"She guided me through the entire process and was incredibly thorough. She always had an answer for my questions and made me feel confident and positive."
Charged with a criminal offence in Edmonton?
Google Rating
Purser Law defends the charge that changes everything.
A criminal charge puts your record, your work, and your ability to cross a border at risk. Stacey Purser defends charges at every level of court in Alberta, from first appearance through trial and appeal. The Crown already has lawyers working on your case. You should have her working on yours.
5.0
Google Rating
- Edmonton based. Serving all of Alberta
- All criminal charges defended
- Trial and appeal experience
Get a Free, Confidential Consultation
Tell us what happened. Every inquiry is reviewed by a lawyer, not a call centre.
Submitting this form does not make you a client of the firm. Please do not include highly sensitive details until we confirm we can act for you. Your inquiry is confidential.
5.0 Google RatingRead our reviews
Trial and appeal defenceProvincial Court and Court of King's Bench
You speak with a lawyerNo call centres. No waiting days for answers.
Edmonton · Yellowknife · KelownaOffices across Western and Northern Canada
Read this before you talk to anyone
If You Have Been Charged, or Think You Might Be
The first hours of a case often decide how it ends. Four things to do right now:
1
Say nothing without counsel
Police are trained to take statements. You are not required to give one. Ask for a lawyer, then stay silent until you have one.
2
Do not contact the complainant
No calls, no texts, no messages through friends. Bail conditions usually forbid it, and any contact can be used against you.
3
Preserve everything
Keep texts, photos, and call logs. Write out your timeline while it is fresh. Delete nothing.
4
Call a defence lawyer now
Bail, the police interview, and the Crown's first read of the file all happen early. So should our involvement.
What you are facing
The Stakes in a Criminal Case
Criminal charges range from summary offences to indictable offences carrying years in a federal penitentiary. The label matters less than the consequences. A record, court orders, and release conditions all start before the case is ever proven.
- A criminal record that follows you: employment, travel, volunteering, immigration
- Court orders: no contact conditions, curfews, reporting requirements
- Licence suspensions and prohibitions for driving offences
- Immigration consequences for non-citizens, including removal from Canada
These are maximums set by Parliament, not predictions. Sentencing depends on the facts, the Crown's election, and the defence advanced on your behalf.
| Offence, Criminal Code | Maximum Penalty |
|---|---|
| Assault, s. 266 | Up to 5 years imprisonment |
| Assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm, s. 267 | Up to 10 years imprisonment |
| Theft over $5,000, s. 334 | Up to 10 years imprisonment |
| Fraud over $5,000, s. 380 | Up to 14 years imprisonment |
| Uttering threats, s. 264.1 | Up to 5 years imprisonment |
How we defend these cases
A Defence Built Months Before Trial, Not the Week Before
Good outcomes are built early. Here is how we work your case.
01
Case Assessment
We obtain the full Crown disclosure: statements, digital evidence, medical records. Then we map every weakness in the case against you.
02
Evidence and Charter Review
We examine how the evidence was gathered. An unlawful search or an improper statement can exclude evidence, and sometimes end a case before trial.
03
Testimony Preparation
If you testify, preparation starts at least a month before trial in weekly sessions. Cross examination should hold no surprises.
04
Trial and Appeal
We appear in Provincial Court and the Court of King's Bench, before judges and juries. If the trial court gets it wrong, we take it on appeal.
Why Purser Law
Serious Charges Deserve a Serious Defence
Led by Stacey Purser
Every file is led personally by Stacey Purser, known for meticulous preparation, straight answers, and strong advocacy in the courtroom. She defends your case from first appearance through trial and appeal.
Preparation as strategy
We prepare clients to testify in weekly sessions starting at least a month before trial. You will know the questions before they are asked.
A team on your file
More than one set of eyes on every case. Our lawyers and staff review disclosure, test defences, and prepare you together.
Discretion built in
A criminal charge is personal before it is legal. Consultations are confidential, and every file is handled with care.
Local knowledge
We appear at the Edmonton Law Courts and throughout northern Alberta. We know the Crown's office and how these cases are run here.
Straight answers, fast
You will always know where your case stands and what happens next. In plain language, without waiting days for a call back.
Client reviews
What Clients Say About Working With Us
"Stacey and Catelyn were extremely detailed in my case. I got the best possible result ending with no criminal charges or record. Highly recommend this law firm."
"She was upfront about everything and kept me in the loop the whole time. If you ever need a lawyer, I highly recommend Purser Law."
Common questions
Your Questions, Answered Plainly
The first appearance is administrative. The charge is addressed, disclosure is discussed,
and the next date is set. You usually do not have to answer the charge itself. If we are
retained early, we can often appear for you.
Charges are withdrawn when the Crown sees no reasonable prospect of conviction or concludes
prosecution is not in the public interest. Our job is to show them the weaknesses early.
Some matters can be resolved with a peace bond or alternative measures, which avoid a record.
It is the stream the Crown chooses for hybrid offences. Summary is the less serious stream,
with lower maximums and faster timelines. Indictable is the more serious stream, with higher
maximums and more process. The Crown's election shapes the whole case.
A conviction means a record. A discharge, a withdrawal, or a peace bond does not. Avoiding a
record is often the central goal of the defence, and we plan around it from day one.
Minor charges still create records, conditions, and travel problems. A short consultation
costs nothing and tells you exactly what is at stake before you decide how to handle it.
Simple matters can resolve in a few months. Contested matters often run a year or more. At
the outset we map the likely timeline so you know what to expect.
The consultation is free and carries no obligation. Legal fees depend on the charge, the
complexity of the case, and whether it goes to trial. We set out fees in writing before you
commit to anything.
Free and confidential
The Sooner You Call, the More Options You Have
Bail is set in the first days. Interviews happen in the first hours. Early advice shapes everything that follows. Tell us what happened and a lawyer will contact you as soon as possible.
780-851-7435Call or text, any time. Urgent matters are answered around the clock.
Edmonton, Head Office: #200, 10237 104th Street, Edmonton, AB T5J 1B1
Yellowknife: 2nd Floor, Diamond Plaza, 5204 Franklin Ave., Yellowknife, NT X1A 1E2
Kelowna: #210, 347 Leon Ave., Kelowna, BC V1Y 6H9
Yellowknife: 2nd Floor, Diamond Plaza, 5204 Franklin Ave., Yellowknife, NT X1A 1E2
Kelowna: #210, 347 Leon Ave., Kelowna, BC V1Y 6H9
Request Your Free Consultation
Every inquiry is reviewed by a lawyer and kept confidential.