How should I prepare for my first meeting with a criminal lawyer?

Often when individuals are charged with a criminal offense, they are in a state of confusion and panic. Booking a free no-obligation consultation with one of our criminal defence lawyers is an excellent step in ensuring that your rights are protected in the criminal justice process. For your first meeting, we recommend that you bring the following:

• Any documentation given to you by the police or Court
• A written statement of your version of events
• Witness statements, if possible
• Documentation of your sustained injuries, such as photographs, medical records, etc
• Any supporting documents, such as emails, texts, phone records, etc

Our criminal lawyers will go through what legal options are available to you during your initial consultation. We also recommend that you bring a list of questions with you so our lawyers will be able to walk you through and relieve any stress or fear you may feel regarding your case.

Why is choosing the right criminal lawyer so important?

It is important that you hire and retain a lawyer that is both experienced and familiar with the local criminal system, as well as practices within the area in which you or your loved one’s criminal charge lies within. By choosing a lawyer that you only know by reputation or by virtue of a relative or acquaintance, you may not receive the same expertise as an individual who has retained a criminal lawyer would.

At Martin G. Schulz & Associates, not only do our lawyers specialize in multiple fields of criminal defence, but we’re also experienced in personal injury law. If you would like more information, be sure to contact any of our Alberta law firms.

How can a criminal defence lawyer help me?

Depending on the severity of your charge or offence, our team may be able to help reduce your sentence, appeal your charge, or even have your case dropped. We’ve helped thousands of clients across Alberta, from Edmonton to Calgary to everywhere in between and beyond, get the legal representation and results they deserve.

At Martin G. Schulz & Associates, we specialize in assault, drug offences, impaired driving, criminal driving, sex crimes, property crimes, fraud, and youth offence cases.

I’m a first-time offender, how can obtaining a criminal record impact my life?

No matter your criminal history, it is crucial that you fight your criminal offence before it creates a lasting effect on your life. Individuals, no matter their criminal history, will find that they will experience the following after receiving a permanent criminal record:

• Difficulty finding employment
• Challenges with finding safe, affordable housing
• Being seen as an “unfit parent” during family law or child custody proceedings
• Failure to receive grants and student loans
• Inability to apply for citizenship
• Inability to volunteer with community or select nonprofit organizations
• Difficulty obtaining a professional license

What do I do if I’ve been served court papers?

No matter the severity of the criminal offense you’ve been charged with, it is crucial that the first step you take following being served court papers is understanding what they detail. Typically, court papers will include a strict response timeline, and knowing what legal actions are available to you is vital in ensuring your rights are protected.

If you are unsure of your legal options, please get in touch with our criminal law firm. Our lawyers will guide you through any legal concerns you may have and provide you with the advice you need to make a well-informed decision.

What options are available to me if I cannot afford your legal services?

After our free initial consultation, you are not obligated to retain us for your case. Be that as it may, depending on your charges, your penalty, and your income, there are a number of government-funded and charitable legal organizations that would be able to assist you if you are in a position where you cannot afford further legal services.