While hiring a lawyer is a choice, there is a reason why it takes many years of education, training and testing to be licenced to practice law. If you had a cavity, you’d go see a dentist – even if it was your first cavity. You should treat being charged for the first time the same way. The law, procedure and protocols that govern the prosecution of offences and the knowledge required to successfully navigate them are not dependent on whether it’s a first, second or third offence.
Moreover, as a person without a criminal record, having the assistance of a competent lawyer is your best shot at keeping it that way, or at least mitigating the damages.
Hepburn Wilhelm Criminal Defence in Hamilton
Honest Advice.
Skilled Representation.
Optimal Solutions.
30+ Years of Combined Experience
Honest Advice
Collaborative & Creative
Skilled Advocates
Experienced Legal Team
With over thirty years of combined experience in criminal law, the lawyers at Hepburn Wilhelm Criminal Defence have the knowledge and skill to guide you through the process and get you to the best possible result.
Meet Our Attorneys
Client-Focused Approach
Every case is different, and deserves an individualized approach. Let us use our knowledge of the criminal justice system to find the best solution for your criminal law problem.
Our Practice Areas
Skilled Negotiation & Navigation
At Hepburn Wilhelm Criminal Defence we have your best interests in mind. We know the court system and will help you navigate it with professionalism and skill.
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Combined Years of ExperienceWith over thirty years of combined experience in criminal law, the lawyers at Hepburn Wilhelm Criminal Defence have the knowledge and skill to guide you through the process and get you to the best possible result.
About Our Firm
Hepburn Wilhelm Criminal Defence in Hamilton
Hepburn Wilhelm is a boutique criminal defence firm in Hamilton, Ontario. With over 30 years of combined experience, we provide straightforward advice and skilled representation through all stages of the criminal process. Whether inside the courtroom or behind the scenes, we work hard to make sure your rights are protected, as we strive to achieve the best possible outcome for your case.
Kaley Hepburn & Lauren Wilhelm: Advocates in Your Corner
Kaley and Lauren share a passion for criminal law and have devoted their careers to the practice of criminal defence. Their advocacy is fueled by their shared belief in the presumption of innocence and their desire to provide skilled, compassionate and effective service to their clients.
Hepburn Wilhelm Criminal Defence Hamilton
Meet Our Legal Team
Experience Matters
Criminal defence lawyers committed to criminal defence: 30+ years of combined experience defending criminal charges in Hamilton and beyond.
Advocating for You
Skilled advocates with proven track records in your corner.
Honest Advice
Honest advice at all stages of proceedings.
Dedicated Team
A dedicated team working toward your individualized goals.
A Collaborative Approach
Collaborative, skilled, and creative approach to achieve the best possible results.
Contact
Get in Touch with Hepburn Wilhelm
Areas of Law
At Hepburn Wilhelm Criminal Defence, our goal is to ensure every client receives the personalized focus and attention their case deserves. We provide high-quality criminal defence representation tailored to your case with skill and empathy.
The police, the crown attorney’s office and our courts take allegations of domestic assault very seriously.
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Domestic Violence
If you are facing assault charges, it is important to have an experienced criminal defence lawyer who can help you develop a plan to address the allegations.
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Assault Charges
Sexual Assault encompass vast range of activity from touching on one end of the scale to forced intercourse at the most serious end. Sexual assault is defined as any non-consensual sexual contact imposed on a person.
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Sexual Assault
Driving is an essential part of our lives for most of us. Anything that impedes our ability to drive can have significant consequences.
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Impaired Driving (DUI)
FAQ
Frequently Asked Legal Questions
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I’ve been charged with an offence. It’s my first time getting in trouble, do I really need a lawyer?What happens on my first court date? Do I need to go?Your first court date is not your trial. Nor is it a date where you are asked to plead guilty or not guilty. It is simply the first of what is usually several appearances in a court that is tasked with monitoring the progress of cases as they make their way through the system headed toward trial or plea.
If you have retained a lawyer and signed a designation of counsel (something you will do if you hire us), you do not need to attend court on your first appearance or any subsequent appearances in that court. Your lawyer will file the designation with the court and appear on your behalf. Eventually when your case is coming to an end – through a trial, guilty plea or otherwise, you will need to attend, but your lawyer will let you know of that requirement well in advance.Do I have to obey the conditions on my undertaking or release order? What if the person I can’t contact reaches out to me first?Yes. You absolutely must obey the conditions of your undertaking or release order. If you don’t, you will be charged with an additional criminal charge of failing to comply with the order and will face prosecution for that offence.
Even if the person you can’t contact reaches out to you first, you cannot reciprocate that contact. That person does not have conditions – only you have conditions. Your obligation is to obey the condition. The other person can’t override those conditions. The only mechanism to change them is by a variation approved of by the Crown/court. Unless that has occurred, the conditions must be obeyed to the letter or the law.I have text messages and screenshots that help my defence, what should I do with them?If you have evidence like text messages, photographs or recordings, take steps to make sure you preserve them on a drive or device other than your cell phone. Let your lawyer know about these materials so she can provide you advice as to whether and how to share them with her.I got a phone call from the police asking me to come in and give a statement. Should I go?You have no obligation to provide a statement to police – period, even if you witness a crime. They cannot force you to provide a statement. Nor can they penalize you if you don’t. If you get a call from police with a request like this, you should retain a lawyer to get advice before doing anything.
Even if you’ve done nothing wrong or “have nothing to hide”, giving a statement to police can still lead to negative outcomes. What you say, may give them a basis to charge you, it may be used many months, if not years, down the road as a tool to cross examine you in a trial, or as evidence to help the Crown prove the case against you.
Getting advice from a lawyer before making a decision to speak to police can make a huge difference in the consequences that can flow from doing so.Is what I tell my lawyer confidential? Should I be honest with my lawyer?Yes. With certain very limited exceptions, what you tell your lawyer is confidential and cannot be shared with anyone unless you consent.
It is important to be honest and upfront with your lawyer about your position, what happened, etc. The advice we give can only be as good as the information it is based on. Garbage in = garbage out. If you’re not honest with your lawyer, she may make decisions or develop strategies that are based on a house of cards and therefore doomed to fail.
