toronto.

Over the course of his practice Nicholas appeared as counsel in thousands of contested trials for impaired driving, Dangerous Driving, Failure to Provide Breath Sample, Sexual Assault, Sexual Interference, Assault, and Domestic assault charges with favourable resolutions and wins for his clients.

Due to Nicks experience in criminal law, and long service to the legal community, the Attorney General of Ontario appointed Nick as the Chairman of the Justices of the Peace Appointments Advisory Committee.

Give me a call and lets just talk about your case.  I can answer any questions you have and tell you me opinion about how we can defend you.

If you decide to retain our services, we’ll invite you to either meet in our Toronto office or have a face-to-face Zoom meeting. In our meeting, we will discuss your case in detail, plan your defence strategy, and arrange your first court date.

We ask for a reasonable deposit of 10 to 25 percent upon retaining our services. Call us today at 416-731-7113 to get started. We’re here to help you through this challenging time.