Youth Criminal Lawyers in Ontario

Charges against young people are handled under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, a federal law. Under s. 2(1), a young person is someone 12 or older and under 18, or someone who appears to be, absent evidence to the contrary. That includes someone charged for an offence committed at that age. Under s. 3(1)(a), the youth system aims to protect the public by holding young persons accountable through proportionate measures. It also aims to promote rehabilitation and reintegration, and to refer young persons to community programs. The Act is a separate law from the one that applies to adults, so a charge against a young person follows its own rules. A lawyer who takes youth matters can explain how it applies.

In Ontario, 333 lawyers are listed here as taking charges under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Twenty-six cities have their own page for this charge. Toronto has 63 listed lawyers, Brampton 41, Mississauga 36, Ottawa 24 and North York 20. London has 15, Scarborough 14, Hamilton and Kitchener each have 10, and Newmarket has 9. The city pages list the lawyers in each place. If a young person in your family has been charged, the page for the city nearest to you lists the lawyers there. Smaller places are covered by nearby cities.

The national guide linked on this page explains the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Parents and guardians often read it with the young person, so that everyone has the same plain-language starting point. It is a good first read before a first meeting with a lawyer, because it explains the charge in everyday language.

Legal Aid Ontario may pay for a lawyer if the person qualifies and is charged with a crime that could mean jail on conviction, or is 12 to 17 and charged under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. A listing on this page is not a recommendation, and the page does not rank lawyers. It is general information, not legal advice.

The charges this covers

Youth Criminal Lawyers in Ontario

Nanda & Associate Lawyers

4.8(2,053 reviews on Google)

5770 Hurontario St #901, Mississauga

  • Takes criminal defence cases
  • Impaired and driving offences
  • Assault charges
(905) 405-0199

What The Law

4.7(887 reviews on Google)

330 Hwy 7 Unit#305, Richmond Hill

  • Takes criminal defence cases
  • Impaired and driving offences
  • Assault charges
(647) 277-2714

Sadro Law Group

4.9(452 reviews on Google)

220 Duncan Mill Rd #419, North York

  • Takes criminal defence cases
  • Impaired and driving offences
  • Assault charges
(647) 697-7700

Freudman Law

4.9(265 reviews on Google)

2239 Queen St E, Toronto

  • Takes criminal defence cases
  • Impaired and driving offences
  • Assault charges
(647) 771-2416

Motevalli Law Group

4.9(254 reviews on Google)

151 Church St, Toronto

  • Takes criminal defence cases
  • Impaired and driving offences
  • Assault charges
(647) 692-2805

Sharma Law

4.9(252 reviews on Google)

205 Main St S, Newmarket

  • Takes criminal defence cases
  • Impaired and driving offences
  • Assault charges
(647) 849-4818

Lexaltico LLP

4.8(272 reviews on Google)

90 Matheson Blvd W Ste 101, Mississauga

  • Takes criminal defence cases
  • Impaired and driving offences
  • Assault charges
(905) 502-8786

Donich Law

5.0(206 reviews on Google)

120 Adelaide St W #2500, Toronto

  • Takes criminal defence cases
  • Impaired and driving offences
  • Assault charges
(416) 333-3623

Citadel Law

5.0(205 reviews on Google)

1235 Bay St. Office 501, Toronto

  • Takes criminal defence cases
  • Impaired and driving offences
  • Assault charges
(647) 632-0083

XCrown Legal Services

4.9(218 reviews on Google)

120 Linkdale Rd, Brampton

  • Takes criminal defence cases
  • Impaired and driving offences
  • Assault charges
(416) 839-8013

Kahlon Law

5.0(181 reviews on Google)

6200 Dixie Rd #223, Mississauga

  • Takes criminal defence cases
  • Impaired and driving offences
  • Assault charges
(416) 502-8555

Shaffie Law

4.9(201 reviews on Google)

65 Front St E Ste 300, Toronto

  • Takes criminal defence cases
  • Domestic charges
  • Sexual offences
(647) 500-5186

Worsoff Law Firm

4.7(236 reviews on Google)

469 Lawrence Ave W, North York

  • Takes criminal defence cases
  • Impaired and driving offences
  • Assault charges
(416) 423-3333

Passi & Patel

4.9(182 reviews on Google)

197 County Ct Blvd Unit 101, Brampton

  • Takes criminal defence cases
  • Impaired and driving offences
  • Assault charges
(905) 459-0004

Hepburn Criminal Law

4.9(176 reviews on Google)

UNION GAS BUILDING, 20 Hughson St S, Hamilton

  • Takes criminal defence cases
  • Impaired and driving offences
  • Assault charges
(905) 869-5488

Pyzer Criminal Lawyers

4.9(170 reviews on Google)

1396 Eglinton Ave W #100, York

  • Takes criminal defence cases
  • Impaired and driving offences
  • Assault charges
(416) 658-1818

What The Law

4.9(162 reviews on Google)

15393 Yonge St, Aurora

  • Takes criminal defence cases
  • Impaired and driving offences
  • Assault charges
(647) 295-6499

Lawyer UP Canada

4.8(167 reviews on Google)

330 Hwy 7 Unit 305-C, Richmond Hill

  • Takes criminal defence cases
  • Impaired and driving offences
  • Assault charges
(905) 745-6180

Jalili Law Firm P.C.

4.8(165 reviews on Google)

55 Commerce Valley Dr W #502, Thornhill

  • Takes criminal defence cases
  • Impaired and driving offences
  • Assault charges
(905) 597-0887

Hundal Law Firm

4.9(148 reviews on Google)

104, 490 Bramalea Rd, Brampton

  • Takes criminal defence cases
  • Impaired and driving offences
  • Assault charges
(416) 888-0592

Batish Law

4.9(147 reviews on Google)

2 County Ct Blvd Ste 215, Brampton

  • Takes criminal defence cases
  • Impaired and driving offences
  • Assault charges
(888) 959-2499

Legal Solutions Law Firm

4.7(172 reviews on Google)

10 Milner Business Ct #300, Scarborough

  • Takes criminal defence cases
  • Impaired and driving offences
  • Assault charges
(416) 274-2222

Aitken Robertson

4.6(187 reviews on Google)

25 Ritson Rd N, Oshawa

  • Takes criminal defence cases
  • Impaired and driving offences
  • Assault charges
(905) 725-3564

Weaver Simmons LLP

4.6(167 reviews on Google)

233 Brady St Ste 400, Greater Sudbury (based in Sudbury)

  • Takes criminal defence cases
  • Impaired and driving offences
  • Drug offences
(705) 674-6421

Posner Craig Stein LLP

4.9(119 reviews on Google)

603 1/2 Parliament St, Toronto

  • Takes criminal defence cases
  • Impaired and driving offences
  • Assault charges
(416) 391-2118

Aitken Robertson

4.7(144 reviews on Google)

2263 Princess St, Kingston

  • Takes criminal defence cases
  • Impaired and driving offences
  • Assault charges
(613) 531-9099

Pazuki Law Group

4.9(115 reviews on Google)

205 Main St S, Newmarket

  • Takes criminal defence cases
  • Impaired and driving offences
  • Assault charges
(905) 508-4878

Batasar Law

4.6(146 reviews on Google)

27 John St, Brampton

  • Takes criminal defence cases
  • Impaired and driving offences
  • Domestic charges
(905) 866-6464

Cooper Lord Law

4.9(107 reviews on Google)

7 Duke St W Ste 306, Kitchener

  • Takes criminal defence cases
  • Impaired and driving offences
  • Sexual offences
(226) 336-9939

Aitken Robertson

4.8(110 reviews on Google)

189 Kent St W Suite 218, Lindsay

  • Takes criminal defence cases
  • Impaired and driving offences
  • Assault charges
(705) 878-8100

Leora Shemesh

5.0(88 reviews on Google)

155 University Ave Ste 1920, Toronto

  • Takes criminal defence cases
  • Impaired and driving offences
  • Domestic charges
(416) 944-8111

Aitken Robertson

4.6(124 reviews on Google)

263 Charlotte St, Peterborough

  • Takes criminal defence cases
  • Impaired and driving offences
  • Assault charges
(705) 742-0440

Sanctuary Lawyers

5.0(83 reviews on Google)

15213 Yonge St #5, Aurora

  • Takes criminal defence cases
  • Impaired and driving offences
  • Assault charges
(416) 333-3529

Provident Law LLP

5.0(82 reviews on Google)

5045 Orbitor Dr Bldg 11, Suite 402, Mississauga

  • Takes criminal defence cases
  • Impaired and driving offences
  • Assault charges
(647) 254-9617

273 more

Youth Criminal Lawyers by city

Common questions about charges under the Youth Criminal Justice Act

Who takes youth criminal cases near me?

There are 333 lawyers listed in Ontario for charges under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, and 26 cities have their own page for this charge. Toronto has 63 listed, Brampton 41, Mississauga 36, Ottawa 24 and North York 20. Open the page for the city closest to you to see the lawyers listed there.

Who counts as a young person under the law?

Under s. 2(1) of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, a young person is someone 12 or older and under 18, or someone who appears to be, absent evidence to the contrary. That includes someone charged for an offence committed at that age.

What does the youth justice system aim to do?

Under s. 3(1)(a), it aims to protect the public by holding young persons accountable through proportionate measures. It also aims to promote rehabilitation and reintegration, and to refer young persons to community programs.

Can legal aid pay for a youth lawyer?

Legal Aid Ontario may pay for a lawyer if the person qualifies and is 12 to 17 and charged under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. It may also do so for any person who qualifies and is charged with a crime that could mean jail on conviction.

General information, not legal advice. A listing is not an endorsement; each lawyer and firm is independent.