Welcome to the Helps Law Offices Blog! I look forward to posting questions, concerns and updates here, as well as giving you a general overview of criminal law issues that concern everyone. Anything posted on this blog is solely my opinion - my office, other lawyers in my office and our staff are not responsible for anything I write.

It seems to me that more and more, our society's values - that which makes us Canadians, rather than the U.S. citizens - are coming under siege from some unexpected places. The Supreme Court of Canada has recently ruled for a narrow interpretation of the laws surrounding wiretaps (R v. Lising and Pires), the United States has received cooperation from the RCMP in arresting Marc Emery, and Parliament is legislating to restrict the discretion of judges and to add mandatory minimums that are proven to do nothing to deter crime (Bills C-9 and C-10).

Since becoming a criminal defence lawyer, I've had numerous people coming up to me and telling me that my work does nothing for society as a whole. I don't believe that at all. There is nothing more important than the protection of everyone's rights. If you can take away the rights of people accused of a crime, then your society isn't working; the rights enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms must be guaranteed to everyone for society to work properly. That's what I do, and why I'm proud to be a criminal lawyer. Please check back often for new posts and new issues. I'm always glad to answer questions at info@helpslaw.com.