Making the decision to hire legal representation for your Ontario Stunt Driving charge is a big one. You have many civil liberties on the line – jail time, suspension, insurance, fines. So if you’re going to go ahead with hiring, make sure you do it right. Otherwise, don’t do it at all. I am going to list important points to help you make this decision and hire someone that is trustworthy.
It’s all about hiring the right person
A real human being will be taking over your case. This person will be dealing with the prosecutor. They will be dealing with the court administration. They will be building your defence. They will be presenting your plea in front of a Justice of the Peace. You will be dealing with this person on the phone, in-person, and they are your contact person on a regular basis. This person is going to court as a representative of yourself.
So this really is the definition of trust. You are entrusting this person with your Stunt Driving case. You rely on them to attend each appearance, and give you regular updates. They need to ONLY have your best interests in mind.
It’s not about hiring a company / franchise
Many people end up calling a company, such as a traffic ticket franchise. While this may end up being the right fit for you, just make sure you are doing this for the right reasons. Make sure that even though you are calling a company, you know EXACTLY who is representing you. Many clients come to us upset with their current representation because they actually have no idea who is representing them. This can be very scary. As I’ve stated before, it is an individual speaking with the prosecutor, so you MUST know who they are. It’s not OK to not know your legal representative. Your license is on the line here and that should mean everything to you.
Outsourcing is not OK
Similar to the above point, hiring one individual, but learning that they are using someone else to manage your case, is also not OK. When you are hiring for your Stunt Driving case, ask the right questions – “Who is going to court on my behalf? Is it you, or someone else?”. If someone else is going on your behalf, this can be ok, as long as you are familiar with the person that is managing your case. Sometimes your representative will need someone else to do a menial task, such as adjourning your court appearance. This is acceptable, as they are acting under the instructions of your representative, to perform such a task.
This becomes problematic when you hire a representative, and they have simply sub-contracted someone else to do the work, especially without your knowledge. This can have a major impact on the results of your case. And at the end of the day, who would be accountable? Solution – ask the right questions before you hire someone.
Get updates on your caseWe constantly hear from potential clients, that they have no idea of the status of their case from their current representative. They have no idea about their next appearance, the evidence, or the updates from the courts. This can be very upsetting, because, again, it is YOUR driver’s license on the line. You should know the strategy, updates and the representative should be accessible, whether through text, phone or another communication method.Don’t fall for guarantees
The biggest red-flag for trust is a “guarantee” from a legal representative. Guarantees are not possible (or ethical) in law. At the end of the day, it is the Justice of the Peace that will make the final determination. So any “guarantees” are untrustworthy sales pitches to get your business. This doesn’t mean you won’t get that result from your case, but a guarantee should signal the opposite – end the call, and call someone else.
The bottom line…as long as you ask the right questions before hiring, you should be fine
Don’t fall for guarantees
The biggest red-flag for trust is a “guarantee” from a legal representative. Guarantees are not possible (or ethical) in law. At the end of the day, it is the Justice of the Peace that will make the final determination. So any “guarantees” are untrustworthy sales pitches to get your business. This doesn’t mean you won’t get that result from your case, but a guarantee should signal the opposite – end the call, and call someone else.
The bottom line…as long as you ask the right questions before hiring, you should be fine
You are hiring a legal representative because you “feel” that they will do a better job defending your charges than you could do yourself. Treat this very seriously and ask all the right questions. This is your license. This is your life.
What should I consider when hiring a Stunt Driving lawyer in Ontario?
When hiring a Stunt Driving lawyer in Ontario, it is important to consider factors such as their experience, communication skills, and dedication to your case. You should also make sure that you are comfortable with the person who will be representing you in court, as this is an important factor in building trust. It is also important to understand the legal process and not fall for unrealistic guarantees or promises.
Is it important to know who is representing me in my Stunt Driving case?
Yes, it is very important to know who is representing you in your Stunt Driving case in Ontario. You should make sure that you understand who will be communicating with the prosecutor and appearing in court on your behalf. Hiring a company or franchise is not always the best option, as you may not know the person who is actually handling your case. It is also not recommended to hire a representative who outsources work to someone else, as this can have a major impact on the outcome of your case.
