LibraKeen Law Professional Corporation

Under the Charter, police have a duty to immediately inform a person who is arrested of the grounds for the Arrest, the right to silence (to say nothing) and the right to speak with a lawyer or contact duty counsel.  It is important to remember that police may still proceed to question you even after you have spoken with a lawyer.  It is always best to remain silent. When you call me, I will explain your rights.

If you have been charged with a criminal offence, call me for a Free Initial Consultation.  You are under no obligation to hire me after our initial meeting. However, after hearing more about your case, a block fee retainer may be offered to deal with your matter.  After I have been retained, I can accept a fee retainer or acknowledge your Legal Aid certificate.

Once I am retained, I will negotiate Bail Conditions with the Crown, as well as contact and prepare sureties for your Bail Hearing.  I will speak to you while in custody to provide case updates and gather information.  I will request Disclosure (the evidence) and review it with you.  

I will provide you with strategic and compassionate representation through every stage of the criminal process. At your First Appearance, also known as an initial hearing, you are informed of the charges, your rights and a date will be set for a future court date.  No evidence is presented at this stage.

After the First Appearance, I will contact the Crown and schedule a Counsel Pre-trial, also known as a Crown Pre-trial. The Crown and defence will meet to discuss the case, potential Charter violations and potential resolutions.  The Crown may offer to withdraw charges, a peace bond or a diversion program. In exchange for a guilty plea, the Crown may present its position on sentencing. After the Counsel Pre-trial, I will contact you to discuss the Crown position and obtain instructions from you.

At a Judicial Pre-trial, a meeting with the judge and Crown, I will discuss disclosure, represent your best interests and work towards a better resolution for your case. I will explain your perspective to the judge; emphasize the strengths of the defence and any weaknesses in the Crown's case. The judge will offer advice and guidance to help the defence and Crown reach an agreement. After the Judicial Pre-trial, I will contact you to discuss the position taken by the judge.

If it is your decision to enter a Plea of Guilty, a Plea Inquiry will happen immediately before a guilty plea is entered in court. The plea inquiry is conducted to show the judge that you are pleading guilty voluntarily and that no one has pressured or forced you to plead guilty. 

The Crown and I will propose a Sentence and present arguments for or against a particular sentence to the judge. However, it is the judge who ultimately decides on the sentence. The judge will consider the facts, the seriousness of the crime, the impact on any victims, your background and any mitigating or aggravating factors. 

If you are a youth charged with a crime, I will discuss the charges against you and ensure that your rights are protected throughout the legal process. 

If your son or daughter has been charged with a criminal offence or is being investigated for a criminal offence, parents have the right to be notified by the police.  A young person has the right to have a parent or another appropriate adult chosen by the young person present during any police interview.  

Police may try to persuade the young person to waive his or her rights, that is why it is crucial to obtain advice from a lawyer. 

A young person has the right to remain silent during police questioning and they are not required to answer any questions from police. 

A young person who is arrested or detained has the right to hire a lawyer and have the lawyer provide them with advice.

Young persons, who are 12 to 17 years of age and charged with a criminal offence, fall under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA), however, a young person who is under the age of 12 cannot be prosecuted with a crime.  If you have been charged with a crime, your charges will be dealt with in youth court and you have the right to have a lawyer represent you.

If you cannot afford a lawyer and are facing certain types of criminal charges, Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) provides financial support to those who are financially eligible.  If you think you qualify for government assistance to help pay for your legal services, your first step is to call Legal Aid Ontario and they will conduct a financial eligibility test with you. Details regarding the financial eligibility test can also be found on LAO's website, at www.legalaid.on.ca.

Once you are provided with a Legal Aid certificate, call me at 613-327-3553 because I accept LAO certificates. When contacting LibraKeen Law Professional Corporation, please have your LAO client number and certificate number available so that I can check the status of your certificate. These numbers can be identified as beginning with CE and CLT. 

Please be aware that it is difficult to change lawyers on a Legal Aid certificate, so make sure that you are comfortable with LibraKeen Law Professional Corporation as your choice of counsel before I accept your Legal Aid certificate.

I will not acknowledge your Legal Aid certificate until I have first confirmed a written Retainer Agreement with you. A retainer agreement is a contract that defines what legal work I will perform on your behalf, including any limitations on my representation.

At LibraKeen Law, I offer efficient and reliable Notary Services to individuals and businesses in Ottawa and surrounding areas.  

Whether you need documents notarized, commissioned or certified, I ensure the process is handled with accuracy and professionalism.  My services include affidavits, statutory declarations, certified true copies, travel consent letters, separation agreements, and more.

I understand the importance of timely and trustworthy document handling, and I am committed to making the process clear and stress-free.  Appointments are flexible and designed to fit your schedule.