What does a criminal defence lawyer in Toronto do?
A Toronto criminal defence lawyer represents people charged with an offence under the Criminal Code, the federal law that governs criminal matters across Canada. The everyday files are impaired driving, assault, theft and fraud, and drug charges, though the work runs up to the most serious cases. Their job is to protect your rights at every stage, from the bail hearing through disclosure, negotiation with the Crown, and trial if it gets that far.
Toronto's criminal cases are split between two courts. The Ontario Court of Justice handles almost all charges, and the most serious matters move up to the Superior Court of Justice. A defence lawyer works in both.
How does a criminal charge move through Toronto's courts?
Almost every criminal charge starts in the Ontario Court of Justice, and only the most serious ones end up in the Superior Court. In Toronto, adult criminal matters in the Ontario Court of Justice are now heard at the new courthouse at 10 Armoury Street, which opened in 2023 and brought together six of the city's Ontario Court of Justice criminal courthouses under one roof.
The most serious indictable offences, including murder, manslaughter, aggravated and sexual assault, and firearm and drug trafficking charges, are tried at the Superior Court of Justice criminal court at 361 University Avenue. Which court hears your case depends on the charge and, for many offences, on the choice you and your lawyer make together.
Why does early advice matter after a charge?
Get advice before you say anything to police, and get it before your first court date. In the early days a lawyer can prepare for the bail hearing, request the Crown's disclosure, which is the evidence against you, and start shaping the strategy while the file is still fresh.
Bail is usually decided in the Ontario Court of Justice soon after an arrest, and the terms set there can follow you for months. If money is tight, Legal Aid Ontario offers duty counsel at the courthouse and may cover a certificate for a private lawyer, depending on the charge and your income.
How do you choose a criminal defence lawyer in Toronto?
Start with someone who has run your specific type of charge and knows the Toronto courthouses and the local Crown's office. Ask how often they're actually in trial rather than only resolving cases, who will handle your file day to day, and what the retainer covers. A lawyer familiar with the judges and procedures at 10 Armoury Street or the Superior Court on University Avenue can read a file and set expectations quickly.
Toronto firms sit across the old city and the amalgamated communities of North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, East York, and York, so there's usually one within reach. You can confirm any lawyer's standing on the Law Society of Ontario directory. Browse the criminal defence firms in Toronto below.
