Frequently Asked Questions

Brodsky Amy & Gould focuses on providing responsive service and sophisticated strategies to achieve the desired results for our clients. Our lawyers will work hard as a litigation team to conduct a detailed and thorough investigation of your case to identify and pursue all legal and factual issues and opportunities. Our commitment to hard work and excellence has lead to success in every level of the Canadian judicial system, including precedent setting cases in the Court of Appeal and in the Supreme Court of Canada

The complexity of criminal cases makes them very difficult to predict, therefore financing can become an added stress to the process. We attempt to reduce this stress by providing a number of payment options. When you retain the services of a Brodsky Amy & Gould lawyer, a retainer fee is paid to the office, which covers the initial steps of obtaining particulars and evidence, talking to the police and to the Crown Attorney and determining your legal opportunities. In order to proceed, a block fee will be quoted to you so that you’re aware of all costs involved in pursuing your legal matter. Block fees not only eliminate uncertainty but they also provide the comfort of knowing that you can consult any one of our lawyers without additional charges. Payment plans are available to fit each individual’s financial circumstances.

The lawyers at Brodsky Amy & Gould believe that everyone, regardless of financial situation, deserves an excellent defence to their criminal charges. For that reason, we will take on your case if you qualify for Legal Aid funding. Legal Aid eligibility is based on gross income and family size. Additional considerations include assets and debts. To see if you qualify for Legal Aid, please visit Legal Aid Manitoba (http://www.legalaid.mb.ca/) or Legal Aid Ontario. (http://www.legalaid.on.ca/

Legal cases, especially criminal cases, are very complex and often require the knowledge and experience of lawyers who deal with charges and cases, similar to yours, on a day-to-day basis. Although it is possible to download court forms and obtain advice from legal websites, there is still a lot of work that must be undertaken. This work includes preparing court documents such as factums and motions briefs, serving documents to the Crown, and taking of time to attend court for remands and trial date setting.

Lawyers are trained in the intricacies of the law and of court procedures. Although you know the facts of your case, you may not be aware of all available legal arguments which could, for example, exclude evidence from a trial or help to weaken the Crown’s case against you. Therefore, hiring a lawyer provides greater opportunity for you to aggressively fight for your rights and to present an excellent defence.

Although the police and the Crown Attorney may have a strong case against you, you should not simply plead guilty. The consequences of pleading guilty include a lifetime criminal record along with the possibility of: jail time, fines, inability to travel to the United States, etc. Although a fact situation may appear black and white to you, with the help and advice of legal counsel, you may find legal opportunities that you were not initially aware of. For example, the police may have faltered in the process of detention, arrest or questioning or the Crown may not be able to include incriminating evidence. Without a complete awareness of all of the facts, along with the advice of a lawyer, you should not plead guilty and should not admit guilt to the police by way of a statement.

In order to make the most of your meeting, you should prepare for it. Write down all everything you can remember about the event in question (e.g. what you were doing that day, how you ended up at the location where the event occurred, what happened after you got there, were there any witnesses to the event, did the police question you, etc.). If you have any specific questions or concerns, write them down as well so that you remember to address them throughout the meeting. Bring all of the documents relating to your charge with you. If you are applying for Legal Aid, bring a recent pay stub with you and be aware of any savings/debts that you may have. The more information your lawyer has about you and your case, the better advice you will receive.

Yes, Brodsky Amy & Gould handles youth cases in Manitoba and Ontario. The lawyers at our firm have a great deal of experience working with the Youth Centre, psychologists, counsellors, pediatricians, parents and family members of youth offenders, and are always eager to take on new cases.