To pick up the phone and call us costs absolutely nothing, and you should make that call right now. You are under no obligation to hire us. We’ll give you straightforward, honest advice so that you can determine what your best course of action is.
Most criminal defence lawyers offer a free initial consultation. If a lawyer does charge for the initial consultation he will tell you that over the phone before you book an appointment so that there are no surprises.
The initial consultation is a first assessment of the case against you. The lawyer's fee will generally be based on this assessment. The lawyers' reputation, experience, the complexity of the case and the amount of time it will take to conclude it all go into determining what the fee will be. Many experienced criminal defence lawyers know how much time a case is likely to take, and they charge a fixed fee accordingly.
A fixed, or block fee arrangement (as compared to an hourly rate fee), will provide you with certainty about how much your defence will cost. This fee generally covers all consultations (both in person and by telephone) with your lawyer, as well as all normally expected court appearances.
You can expect your lawyer to provide you with a retainer letter, which is the written confirmation of your fee arrangement.
For some people, having to hire a lawyer is an unexpected expense. If you are not in the financial position to pay the entire fee in full, most lawyers will arrange a payment plan, which will permit you to pay your fees over a period of time.
Major credit cards and Interac payments are also accepted by most of our lawyers. Please inquire if you wish to make a payment using one of these methods.
