Peter Copeland, Barrister
1 lawyer · City of Toronto
One of 2,345 law firms listed in Toronto, and one of 455 handling Criminal Defence.
Accepts Legal Aid
Accepts Legal AidAbout Peter Copeland, Barrister
Peter Copeland is a sole practitioner criminal trial and appellate lawyer based in downtown Toronto, with an office at 150 King Street West. Copeland earned a Bachelor of Science with honours in physics from the University of Toronto in 1992, followed by an LL.B. from the same university in 1995, and was called to the Ontario bar in 1998. The practice covers criminal and quasi criminal matters and professional discipline, including cases that turn on scientific or technical evidence such as accident reconstruction, medical causation, and computer forensics.
Copeland appears before every level of court in Ontario as well as the Supreme Court of Canada, and a large part of the practice is devoted to criminal appeals. Copeland also represents lawyers and paralegals in professional discipline proceedings. In 2009, Copeland co-authored a paper on the 'Mr. Big' police interrogation technique with co-authors Moore and Schuller, and the Supreme Court of Canada cited that work in R. v. Hart, 2014 SCC 52, when it created a new common law rule to address concerns raised by the technique.
Practice areas
Milestones & recognition
- Earned a B.Sc. (Hons) in physics from the University of Toronto in 1992, then an LL.B. from the same university in 1995.
- Called to the Ontario bar in 1998.
- Co-authored 'Deceit, Betrayal and the Search for Truth: Legal and Psychological Perspectives on the Mr. Big Strategy' (2009, 55 Crim. L.Q. 348), a paper the Supreme Court of Canada cited in R. v. Hart, 2014 SCC 52.
- Has argued before the Supreme Court of Canada, including R. v. Pan, 2025 SCC 12, which resulted in a new trial being ordered.
In the community
- Member of Legal Aid Ontario's Complex Case and Extremely Serious Matters panels.
- Takes on inmate appeals through the Pro Bono Inmate Appeal Program, appearing before the Court of Appeal for Ontario.
- Has lectured at continuing legal education programs run by the Criminal Lawyers' Association, Osgoode Professional Development, and the Ontario Bar Association.
- Member of the Criminal Lawyers' Association and the Toronto Lawyers' Association.
Good to know
By appointmentFees & payment
Legal aidWho handles what
The neighbourhood
The office sits at 150 King Street West, in the Sun Life Centre complex at the corner of King Street West and University Avenue. The building was put up in 1984 as Sun Life Financial's headquarters, and its two towers straddle the edge of Toronto's financial district and its entertainment district. It connects underground to the PATH walkway and St. Andrew subway station, which suits a practice that regularly travels to courthouses across Ontario and to the Supreme Court of Canada in Ottawa: the office is a quick trip from Union Station and downtown transit rather than tucked away in a neighbourhood setting.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Peter Copeland handle criminal appeals in Ontario?
- Yes. The practice covers summary conviction appeals heard by a Superior Court of Justice judge, indictable appeals heard by the Court of Appeal for Ontario, and applications for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. An appellant generally has 30 days from sentencing to start the process.
- Can Peter Copeland represent me in a Law Society discipline matter?
- Yes. Copeland represents lawyers and paralegals facing complaints or discipline proceedings before the Law Society.
- Does the firm take on cases involving scientific or technical evidence?
- Yes. Copeland's practice includes cases involving accident reconstruction, medical causation, and computer forensics evidence, alongside standard criminal and quasi criminal matters.
- What courts does Peter Copeland appear before?
- Copeland appears before every level of court in Ontario and has argued before the Supreme Court of Canada.
- Is legal aid or pro bono representation available?
- Copeland sits on Legal Aid Ontario's Complex Case and Extremely Serious Matters panels, and also takes on inmate appeals through the Court of Appeal for Ontario's Pro Bono Inmate Appeal Program.
- How do I book a consultation?
- Contact Peter directly by phone or email to discuss the matter and arrange a time to meet.
Where to find them
150 King Street West, Suite 200, Toronto, Ontario M5H 1J9 · 416-868-1825
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