Quebec directory

Criminal Defence Law Firms in Montréal, Quebec

136 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 DefenceImmigration LawImmigration Law

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

This Montreal firm is an independent criminal law practice run by Alexandre Bergevin, a member of the Barreau du Québec since 2000, who practises criminal law in Quebec and internationally.

Criminal DefenceCriminal Defence

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 DefenceFamily LawFamily Law

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

Anne-Sophie Dagenais Avocate is a Montreal criminal defence practice offering personalized representation in driving offences, violent crimes, property crimes, economic crimes, sexual offences, and drug offences. The …

Criminal DefenceCriminal Defence

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 DefenceAdministrative & Regulatory LawAdministrative & Regulatory Law

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 LawCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFamily LawFamily Law

BMKAVOCAT

1 lawyer

BMKAVOCAT is a Saint-Laurent, Quebec law practice led by Béatrice Mawaba, focused on immigration and refugee law, with additional services in civil, criminal, family, business, and succession law. The firm offers bili…

Immigration LawImmigration LawBusiness & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate LawFamily LawFamily LawCriminal DefenceCriminal Defence

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 DefenceAdministrative & Regulatory LawAdministrative & Regulatory Law

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

Boudreau Avocats

1 lawyer

Boudreau Avocats Inc. is a Montreal criminal defence firm that represents people accused of criminal offences throughout Quebec, from assault to serious matters such as murder, sexual assault, and terrorism. The firm …

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…

Civil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionBusiness & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate LawReal Estate LawReal Estate LawInsurance LawInsurance 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

Carranza Avocats

1 lawyer

Carranza Avocats is a solo law practice in the Saint-Léonard district of Montreal, led by Patricia Carranza Vasquez. The firm focuses on family law and immigration law, with some criminal law work related to pardon ap…

Family LawFamily LawImmigration LawImmigration LawCriminal DefenceCriminal Defence

CDNP Avocats

17 lawyers

CDNP Avocats is a boutique law firm in Old Montreal focused on professional liability, disciplinary law, and insurance law. The firm represents professionals, professional orders, and trustees before disciplinary bodi…

Administrative & Regulatory LawAdministrative & Regulatory LawCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionInsurance LawInsurance LawConstruction LawConstruction 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