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CRIMINAL DEFENCE IN LONDON

Criminal Lawyer London

Criminal charges laid in London and across Middlesex County are prosecuted at the county courthouse, and matters there are attended personally.

THE COURT

Criminal defence at the Middlesex County Courthouse

Criminal matters for London and Middlesex County are heard at the London courthouse, in both the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court of Justice.

London is a large centre with a full criminal list, including violent offences, drug prosecutions and a considerable volume of matters connected to its student population. Both levels of court sit there and the Crown office runs the usual specialised streams.

For clients whose real exposure is professional or academic rather than custodial, the priority is the record. That objective is set at the outset and it dictates which resolutions are worth pursuing and which are not.

Representation from a distance

Being represented at a courthouse outside the Greater Toronto Area does not require you to travel to meet counsel. Consultations run by phone and video, routine appearances are ordinarily covered without you attending, and you are told well in advance about the dates where your presence is required.

THE PROCESS

What happens after you are charged

The sequence is broadly the same wherever you were charged. Knowing it in advance takes a great deal of the fear out of it.

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Release or a bail hearing. You are either released by police with conditions, or held for a hearing. On serious allegations, and on most domestic matters, expect a hearing.
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First appearance. The date is on your release paperwork. Nothing is decided that day. Counsel can ordinarily attend in your place, and disclosure is requested.
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Disclosure review. The Crown provides its evidence. This is where the case is genuinely assessed, and where the arguable issues are found.
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Crown resolution discussions. A large proportion of matters end here, through withdrawal, diversion, a peace bond or a negotiated position.
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Trial, if it is required. Judge alone in the Ontario Court of Justice, or judge alone or judge and jury in the Superior Court on an election.
You do not need to live here

Your matter is heard where the charge was laid, not where you live. Clients across Ontario are represented at the London courthouse, with consultations by phone or video and attendance in person on the days it matters.

One lawyer on the file

Kashif Alam appears on your matter personally. Your file is not passed to a junior or covered by an agent who has not read it.

Fees and Legal Aid

Flat fees quoted before the work begins, payment plans available, and Legal Aid Ontario certificates accepted.

QUESTIONS WE ARE ASKED

Frequently asked questions

Do you appear at the London courthouse?
Yes. Matters at the London courthouse are attended personally, and consultations can be arranged by phone or video before the first appearance.
I live somewhere else but was charged in London. Can you help?
Yes. A charge is prosecuted where it was laid. Being represented at the London courthouse does not require you to live nearby.
Do I have to attend my first appearance in person?
Usually not. Counsel can ordinarily appear on your behalf for routine appearances, which spares you a day of work and a long drive.
What is the first thing I should do?
Say nothing further to police, read your release conditions carefully, and call before your first appearance rather than after it.
Do you accept Legal Aid for matters in London?
Yes. Legal Aid Ontario certificates are accepted, and flat fees with payment plans are available where you do not qualify.
SPEAK WITH COUNSEL

Charged in London? Let us talk about it.

The first consultation is free and confidential. You will get a direct assessment of the charge, the process ahead, and what it will cost. Flat fees, payment plans and Legal Aid certificates are all accepted.

647.721.5150REQUEST A CONSULTATION
Available evenings and weekends. Reachable at any hour for an arrest in progress.

Request a Free Confidential Consultation

Speak directly with Kashif Alam. Your information remains strictly confidential under solicitor-client privilege.