Lawyers of the War Room...

[JudoThrowFiasco]

Not really an indepth OP but i was reading up on the Alek Minassian case as he is making his second court appearance today. For those not in the know -- he is the person who drove a rental van into pedestrians in North York, Toronto several weeks ago.

He is being represented by two very highly respected defense lawyers: Boris Bytensky and Breese Davies. My question is since this is way outside the public defender realm of canadian legal system (which is way less progressive than the US) and way outside the reach of the Minassian's bank account -- do high profile lawyers usually take on "indefensible" clients purely for the press? I can see someone who is out to make a name for themselves taking on this case, but established, respected lawyers seems odd to me.

Is this the legal equivalent of seeing if their litigation muscles can knock out some 405's for reps?

 

[Trotsky]

What do you mean that the "public defender realm of canadian legal system (which is way less progressive an the US)."

As far as the motivations, I think your weight lifting analogy is pretty apt tbh.

 

[JudoThrowFiasco]

What do you mean that the "public defender realm of canadian legal system (which is way less progressive an the US)."

As far as the motivations, I think your weight lifting analogy is pretty apt tbh.

In canada you only can get a state paid lawyer if you make under 16k a year (i think)

 

[Gregolian]

In canada you only can get a state paid lawyer if you make under 16k a year (i think)

I think in the US they do it based on what you make a month.


SOME lawyers will ask for a certain amount upfront and then payments from then on to pay off the retainer with who knows how much per hour for trial and shit.

 

[Trotsky]

In canada you only can get a state paid lawyer if you make under 16k a year (i think)

Depending on the jurisdiction, that's about what it is here. The poverty line is what is determinitive. So, if you're single and you make more than 12k you're likely ineligible (with 3 kids it's 20k, etc.)

 

[JudoThrowFiasco]

Depending on the jurisdiction, that's about what it is here. The poverty line is what is determinitive. So, if you're single and you make more than 12k you're likely ineligible (with 3 kids it's 20k, etc.)

Oh shit, did not know that about the states -- i thought the standards were much higher.

 

[Trotsky]

Oh shit, did not know that about the states -- i thought the standards were much higher.

Yeah, if you care to read some interesting stuff, you can look up the public defender system here in Missouri. It made news in recent years for being so underfunded and overworked that the head of the agency, which was permitted to assign cases to private attorneys instead of having the court do it, assigned one to the sitting governor.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/...cle_c59059f8-98c8-50fe-9068-12a9b092b7f3.html

I would assume that, even if the eligibility is comparable in Canada, that you guys take better care of your public defenders in terms of workload and compensation. Here, they work 60+ hour weeks just to make 35-45k.

 

[JudoThrowFiasco]

Yeah, if you care to read some interesting stuff, you can look up the public defender system here in Missouri. It made news in recent years for being so underfunded and overworked that the head of the agency, which was permitted to assign cases to private attorneys instead of having the court do it, assigned one to the sitting governor.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/...cle_c59059f8-98c8-50fe-9068-12a9b092b7f3.html

I would assume that, even if the eligibility is comparable in Canada, that you guys take better care of your public defenders in terms of workload and compensation. Here, they work 60+ hour weeks just to make 35-45k.

Will look into -- thanks.

 

[Last Samurai]

I'm more of what you might call a fixer


this is above my pay grade

 

[Supereem]

Yes, lawyers will at times take on clients to boost their profile. For example, if there is a famous gangster who is technically broke, lawyers will pounce on him to get their name out there. It makes sense, people will associated high profile clients with high profile lawyers. It is free marketing.

 

[JudoThrowFiasco]

Yes, lawyers will at times take on clients to boost their profile. For example, if there is a famous gangster who is technically broke, lawyers will pounce on him to get their name out there. It makes sense, people will associated high profile clients with high profile lawyers. It is free marketing.

I get the Maurice "Maury" Levy approach -- but thats to attract other high paying clientele -- taking on a mental case who cant win (outside the insanity defense) seems odd. Like willing to take the certain loss in hopes of possibly getting the incredibly improbable win

Both these guys already have their name in high regards, they dont need to make their bones

 

[Pseudo Sane]

Yeah, if you care to read some interesting stuff, you can look up the public defender system here in Missouri. It made news in recent years for being so underfunded and overworked that the head of the agency, which was permitted to assign cases to private attorneys instead of having the court do it, assigned one to the sitting governor.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/...cle_c59059f8-98c8-50fe-9068-12a9b092b7f3.html

I would assume that, even if the eligibility is comparable in Canada, that you guys take better care of your public defenders in terms of workload and compensation. Here, they work 60+ hour weeks just to make 35-45k.

Nope. Being a public defender is a garbage job in the great white north too.

 

[Supereem]

I get the Maurice "Maury" Levy approach -- but thats to attract other high paying clientele -- taking on a mental case who cant win (outside the insanity defense) seems odd. Like willing to take the certain loss in hopes of possibly getting the incredibly improbable win

Both these guys already have their name in high regards, they dont need to make their bones

Being a litigation lawyer isn’t always about winning, it’s about getting the best possible deal for your client. It’s not about pulling an OJ Simpson victory. Their goal might be to mitigate jail time as much as possible or prove insanity.

Publicity is publicity. I’ve never heard of these guys before but now I have thanks to them taking this case. People will see their name and say “I want the famous lawyer”. Lawyerw can build an entire practice of a famous client, regardless of what happens to the client. These guys might seem rich and famous to you, but they are still small time compared to some commercial lawyers. Perhaps they want to further expand to close that gap? The super successful are never satisfied money or achievement wise. Maybe they want more money, fame, or make history. Who knows, but taking this case for free can achieve all three.

Usually when we talk about a famous lawyer we associate them with a famous client, even in the commercial world.

 

[JamesRussler]

Not really an indepth OP but i was reading up on the Alek Minassian case as he is making his second court appearance today. For those not in the know -- he is the person who drove a rental van into pedestrians in North York, Toronto several weeks ago.

He is being represented by two very highly respected defense lawyers: Boris Bytensky and Breese Davies. My question is since this is way outside the public defender realm of canadian legal system (which is way less progressive than the US) and way outside the reach of the Minassian's bank account -- do high profile lawyers usually take on "indefensible" clients purely for the press? I can see someone who is out to make a name for themselves taking on this case, but established, respected lawyers seems odd to me.

Is this the legal equivalent of seeing if their litigation muscles can knock out some 405's for reps?

The answer to your question is YES. Succeeding in high profile cases is great advertising. Just ask Mark O'Mara (George Zimmerman's defense attorney). Defense attorneys are used to "indefensible" clients, so there's nothing strange about that.

However, there are other reasons defense attorneys may take on an "indefensible" criminal case aside from press coverage. For one, they may not see the case as "indefensible." They may have moral or political reasons for taking a particular case. Second, private firms may take certain cases on a pro bono basis. At one of the big firms I used to work at, they bragged about "giving back to the community" by taking on a certain amount of clients pro bono each year. Lastly, how do you know this guy can't afford private attorneys? He might have lots of cash on hand, wealthy relatives, or perhaps he's being funded by an outside group. Many of these cases with political angles will attract outside funding from advocacy groups with a perceived stake in the matter. There you go.

 

[Trotsky]

The answer to your question is YES. Succeeding in high profile cases is great advertising. Just ask Mark O'Mara (George Zimmerman's defense attorney). Defense attorneys are used to "indefensible" clients, so there's nothing strange about that.

However, there are other reasons defense attorneys may take on an "indefensible" criminal case aside from press coverage. For one, they may not see the case as "indefensible." They may have moral or political reasons for taking a particular case. Second, private firms may take certain cases on a pro bono basis. At one of the big firms I used to work at, they bragged about "giving back to the community" by taking on a certain amount of clients pro bono each year. Lastly, how do you know this guy can't afford private attorneys? He might have lots of cash on hand, wealthy relatives, or perhaps he's being funded by an outside group. Many of these cases with political angles will attract outside funding from advocacy groups with a perceived stake in the matter. There you go.

 

[Gunny]

Not really an indepth OP but i was reading up on the Alek Minassian case as he is making his second court appearance today. For those not in the know -- he is the person who drove a rental van into pedestrians in North York, Toronto several weeks ago.

He is being represented by two very highly respected defense lawyers: Boris Bytensky and Breese Davies. My question is since this is way outside the public defender realm of canadian legal system (which is way less progressive than the US) and way outside the reach of the Minassian's bank account -- do high profile lawyers usually take on "indefensible" clients purely for the press? I can see someone who is out to make a name for themselves taking on this case, but established, respected lawyers seems odd to me.

Is this the legal equivalent of seeing if their litigation muscles can knock out some 405's for reps?

I believe in the Canadian system, Justin Trudeau pays the high dollar lawyers of indefensible clients.

 

[JamesRussler]

Don't you have finals coming up? Or are you already on your Summer clerkship?