Burlington Criminal Lawyers

Arrested by Halton Regional Police? Call Collett Read LLP!

With a track record of successful defences against everything from simple theft, DUI’s, drug importation, and even murder, the criminal defence lawyers at Collett Read LLP Burlington are a strong force in the courtroom.

Burlington criminal lawyers, Collett Read LLP, are known by prosecutors for being highly prepared, extremely thorough, and formidable. When you retain Collett Read LLP, you retain the entire firm; the entire team works collaboratively on your case, bringing expert perspectives and decades of experience as defence counsel and former prosecutors.

Being arrested is usually a confusing and overwhelming experience for you and your loved ones. It’s not an easy situation to navigate alone; You need a legal team that promises to be there every step of the way.

Collett Read LLP – Burlington
4145 N Service Rd 2nd Floor
Burlington, ON L7L 6A3

Our team strives to understand the struggle you are facing right now. We know that it can be very intimidating and hopeless when facing charges that can have serious consequences. That’s why we prioritize getting to know you personally as a client. We believe that defending your rights is not enough, and mentally getting you through this process is half the battle.

Compassion is a value we hold with every client we work with, no matter the charges you are facing. When you retain Collett Read LLP you are fighting with an army of educated people who care about their clients, don’t judge you for your charges, protect your rights, mitigate your mistakes and help you feel better at the end. You are not defined by your charge; our lawyers will help you understand that and let you see a future moving forward in your life. Not only that, but we have a variety of resources available to help your loved ones endure this process as well. We want our office to be a safe harbour for those who need help when they need it the most.

With those values in mind, our lawyers are all highly trained and experienced in defending a wide variety of criminal charges. You will be backed by the whole firm, which includes former members of the crown who have worked to convict these charges, giving you a significant advantage. Being sound on the law is one thing, but our work in the courtroom is unrivaled. Each lawyer has been specifically vetted and trained to have a powerful presence in the court room and are well respected amongst their judicial peers. If your rights are infringed upon in any way, we will not hesitate to rise to your defence.

Impaired charges in Burlington have been decreasing since 2020 at a 5.8% compounded rate. Halton Regional Police have been increasing enforcement of impaired driving since 2020, while also increasing the frequency of RIDE checks outside of the usual holiday periods. The team at Collett Read LLP in Burlington are here to defend your rights if you have been arrested for any impaired driving charges by Halton Regional Police. 

Being convicted of a DUI can have significant life changing limitations and difficulties, not to mention the usual consequences such as large fines, massive car insurance rate hikes or outright insurance refusals, and license suspensions. Aggravating factors, such as if anyone was harmed or was put in immediate danger, can have even more harsh consequences.

At Collett Read LLP we understand that you have your own unique and personal circumstances and challenges surrounding your charges. We provide a non-judgmental and compassionate area for you to feel safe, supported, heard, and ultimately walked through the legal process. If you have been charged with a DUI in Burlington, we will work towards the best outcome given your specific circumstance.

A major benefit in retaining us at Collett Read LLP is that one of our Partners, Jessica Read, is an ex-prosecutor that specialized in impaired driving charges. Her job was simply to build cases in order to convict those accused of DUI. Now with her on the other side, working to defend those accused of DUI’s, her experience becomes an incredible asset to you and your charges. The advantage is that we know how to counter any tactic and strategy used to convict the accused, while also benefitting from knowing the strongest defence arguments made by some of the strongest defence firms in the Province. As you would expect, our track record with these types of cases is exceptional.

Collett Read LLP has an impressive track record when it comes to all drug charges, including serious drug charges such as trafficking and importation. In one specific case, a client was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking a schedule 1 substance. Our highly skilled team of lawyers went through every piece of evidence against our client and found a breach of our clients’ privacy rights. This breach alone was enough for the Crown to stay all charges against our client, allowing them to simply walk away without any criminal record or jail time.

Our lawyers at Collett Read LLP in Burlington are well established as a premier choice when it comes to defending drug related charges. We have experts in this area of the law that know it inside and out granting you a great advantage for your case. Our goal is to get you the best possible outcome in your current situation given your circumstances.

Simply being charged with sexual assault can cause immediate damage to your reputation and put immense strain on your family, and that’s all before facing the charges in court. A conviction of sexual assault can seriously destroy any chance of normalcy afterwards, not only impacting your professional career, but also your abilities to travel internationally, as well as the possibility of being part of the sex offender registry, as well as possible jail time. With such major impacts to your life immediately following charges, you need a strong team of lawyers that are highly experienced in this complex area of the law. At Collett Read LLP we take the presumption of innocence very seriously and never judge clients on their charges.

A major advantage when retaining Collett Read LLP is that you gain the power of an entire legal team, not just a single lawyer. By having a team of lawyers, including both male and female lawyers on your case, you gain necessary perspective to build an effective defence against sexual assault charges. With the complexities surrounding sexual assault charges and the laws about allowing what evidence can be used against you, having a legal team that is highly experienced, incredibly knowledgeable, and attentive to the changes in case law, is a necessity to get the most favourable outcome for your unique circumstances; your future depends on it.

Accusations of sexual assault alone can be incredibly damaging to you and your family. Our lawyers understand the stresses you’re facing and prioritize getting you though this difficult period. It is achieved not only through effective defence and mitigation by our team of lawyers, but also by making resources available to help you and your family through the entire legal process ahead, helping you get through it all.

Our Burlington criminal lawyers at Collett Read LLP are passionate about helping our clients live within their rights as Canadian citizens. If you find yourself charged with a crime we’re here to help, but we also have a large database of resources surrounding the knowledge of your rights. It’s always better to avoid any unnecessary legal issues if you can, and we hope to help those out who have any questions. We’ve listed here some of the most popular:

Can you Swear at a Cop in Canada? – While it’s not illegal, the best course of action when dealing with a police officer is to remain respectful. Read more about swearing at police here.

Will a Criminal Conviction Impact my Ability to Travel Internationally? – In most countries it will affect your ability to travel. Most countries have their own laws in regard to crimes that will omit you from passage into the nation, in an effort to reduce international crime in their own country. If you have any convictions, you will need to contact that country to review any issues beforehand so you are not refused once you arrive. Read more about criminal convictions impacting your ability to travel.

Is it Illegal to not Carry I.D. in Canada? – Apart from operating motor vehicles, it is not illegal to not have I.D. on you as a Canadian citizen. Read more about Canadian carrying I.D. laws here.

What Outcomes Could my Case Have? – When it comes to legal terminology, there are an array of different outcomes as a result of a criminal charge. Criminal charge outcomes include; charges withdrawn or stayed, a peace bond, being found not guilty, guilty verdicts, having your sentence suspended or conditionally discharged, receiving a fine or restitution order, probation, incarceration or imprisonment, and conditional sentencing/house arrest. There are a lot to know of but we have detailed them all in an article for public use, read more about criminal case outcomes here.

Can Police Enter Your Home in Canada? – They often cannot enter your home without a valid reason. Some valid reasons include through the use of a warrant, if someone is believed to be in danger, and if they are invited inside. If you suspect that a police officer entered your home unlawfully we urge you to contact our lawyers as soon as possible. Read more about police entering your home here.

If you would like to view our entire list of resources that are updated regularly, visit our know your rights page.

These resources are intended to be used as guidelines but are not claimed by Collett Read LLP as legal advice. If you are charged with a criminal offence, contact us at (905) 541-2228 to get connected with our legal team.

Often those charged with a criminal offence worry about how it will affect them financially. Even more so when you want the best representation to avoid the consequences of the convictions. For this reason, Collett Read LLP accepts legal aid as a valid form of payment to retain our legal services in Burlington.

Regardless of your current financial situation, our lawyers believe that you should not have to settle for a lesser defence of your rights. You already have to deal with enough mentally battling the charges against you, and a supportive team is necessary to have some sort of peace during that time. Our goal is to allow you some breathing room in your time of need, and grow as a human being beyond the charges you’ve been given.

You can qualify for legal aid through the organization known as Legal Aid Ontario. With legal aid you are allotted a select amount of hours for lawyers to work on your case, and defend you against your charges. Our team at Collett Read LLP is effective and efficient at providing a quality defence in the allotted time without any sacrifice. Visit this page to see if you qualify and apply for legal aid. Charges of all types are accepted under legal aid, even as serious as murder qualifying under legal aid. No matter what, our team of dedicated lawyers will defend your charges with everything they have.

Even if you have been denied your application for legal aid, get in touch with our office and we can file for an appeal. We don’t want you to sacrifice a quality criminal defence if it means financially suffering. There are also other payment plans we offer if there are no other options. We’ll answer any questions you may have financially or about the process in general to give you some confidence in your decision. Regardless, a strong defence against your charges is more valuable to avoid the consequences that can make your life worse.

Our team at Collett Read LLP works with clients who fall under the legal category of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Different from those charged over 18 years of age, there are special rules and allowances for those charged for crimes classified as minors. You can be confident that our lawyers are well equipped and effective at providing legal defence for those who are still developing into functioning members of our Burlington community.

Those under the age of 18 are recognized as the next generation of people in our Burlington community, and our Team at Collett Read LLP values their rights with those facts apparent. It’s difficult to make a mistake at that age as right from wrong can’t fully be blamed on them as they’re still developing into contributors of our society. One advantage for them is that they have more lenient laws surrounding their age, and powerful tools that defend their rights compared to older citizens.

We truly enjoy being able to change a minors life for the better due to a criminal charge. We’re hopeful for their rehabilitation and future aspirations. One difference we provide is the ability to mentor them through this tough situation and give them some direction afterwards. We want to get to know them personally, and help them understand the rights they hold at this age. The care we take with our clients comes from the passion we have for helping people. Visit our page on Youth Criminal Defence if you would like more information on the matter.

If you need a strong legal defence under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, contact our lawyers at Collett Read LLP for a quality experience and outcome.

If you or a loved one has been arrested by Halton Regional Police, you need to call Collett Read LLP in Burlington immediately.

We will take care of arranging everything needed, communicate the next steps, and help walk you through this stressful situation.