Hire Criminal Lawyer in Ontario

Hiring the right criminal lawyer to work on your case is essential. Regardless of whether you’re looking to prove your innocence or have the best possible outcome for your sentencing, you need to work with a skilled lawyer who knows their way around criminal law. However, it can be difficult to estimate how much you’re required to pay for the services of a skilled lawyer if you have never needed to use a legal professional in this capacity before.

There are a number of variables to the way that criminal lawyers tend to bill for their time, and you might decide to prioritize looking for lawyers who can handle your case in a way that you can afford. Remember to consider that various factors can add to the expense of your case as it progresses – what can seem like an affordable option at first can escalate to one that you cannot afford over time.

Flat/Block Legal Fees Vs Hourly Legal Fees

Hourly fees for this kind of defence can vary greatly. The experience and seniority of the lawyer that you are working with will also influence their hourly fees. You will want to work with an experienced and skilled lawyer for this kind of case, but you might need to be realistic about how much you can afford to pay per hour of work on your case.

The Law Society of Ontario has set out a governing fee schedule that does not have to be followed by lawyers, but that is often used as a baseline for the fees that are charged per hour by these professionals. Using this schedule, a senior counsel can charge as much as $350 an hour. Meanwhile, you might pay less than $100 for a junior lawyer or someone who has recently opened up their practice in this space.

Block fees are a solution that many lawyers are turning to in the Ontario area to help clients cover the costs of the legal team that is supporting them through their trial and case processes. These structured fees provide a set base charge for certain kinds of cases and representation, with additional blocks that can be added if the need for specialty services crops up as the case progresses. This is a more transparent billing process for everyone involved, and it helps people seeking representation to be sure that they can afford the lawyer that is taking their case.

Factors That Influence the Costs of Your Block Fee Defence

Case complexity

Simple cases are much easier to defend than cases that involve violence or a very serious crime related to drugs and alcohol, or even murder. You should expect the complexity of your case to add to the chargeable hours that your lawyer needs to be compensated for. When there is a need to bring in expert witnesses, expert testimony, and to collect information from a protracted investigation, these charges can also be added to your tab.

As a rule of thumb, complex cases will almost always go to trial, and this can multiply the cost of your case exponentially. You will need to ask about the cost of your lawyer’s time working on a case that goes to court before you agree to work with the lawyer that you have been chatting with.

Jurisdiction

The jurisdiction that your case needs to be tried in can impact the block fees that you are charged. If you have to pay for travel outside of the office’s local area, this can add to your block fees. Mileage, travel, flights, and more can be covered in a block fee with ease, but they will add quite a bit of cost to your representation needs. You might want to ask your lawyer about this block fee add-on if you think that you will need representation that is going to require travel to be charged to your bill.

Mode of Trial

This is one of the key factors that can cause an increase in your block fees. Your lawyer can advise you about the different costs for trials that have to be heard by the Ontario Court of Justice versus those that will not require a jury or a superior court appearance. The amount of time and effort that goes into cases appearing before the highest court is significant, and the timeframes that can be required to finalize these trials can be quite lengthy as well. Longer trials will be more expensive, and your lawyer cannot promise you that they can predict the length of a trial for more serious charges.

The Seniority of the Lawyer You Hire

High-quality, experienced lawyers charge for their experience in their field. This means that you can expect to pay more for an experienced lawyer than you would for a new associate or someone that has just set up a practice. This factor still applies to block fees, so you will want to be sure that you look at the seniority of your attorney carefully from the standpoint of affordability. Experience is worth it if you have a complex case that involves serious charges, but you do have to be practical about the cost of this representation.

The Average Cost for Criminal Defence in Ontario

The average cost of a criminal lawyer in Ontario is anywhere from $1,500 to $10,000. Cases that must go to trial before a jury can cost twice this much or more. You will need to speak with your lawyer about their fees if you believe that you cannot afford them. It is critical that you find a lawyer that you can afford to have to represent your case.

Working with a skilled lawyer is critical, but being able to afford your lawyer is just as important. At Vilkhov Law, we can help you to understand the cost of your case and make a plan that will work for your budget and the nature of your legal needs. Contact us today for a consultation to see how we can help you with your criminal case.

At Vilkhov Law, our team is here for you to help you access the legal services you need in the following areas:

Criminal Lawyer in Toronto
Criminal Lawyer in Etobicoke
Criminal Lawyer in Scarborough
Criminal Lawyer in Newmarket
Criminal Lawyer in Brampton
Criminal Lawyer in Mississauga

By |2023-10-18T19:07:13+00:00June 30th, 2022|Criminal Defence|

5/5 - (1 vote)

Criminal Lawyers Association
Toronnto Lawyers Association
Law Society of Ontario
Criminal Lawyers Association
Toronnto Lawyers Association
Law Society of Ontario
Excellent5.0 Based on 119 reviews fromAnoop RAnoop R ★★★★★ One of the best law firms in town! Highly recommended.ARRARR ★★★★★ I was falsely accused and charged with a serious offence. All it took was just one phone call from the complainant. As an immigrant, it was a nightmare. Fortunately Igor was the first person whom I contacted and I knew he was the one and I retained him. Beware of the lawyers who try to scare you, make you feel insecure. From the first phone call, he never made me feel insecure. He was confident that he can get the work done. Igor and Daniel promptly attended all my court dates. It took a while to achieve the resolution and finally my case was unconditionally withdrawn. I can't thank him enough. As Igor is a busy person, I was getting updates regularly from Daniel. I would give six stars to Daniel. Igor should never let him go. I would definitely recommend this law firm. You might sometimes feel that Igor is late in responding, but he'll be putting all his efforts behind the scene. Just have faith in him. I wish Igor and Daniel all the best.Maria AgasMaria Agas ★★★★★ I was very impressed with his professionalism, swift responses and attention to detail. He was proactive and always communicated next steps. I’m so happy we came across Igor and his team. Igor is amazing and wonderful lawyer.Cindy LiCindy Li ★★★★★ I cannot express my gratitude enough for the exceptional legal representation provided by Igor. Facing wrongful accusations was a harrowing experience, but Igor's expertise and dedication swiftly turned the tide in my favor. He navigated the complexities of the case with professionalism, demonstrating remarkable intelligence and a deep understanding of the legal system. Thanks to his efforts, the charges were withdrawn in a timely manner, allowing me to move forward with my life. Igor is not just a good lawyer; he is an outstanding advocate for his clients. I wholeheartedly recommend his services to anyone in need of top-notch legal assistance.George ArellanoGeorge Arellano ★★★★★ Mr. Vilkhov got my charges withdrawn today after a very stressful time in my life. I hired him because of his reviews and I am not surprised that I got this result. I appreciate him and his team. Igor literally dedicates his entire life for his clients.Latch RamoutarLatch Ramoutar ★★★★★ I am sitting here at 10 Armoury street after my charges were just withdrawn. I cannot thank Igor enough for what he has done for me. This was supposed to be a trial where I was facing a ten year jail sentence. Somehow Igor got my charges dropped. This man is the lawyer you need, hands down. Also a very nice person.Emad MEmad M ★★★★★ Do not blink! Go with him.I know for stressful this process might be an how awful law system might be treating you, also how difficult it might be to trust someone with your “life”.Igor knows what he is doing and he saved my partner and I from false accusations of a jealous individual!He didn’t over charge, he didn’t hold back on any help a lawyer could possibly provide.This man is the best saviour one can ask for in these situations.Christa DuchenoChrista Ducheno ★★★★★ No kidding, if you need an attorney and You want the Best lawyer to defend you and your rights in the legal system I’d definitely recommend you call Igor Vilkhov.I am completely and gratefully satisfied with His professional guidance, knowledge of the complex legal system and most of all for saving my life. I give Igor and his Team my hands heart shout out Thank You for your dedication, I couldn’t have gotten through it without Y’all.Stephanie SchembriStephanie Schembri ★★★★★ Mr.Vilkhov thank you for keeping our family together we are forever gratefulAndreyAndrey ★★★★★ Highly recommend. Fast and reasonableRajveer SinghRajveer Singh ★★★★★ WaheguruAlyssa TolentinoAlyssa Tolentino ★★★★★ Igor is an incredibly professional, yet empathetic lawyer — I retained his services for charges laid against someone close to me, and would make that decision time and time again! He pays attention to every detail, and will be by your side to get the best outcome possible. You’re in good hands with him.Kathryn GilfoyKathryn Gilfoy ★★★★★ john la magnajohn la magna ★★★★★ I had a great experience with Vilkhov Law. Igor was professional, efficient, and made my very stressful first endeavour into needing legal council as much of a breeze as it could have been.He was also very patient with me as a first time offender with way too many questions.I highly recommended Igor, and his team at Vilkhov Law!Norbert WysockiNorbert Wysocki ★★★★★ Igor and his team provided excellent service in very delicate and emotional case. They were extremely supporting and knowledgeable. Thank you for everything you have done!Jason WorthJason Worth ★★★★★ Words cannot describe what Igor has done for me. Igor is the most skilled and amazing attorney I have ever met in my entire life. I had a long list of charges (some that carried some serious penitentiary time) and worked some serious magic with countless hours behind the scenes for me to make just 1 appearance and have ALL THE CHARGES WITHDRAWN and a peace bond put in place. The timeframe for it was amazing as well he took care of me and this situation in only 15 months! (we all know the justice system does not work that fast normally!) If you want a very highly skilled, passionate, available(Igor would take calls and messages even after normal hours to fill me in!), experienced and dedicated attorney that will work tirelssly with you and for you to get you the absolute best results then Igor is your man! 5 stars does not do this man justice he deserves 100 stars!N -N - ★★★★★ Great lawyer. Knowledgeable and helpful. 10/10 would recommend :)GLORIS SPENCEGLORIS SPENCE ★★★★★ Working with Igor and his team during a very unpleasant situation has been a blessing. Even though the legal process was a lengthy one, they were there to answer the questions and concerns we had.Thankfully, it's all over and settled and hopefully we'll not need his services again, but it is reassuring to know that if the situation should every arise where legal counsel is needed, Vilkhov Law Professional will be there in my corner.Thank you.Scott K.Scott K. ★★★★★ I would like to give Igor 5 stars for handling my serious case for the last 11 months of my life. In December 2022, I was wrongfully accused of 2 serious charges under my name however, Igor took care of it from the beginning and finally all of those wrongful charges are withdrawn and now I feel much better and at ease. I am very glad that Igor could help me throughout the hard process and bring out the best result possible! Also, what I want to pinpoint out for the most is that he picks up the call by himself and you get to contact directly with him whenever you have questions or want updates throughout the process. I know that it could be tiring for lawyers who have other clients at the moment but Igor always keep a close contact with his client and I was always able to talk to him directly when I needed for the last 11 months. At last, I wish all the best for Igor and hope that god blesses throughout his career and may he be able to offer his professionalism to help other people in need. Thank you Igor :)SAID ALISAID ALI ★★★★★ Igor is an exceptional lawyer! I am very thankful for his excellent professional legal advice and assistance, he was able to drop my S.A charges. Thank you Igor for everything you've done, I really appreciate your services.M AlyM Aly ★★★★★ I was charged with SA, which rarely ever get dropped and generally always go to trial. Igor Vilkhov was able to get my charges fully withdrawn with no consequences or harm to me.Every lawyer I spoke with quoted me astronomical fees and explained how they would have to jump through hoops and perform ‘legal gymnastics’ to help me. Igor was the only lawyer who gave me a fair and realistic fee structure. He walked me through what the process would look like and gave realistic expectations. It was clear from the start he knew what he was doing and that his experience was significant. Throughout the process he provided regular updates and was always reachable. If you’re charged, I highly recommend at least speaking with Igor before making a decision on an attorney.Melissa HinrichsenMelissa Hinrichsen ★★★★★ Igor was amazing to deal with. His response time was amazing compared to others. He knew what I needed and got the job done. I highly recommend to everyone.NicoleNicole ★★★★★ Very kind and helpfulDevere SDevere S ★★★★★ Mr.Vilkhov is a professional and very good lawyer, goes through everyrhing to make sure it gets dealt with properly, He replies fast if you have questions or anything as well, along with his staff Jessica she was a big help as well.Jessica Gavrikov-ZinchenkoJessica Gavrikov-Zinchenko ★★★★★ Igor Vilkhov is a one-of-a-kind lawyer, his skills truly exceed expectations. He is incredibly diligent and has a passion for ensuring that his clients receive the best possible representation. Additionally, he has a wonderful team behind him, ensuring that his business operations and client relations are running smoothly.js_loader

CONTACT US

“Caring, honest, and highly knowledgeable.”

Contact Igor for a Free Consultation!

Please contact us online for a free consultation.
Go to Top