Quebec directory

Criminal Defence Law Firms in Montréal, Quebec

86 law firms.

What does a criminal defence lawyer in Montréal do?

A criminal defence lawyer represents people charged with a criminal offence, from the first appearance through bail, plea discussions, trial, and sentencing. The lawyer reviews the disclosure, advises you on your options, and speaks for you in court so you don't face the prosecution on your own. In Montréal most charges are heard by the Cour du Québec (Criminal and Penal Division), and the most serious matters go to the Cour supérieure. Both sit at the Palais de justice de Montréal at 1 rue Notre-Dame Est in Old Montréal, which serves the whole island, including Westmount, Dorval, and Pointe-Claire.

Who prosecutes criminal charges in Québec?

The Criminal Code is federal law, so the offences and the rules of procedure are the same across the country. What differs in Québec is who brings the charge. Prosecutions are conducted by the Directeur des poursuites criminelles et pénales (DPCP), the province's public prosecution service, not by the police or by a federal agency. A prosecutor reviews the police brief, decides whether to authorize a charge, and then carries the case. Knowing who is on the other side helps explain why early advice matters, since decisions about bail and disclosure tend to move quickly.

What if you can't afford a criminal defence lawyer?

If you can't pay for a lawyer, you may qualify for aide juridique (legal aid), which covers criminal matters for people who meet the income rules. It runs through the Commission des services juridiques and its network of regional legal aid offices, and a criminal charge is one of the services it can cover. Eligibility depends on your income and on the charge you face, and you apply before or soon after you're charged. Many private firms also offer a first consultation and will set out their fees in writing before you commit.

How do you choose a criminal defence firm in Montréal?

Look for a firm that regularly runs the kind of case you're facing, whether that's impaired driving, a drug charge, assault, or a fraud file, and ask who will actually appear for you in court. A criminal record follows you, so choose someone who explains each step plainly and returns your calls. Firms serving the West Island communities of Kirkland, Dollard-Des Ormeaux, and Pointe-Claire may be closer to home than downtown, though most files still run through the Palais de justice de Montréal. Ask about fees, the likely timeline, and whether the lawyer has taken similar matters to trial.

You can confirm any lawyer's standing on the Barreau du Québec directory. Browse the criminal defence firms in Montréal below.

AKHRIF N.Z. Law

2 lawyers

AKHRIF N.Z. Law is a Montreal firm practising criminal defence and immigration law. It represents clients in matters ranging from summary offences such as impaired driving and drug charges through to serious indictabl…

Criminal DefenceCriminal Defence

Alepin Gauthier Avocats

4 lawyers · Est. 1978

Alepin Gauthier is a family-run law firm based in Laval, Quebec, founded in 1978 by François Alepin. It has grown to more than 120 team members across four Quebec offices (Laval, Vieux-Montréal, downtown Montreal, and…

Business & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate LawFamily LawFamily LawBankruptcy & InsolvencyBankruptcy & InsolvencyCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCivil Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Alice Florian

1 lawyer · Est. 2001

This Pointe-Claire firm serves clients in Montreal's West Island in family law, employment law, and criminal law, with an emphasis on amicable dispute resolution over litigation where possible. It was founded in 2001 …

Family LawFamily LawEmployment & Labour LawEmployment & Labour LawCriminal DefenceCriminal Defence

Ameur & Múrias, Avocats

5 lawyers · Est. 2013

Ameur & Murias is a Montreal law firm founded in 2013 by Younes Ameur and Tiago Murias. It focuses on youth law, including cases involving the Directeur de la protection de la jeunesse (DPJ) and the Youth Criminal Jus…

Criminal DefenceCriminal Defence

Andrew Barbacki

1 lawyer

Andrew Barbacki is a Montreal criminal defence lawyer and former Crown Prosecutor with more than 30 years of experience. His practice covers matters before the Municipal Court, the Court of Quebec, the Superior Court,…

Criminal DefenceCriminal Defence

Andrew Nader Avocats is a Montreal firm practising criminal and immigration law. It handles criminal defence, prison law, and Highway Safety Code and restricted-permit matters in addition to immigration law. The site …

Criminal DefenceCriminal DefenceImmigration LawImmigration Law

Avocat Contravention is a Montreal criminal and penal law firm located across from the Montreal municipal court in Place Versailles. For more than ten years it has focused on defending clients against traffic tickets,…

Criminal DefenceCriminal Defence

Avocats Criminalistes is a Montreal criminal and penal law practice led by Jean Dury, who has represented clients in criminal matters for nearly 40 years. The firm handles assault, sexual offences, drug offences, impa…

Criminal DefenceCriminal Defence

Battista Turcot Israel is a Montreal law firm (s.e.n.c.) practising criminal, penal and disciplinary law, operating from a downtown office near Square Victoria metro. Its lawyers appear before Quebec courts and, in so…

Criminal DefenceCriminal Defence

Bélanger, Brunet

1 lawyer · Est. 1954

Bélanger, Brunet is a Montreal law firm established in 1954, handling family law, criminal law, employment law, business law, civil and real estate law, administrative law, and bankruptcy and insolvency matters for bo…

Family LawFamily LawCriminal DefenceCriminal DefenceEmployment & Labour LawEmployment & Labour LawBusiness & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate Law

Belton Avocats

3 lawyers

Belton Avocats is a Montreal criminal law firm founded by Fernando Belton. It represents clients facing criminal and penal charges, and also practises immigration, civil, family, professional discipline and pardon/rec…

Criminal DefenceCriminal DefenceImmigration LawImmigration LawFamily LawFamily Law

Bolduc Paquet

7 lawyers

This is a Québec litigation boutique focused exclusively on criminal and penal law, working with clients across Québec, Canada and internationally. The firm is published on the carettedesjardins.com domain but is bran…

Criminal DefenceCriminal Defence

Bordelais Nguyen, S.N.A. is a Montreal law firm that practises exclusively in criminal and prison law. Its two lawyers bring more than four decades of combined experience and represent clients through every stage of t…

Criminal DefenceCriminal Defence

Boro Frigon Gordon Jones

14 lawyers · Est. 2002

Boro Frigon Gordon Jones is a group of independent criminal lawyers founded in Montreal in 2002, each practicing exclusively in criminal, penal and disciplinary law. The firm represents clients at all levels of court …

Criminal DefenceCriminal Defence

Cabinet HB légal inc.

1 lawyer · Est. 2014

Cabinet HB légal inc. is a Montreal law firm founded in 2014 by Hedi Belabidi, serving individuals and small and medium businesses. The firm handles civil litigation, business incorporation, real estate, insurance, an…

Real Estate LawReal Estate LawInsurance LawInsurance LawCriminal DefenceCriminal DefenceAdministrative & Regulatory LawAdministrative & Regulatory Law

Cabinet Stephen Angers

2 lawyers · Est. 1993

Cabinet Stephen Angers is a Montreal law firm focused on criminal and penal law, civil litigation, and youth protection matters. Founded by Stephen Angers in 1993, the firm represents individuals in criminal proceedin…

Criminal DefenceCriminal DefenceCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFamily LawFamily Law

Chris Mediati Law is a Montreal-based criminal defense practice representing clients on charges including drug trafficking, assault, sexual assault, fraud, and impaired driving. Chris Mediati leads a team of defense l…

Criminal DefenceCriminal Defence

Christian Laverdière has practiced family law and criminal law in Montreal since 1985, with a second office in the Lachenaie sector of Terrebonne. The practice draws on experience working alongside psychologists, soci…

Family LawFamily LawCriminal DefenceCriminal Defence

Christine Yazbeck, Avocate is a Montreal-based criminal law practice representing clients throughout Quebec on criminal and penal matters, including impaired driving, domestic violence, fraud, and drug offences. The p…

Criminal DefenceCriminal Defence

Christos Karteris is a Montreal criminal defence lawyer with 17 years of experience handling impaired driving, theft, fraud and other criminal charges. He serves clients in Montreal, Laval and Longueuil and offers ser…

Criminal DefenceCriminal Defence

ContesTicket Avocats is a Quebec service that contests traffic tickets to help protect clients' driver's licence points and reduce fines. The firm reviews the client's file and acts as their legal representative, comm…

Criminal DefenceCriminal Defence

Coupal Chauvelot Avocats is a Quebec law firm focused on defending citizens' rights against the state, including class actions, fundamental and constitutional rights, Indigenous law, and criminal and penal defence. Th…

Criminal DefenceCriminal DefenceIndigenous LawIndigenous Law

Deshommes Avocats

1 lawyer · Est. 2018

Deshommes Avocats is a Montreal firm founded in 2018 that practises exclusively in criminal, penal, disciplinary and youth law. It represents adults and youth in criminal and regulatory matters, professionals facing d…

Criminal DefenceCriminal Defence

Desmarais Desvignes Nguyen is a Montreal legal practice (Étude légale) offering services across Quebec in criminal law, civil litigation, mental-health law, housing law before the Tribunal administratif du logement, e…

Criminal DefenceCriminal DefenceCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionEmployment & Labour LawEmployment & Labour LawLegal aidLegal Aid