Top Five (5) Qualities of an Effective Traffic Ticket Paralegal

In today’s article I want to introduce you, the reader, to arguably the top five (5) qualities your Ontario Highway Traffic ticket paralegal should possess prior to providing them with your initial retainer.

5. Local Knowledge – Before handing over your hard earned dollars to just any paralegal in the province of Ontario, you want to ensure you are satisfied that they understand the local processes and procedures to advance your position, and protect your interests, as your case progresses. Ask yourself, “is he or she local?”, “how long have they been in the city/jurisdiction in which I have been charged?” and/or “can they get the job done?”. Local knowledge can be both important and effective when it comes to defending your Ontario traffic ticket or criminal charge. It can save time and money if your paralegal is familiar with what defences, or resolutions, may or may not work with the primary prosecutor/crown in the jurisdiction that you have to attend court in.

4. Flexibility – After speaking with your paralegal for the first time, you want to be comfortable that your personal needs can be met and at a time that is most convenient to you. We all have a career or employment that takes up a great deal of our time. On top of that, we all have a personal and family life that we often have less and less time to fulfill their respected duties. Ask your paralegal, “can we communicate via email, or text?”, “are you available evenings or weekends should an important question need answering?”, and/or “what can be done if I miss an appointment?”. Your paralegal should be ready to assist you through this difficult time, after all, you’ve been on the receiving end of a stressful traffic ticket, by any means necessary.

3. Empathy – Similarly to what Attorney Atticus Finch said in Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, your retained paralegal should remember Mr. Finch’s quote, “… You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” Can your paralegal see your case from your point of view? Can they put themselves in your shoes and feel the same way you are feeling about your traffic ticket? Do they understand the impact that this moment has in your busy life? If your paralegal can remove their personal views of your case/situation and view the world from your eyes, the quality of service should (arguably) increase as well.

2. Charge-Specific Knowledge – You wouldn’t call a dentist to build your family a home and your desired paralegal should be no different. Upon meeting or speaking to them for the first time, you want to satisfy yourself that they have handled this type of case or traffic ticket before. Be sure to ask questions such as, “how many tickets like mine have you handled in your career?”, “can you better explain the type of charge to me?”, “what are the most typical defences vs. my fact-specific defences to my ticket?”, and/or “are you comfortable taking on this type of ticket/case?” You should become confident that they are the man or women for the job within the first few minutes of your consultation. While your paralegal may appear confident, never be afraid of to ask more questions before retaining.

1. Advanced Project/Time Management – As a client, you will come to learn that you are not the only person that your desired traffic ticket paralegal is assisting through this difficult time. With that being said, when it comes to the Ontario Highway Traffic Act and convictions, there is no such thing as a ‘case too small’. Convictions, no matter how minor, major, or serious they may appear, can negatively impact your Ontario Driver’s Licence with the accumulation of demerit points and can be quite detrimental to your monthly (or yearly) motor vehicle insurance premium. When speaking with your paralegal, don’t be afraid to ask “how long does this ticket normally take to resolve/complete?”, or, “what could increase the typical time of completion?”. Your paralegal will be with you every step of the way. Make sure they can dedicate enough of their attention to your case and personal needs.

At M. Cardy Legal Services, I have been successfully implementing competent and effective defences in relation to traffic tickets laid against drivers under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act for over seven (7) years. Cases I have been involved in have set influential precedents for other paralegals to use in the province of Ontario. Give me a call today for a free, no obligation, consultation and let me go to work for you!