What does a criminal defence lawyer in Metro Vancouver do?
A criminal defence lawyer in Metro Vancouver represents people charged with an offence under Canada's Criminal Code, from the first bail appearance through to trial or sentencing. Common files include impaired driving, assault, theft and fraud, and drug charges. Vancouver's adult criminal cases are heard in the Provincial Court at 222 Main Street, while the most serious charges and any jury trial move to the Supreme Court of British Columbia at the Vancouver Law Courts, 800 Smithe Street.
The job is more than arguing at trial. A defence lawyer reviews the Crown's disclosure, tests how the evidence was gathered, negotiates with the prosecutor, and advises you on whether to resolve a charge or contest it. Ask early what the retainer covers and who will appear in court with you.
Which courts hear criminal cases in BC?
Where your case lands depends on the charge. Over 95 percent of criminal cases in the province are heard in the Provincial Court, according to the BC government's courts overview, which handles bail, less serious offences, and the early steps of most files. The Supreme Court of British Columbia hears the most serious matters, such as murder, and it's the only court where jury trials take place.
Because the Criminal Code is federal, the offences and procedure are the same in Burnaby, Coquitlam, or Langley as anywhere else in Canada. What changes is the courthouse you attend. Provincial Court sits in communities across the region, with listed locations in Surrey, Richmond, North Vancouver, and New Westminster, so a file usually stays near where the charge arose.
Who decides whether a charge proceeds in BC?
In British Columbia, police don't lay criminal charges directly. They send a report to BC Prosecution Service Crown counsel, who apply a charge assessment standard before anything proceeds: whether there's a substantial likelihood of conviction and, if so, whether a prosecution is in the public interest. That differs from provinces where police lay charges themselves.
If you can't afford a lawyer, Legal Aid BC provides duty counsel at Provincial courthouses and full representation for those who qualify. Duty counsel can give free advice and speak for you at a first appearance, though they can't act as your ongoing lawyer.
How do you choose a criminal defence firm in Metro Vancouver?
Start with a firm that regularly runs your kind of charge, whether that's a roadside impaired case, a domestic assault, or a fraud file. Ask who will handle your file day to day, how often the lawyer runs trials rather than only resolving cases, and how fees work if the matter drags on. Criminal defence firms are spread across Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby, Richmond, Coquitlam, Langley, North Vancouver, and New Westminster, so there's usually one near you.
You can confirm any lawyer's standing on the Law Society of British Columbia directory. Browse the criminal defence firms in Metro Vancouver below.
