Jeff Rybak
2 lawyers · City of Toronto
One of 2,345 law firms listed in Toronto, and one of 455 handling Criminal Defence.
Free consultation
Free consultationAbout Jeff Rybak
Parole Lawyer is a small Toronto practice built around one specialty: parole and related correctional law across Ontario. Principal lawyer Jeff Rybak trained in criminal defence before narrowing the practice to parole work, and the firm says Rybak has represented clients in close to a thousand parole proceedings. Rybak is also regularly invited to speak to and train other lawyers on the subject. Associate lawyer Daryl Miller articled with Rybak's practice and has since represented clients in hundreds of parole proceedings independently, while taking on a smaller number of criminal cases too. Both lawyers travel to institutions across Ontario for hearings rather than working out of a single courtroom.
The firm's case management team, licensed paralegal Stacy Francalanza and law clerk Tara Renaud, work with clients and their families to build release plans and stay in touch while someone is in custody. In 2021, Sergio Della Fortuna joined as a senior consultant after 18 years as a member and vice-chair of the Ontario Parole Board, giving the practice direct insight into how hearings are actually decided. Fees are billed as a single block amount agreed on in advance rather than by the hour, and the firm is listed on Legal Aid Ontario's roster for administrative tribunal, criminal, and Gladue matters.
Practice areas
Milestones & recognition
- Sergio Della Fortuna, who spent 18 years as a member and vice-chair of the Ontario Parole Board, joined Rybak's practice as a senior consultant in 2021.
- Jeff Rybak is a member of the Criminal Lawyers' Association.
In the community
- In March 2020, Jeff Rybak was profiled in Toronto Life describing conditions inside Ontario jails and prisons during the early pandemic shutdown, and volunteering at the Scarborough courthouse alongside other lawyers mobilized by the Criminal Lawyers' Association to help keep bail hearings moving.
- The firm publishes a blog on Ontario parole and correctional law, with posts on topics like parole suspension, jail phone access, and how a parole hearing differs from a trial.
Good to know
Wheelchair accessibleFees & payment
Flat fee
Free consultationLawyers 2
Who handles what
The neighbourhood
The firm's office is at 1637 Gerrard Street East in Toronto. Gerrard Street East between Coxwell Avenue and Glenside Avenue is home to the Gerrard India Bazaar, a South Asian commercial strip with Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Nepali, and Sri Lankan restaurants and shops.
That's not really where the work happens, though. Parole hearings take place inside correctional institutions, not courtrooms, and Rybak and Miller travel to institutions across Ontario for each one rather than staying close to home.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Parole Lawyer represent clients at parole hearings across Ontario?
- Yes. Jeff Rybak and Daryl Miller travel to correctional institutions throughout the province for hearings rather than working out of a single courthouse.
- Do I actually need a lawyer for a parole hearing?
- Not technically. Rybak has written that parole is meant to be something people can handle on their own, similar to a hearing before the Landlord and Tenant Board, though some cases stay simple while others get complicated in ways that are hard to predict in advance, which is where having a lawyer can matter.
- What happens if my parole gets suspended?
- According to the firm's blog, a suspension leads to a hearing before the Parole Board, which can end in release, revocation, or a return to custody for some part of the remaining sentence. How that hearing goes, not who's to blame for the suspension, is what determines the outcome.
- How does Parole Lawyer charge for its services?
- The firm quotes a single block fee agreed on in advance rather than billing by the hour, so clients know what they're paying for from the start.
- Can Parole Lawyer help before I'm even sentenced?
- Yes. The firm offers consultations before sentencing, working with clients, their families, and their defence lawyer to prepare for what comes next, including for people who are already in custody.
- Does Parole Lawyer accept Legal Aid?
- Yes. The firm is on Legal Aid Ontario's roster of lawyers for administrative tribunal, criminal, and Gladue matters.
Where to find them
1637 Gerrard Street East, Toronto, Ontario M4L 2A7 · 416-830-8558
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