Choosing A Lawyer
When you have been charged with a criminal offence, the stakes are extremely high. You are facing the possibility of jail time, and of suffering permanent damage to your ability to earn a livelihood, travel or participate in your community. The legal system is enormously complex, and intimidating. The lawyer you entrust with your life has to be someone who can guide you through this ordeal and help you get your life back. Your lawyer must be someone you have the utmost faith and confidence in. Yet there are hundreds of lawyers licensed to practice criminal law in Ontario. How do you know whom to trust?
The Defence Group
Arun is a highly experienced criminal lawyer and former prosecutor who is a sole practitioner, assisted by office staff, paralegals, junior lawyers and other experts. In addition to your criminal defence lawyer, some of the professionals on your defence team may include the following: a clinical psychiatrist or psychologist, a therapist or counsellor, or a forensic toxicologist. Our offices are located in Toronto, Oakville, and Vaughan, and we serve clients throughout the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
Here are four of the most important qualities in a good lawyer:
1. First of all, your lawyer must be well qualified to handle your case. At The Defence Group, Arun S. Maini has 15 years of experience as a federal Crown attorney, a provincial Crown attorney, and as a criminal defence lawyer. He has conducted hundreds of trials ranging from simple assault to tax evasion to murder. He is particularly experienced in conducting jury trials. In deciding whether your lawyer has the experience to take on your case, ask yourself whether you feel more confident in a lawyer who has been on the other side of the courtroom, who has worked with the people who will be prosecuting your case, and who knows them well. Who better to analyze and take apart the case brought against you then a lawyer who has years of experience in putting those cases together?
2. Next, your lawyer should be accessible. At The Defence Group, we return your calls. We are shocked at the number of clients who come to us from other law firms and complain that they could never reach their previous lawyer, even in an emergency! How can you trust your lawyers to handle one of the most critical issues in your life if you can’t reach them?
At The Defence Group, we pride ourselves on our clients’ access to us. That means that you can reach us, whether it be by telephone, fax, text or email. That means that we will meet with you whenever and wherever it is convenient to you. We will answer and return your phone calls. We will keep you up-to-date every step of the way. And at The Defence Group, we are available to handle your emergencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
3. A good lawyer will help you to understand your case. A lawyer who talks down to you with unfamiliar terminology, or who won’t take the time to explain the case to you is not a lawyer you can trust. The criminal system is intimidating and difficult to understand: your lawyer shouldn’t be. At The Defence Group, we will explain the court process, the details of your case, and the various options that are open to you. The vast majority of our clients have never been in trouble with the law before, and they have many questions. We will answer them all. We will make sure that you understand what is going on at every stage of your case, and why. You will feel confident and well informed, so that you can participate fully in your defence.
4. A good lawyer will charge a reasonable fee. As with everything else in society, you want value for money. At The Defence Group, we will take the time right at the outset of the case to explain to you our fee structure and the services you will receive. We will be clear about what you can expect to pay, and we will send you invoices regularly so that you can see how we are earning our fees. You will benefit from unmatched access, client service, and all of our knowledge, skill, and experience.