Where criminal cases are heard in Quebec
The Court of Québec (Cour du Québec) is a trial court of first instance with civil, criminal and penal jurisdiction. Its Criminal and Penal Division hears criminal and penal cases.
The Superior Court (Cour supérieure) sits in every judicial district of Quebec.
Criminal and penal prosecutions are authorized and conducted on behalf of the State of Quebec by the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (Directeur des poursuites criminelles et pénales, DPCP).
Legal aid and duty counsel
Legal aid in Quebec, Aide juridique du Québec, is run by the Commission des services juridiques for people who are financially eligible. It can cover a person charged under the Criminal Code. To apply, contact the legal aid office for your region and make an appointment.
A free telephone consultation line for people under arrest is at 1-800-842-2213.
Aide juridique du Québec: services (in French)
Check that a lawyer is licensed
The Barreau du Québec regulates lawyers in Quebec. Its Trouver un avocat search lists every lawyer in good standing on the Roll of the Order and confirms whether a person is registered as a lawyer.
Barreau du Québec: Trouver un avocat (in French)
The same Criminal Code across Canada
Criminal law is federal. The Constitution Act, 1867 gives Parliament the criminal law and the procedure in criminal matters, so a Criminal Code charge in Quebec is the same offence it would be anywhere in Canada, and the charge guides on this site apply here too. The administration of justice, including the organization of the criminal courts, belongs to the province.
Everyone who is arrested or detained has the right under the Charter to retain and instruct a lawyer without delay, and to be told of that right. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Charge guides
Other provinces and territories
- Ontario1,206 criminal lawyers in 51 cities
- British ColumbiaCourts, legal aid and licence checks
- AlbertaCourts, legal aid and licence checks
- ManitobaCourts, legal aid and licence checks
- SaskatchewanCourts, legal aid and licence checks
- Nova ScotiaCourts, legal aid and licence checks
- New BrunswickCourts, legal aid and licence checks
- Newfoundland and LabradorCourts, legal aid and licence checks
- Prince Edward IslandCourts, legal aid and licence checks
- Northwest TerritoriesCourts, legal aid and licence checks
- YukonCourts, legal aid and licence checks
- NunavutCourts, legal aid and licence checks