CHRISTOPHER BISCOE

Your Role.

Every legal problem starts with a keen understanding of the facts. The facts are simply the course of events that brought you into my office. I can only achieve that critical understanding of the facts if you are open and forthcoming with me. Once I understand the facts, we can then begin the legal analysis.

You may now feel reluctant to tell me everything. If so, take comfort in knowing that I will never judge you, what you have to say, or what you have done. I am here to help, not to judge.

You can also take comfort in the time-honoured protection of the solicitor-client confidentiality. This means that, subject to very narrow exceptions, everything that you say or write to me is held in the strictest of confidence. It goes no further. Without your consent, no police officer or Crown, not even a Judge, can make either of us divulge what was said or written to one another.

Our first consultation is critical. This is your opportunity to assess me as I provide a preliminary analysis of your matter. To do this, however, I must have a basic understanding of your facts. Here's what you can do to help:

• Bring all the documents that relate to your case, especially the documents provided by the Court, the police, and the Crown. Do not judge a document to be unimportant. Bring too much rather than too little.
• Write a detailed account of the course of events that brought you to my office. Tell me about the allegations, the history behind the allegations, and your interaction with the police. Do not exclude a fact because you think it is irrelevant or unimportant. Include everything. Facts seemingly unimportant can become vital as your matter unfolds. Everything you tell me is given in strictest confidence, protected by law.
• Write out your questions and concerns. Bring it as a checklist to our meeting.
• Keep our communications confidential. Do not share them with anyone (not even your spouse). Write on every page "to my lawyer."

Do not hesitate to again ask a question you might have asked on an earlier occasion. Do not feel embarrassed that you will be asking me to repeat myself. You will not be wasting my time. I'm happy to do it. It's part of my commitment to you.