You've Come To The Right Place
Talk to a lawyer first. It’s your right.
A criminal charge is a serious matter. Your ability to travel, get a job and your reputation are at stake. Speak to us at no charge before you speak to the police. Most people charged with criminal offences will get a criminal record. I will provide you with a free initial consultation and will make your rights our priority.
Even if you can’t afford a lawyer or are unsure if you need a lawyer I would be happy to speak with you. Call me today, day or night, for a free consultation.
Statistics You Should Be Aware of
There are over 360,000 cases completed annually in Canada
Criminal accusations can target all kinds of people, ranging in age, race, background and profession.
More than 40% of these cases result in a finding other than guilty.
Just because someone is accused of a crime, it does not mean they are guilty.
Call Meagan B. Ward
Criminal law | Civil Litigation | Wills & Estate Planning | Real Estate Law | Labour & Employment
About Meagan B. Ward
Meagan studied Criminal Justice at the University of Regina before obtaining her Juris Doctorate (with Distinction) at the University of Saskatchewan in 2017. She was called to the bar in May of 2018. Meagan completed her articles at Wardell Gillis during which time she also participated in a secondment with Brian Pfefferle.
Prior to attending law school, Meagan worked at Walper-Bossence Law Office in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. During this time, she also participated in an internship at The Washington Centre in Washington, D.C. where she worked at a local law firm specializing in criminal defence and civil litigation.
Meagan has successfully defended clients charged with a variety of offences. Her cases frequently include domestic violence, assault, sexual assault, DUI/Impaired Driving, robbery, arson, fraud, theft, shoplifting, firearms and weapons offences, murder, manslaughter and drug offences.
Meagan also frequently represents youth in Youth Criminal Justice Act matters, and represents university students facing allegations of academic and non-academic misconduct. She has represented clients at both the hearing and appeal levels.
Meagan enjoys golfing and spending summers at the lake with family. Meagan is a dog lover and has a schnoodle named Charlie.
Provide step-by-step legal guidance to minimize your stress.
Criminal Law
Have you been accused of a crime? Are you facing criminal charges?
Civil Litigation
Been wronged? Have a dispute? Facing a disagreement?
Wills and Estate Planning
Need to prepare for the future? Questions about how?
Real Estate Law
Buying or selling a home? Refinancing? If you have real estate matters to attend to, stop, click here, and we’ll assist you in the process.
Labour and Employment Law
Wrongfully dismissed? Problems with your employer? Contracts to sign? Stop, and click here for more information.
Community Involvement
- Guest Judge, Western Canada Moot – University of Saskatchewan, 2020.
- Member-at-Large, Saskatoon Criminal Defence Lawyers Association.
- Member of the Saskatchewan Trial Lawyers Association.
- Presenter, Canadian Bar Association Articling Students North, “Surviving CPLED and Articling”, 2018, 2019.
- Presenter, “Surviving the First Years After College: A Panel Discussion”, 2017.
- Member, BNI Saskatchewan, Power House Chapter.
Publications and Presentations
R v Saeed: Bodily Integrity and the Power to Search Incident to Arrest, 2018, Saskatchewan Law Review, Vol 81(1).
Book Note: Accusations: Creating Criminals, 2017, Saskatchewan Law Review, Vol 80(2).
The Do’s and Don’ts of Estate Planning, August 2020 (BNI) ( Click Here )
- Criminal Law 101: Impaired Driving, March, 2021 (BNI) ( Click Here )
The Ins and Outs of Buying and Selling a House, June, 2021 (BNI) ( Click Here )
What Clients Says about Meagan?
Behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarks grove right at the coast
Shams W.Pawel
Me Meagan B. Ward handles a wide array of criminal cases,ranging from drug-related offenses,assault charges,complex fraud and impaired driving.
Call Meagan B. Ward
Criminal law | Civil Litigation | Wills & Estate Planning | Real Estate Law | Labour & Employment
Bail Hearings
The first step after a person is charged with any offence is determining how they will be released pending the outcome of their case. People who have criminal records or are facing serious charges are often held for a bail hearing.
Have you or someone you care about been charged with a criminal offence? Your first priority is to understand bail.
Bail is an essential part of the criminal process. It will determine if you or your loved one will be released before trial, which may be months or even years away.
Meagan Wards goal is to ensure clients receive a quick and reasonable bail. Failure to receive bail may result in a significant disruption to your job, livelihood and life.
What is a Bail Hearing?
When an individual is arrested, they are generally released by the police back into the community as their case works its way through the court system. The law, however, recognizes that the safety of the public, and the proper functioning of the justice system may require an accused to remain in custody until their day in Court.
If the police do not release an individual after their arrest, an accused individual has the right to be brought to Court for a bail hearing. At a bail hearing, the accused person will have the opportunity to argue their case for release.
What Happens at Bail Hearings?
A Judge or Justice of the Peace have two options at a bail hearing. The accused can either be:
- Released on bail (subject to certain binding conditions) until their case is heard in Court or;
- Detained in custody pending the completion of their case.
Most bail hearings include the Crown informing the Court of the allegations made by the police. Hearings can include an accused person, or an accused person’s potential sureties, giving evidence on the witness stand to assist the Court in making a decision.
In Canada, there is a constitutional right for every person to be released on bail pending trial unless there is just cause to hold them in custody.
The instances where an individual will be held without bail are narrow and pre-trial detention is unusual. However, if a Court finds an individual is a threat to the public, a flight risk or detention is necessary to maintain confidence in the administration of justice, an accused person may be held in custody.
We are here to help you with your Bail Hearing
Meagan Ward of WMT Law can provide you with optimal chances of being released on bail, ensuring a quick reintegration into your life. WMT Law has conducted many successful bail hearings in Saskatchewan. Contact us 24/7 via the contact form below or call us at (306) 986-4505
Bail Reviews
If a person is denied bail, they may bring a Bail Review. Bail Reviews require a review of the bail hearing proceedings and the legal and factual issues involved at the bail hearing. They require the preparation of specific materials that must be filed with the reviewing Court.
What is a Bail Review?
If you or someone you care about is denied bail, do not be discouraged.
While the general rule is that detained individuals must remain in jail if their bail is denied, there is a process by which the accused may seek a review of the decision. This process is called a Bail Review.
A Bail Review is not simply a “second chance.” When an accused seeks a Bail Review, they must prove that, since the Bail Hearing:
- Circumstances of the case have changed materially. In other words, if the bail hearing judge were dealing with the case today, the decision made would have been different; or
- The Bail Hearing Judge made an error in law. If a Judge finds a change in circumstances or an error, he will consider the issue of bail again, as if the hearing were occurring in the original bail court. At that stage, the Bail Review judge can confirm the prior order or release the accused on conditions.
It is important to note that, even if your Bail Hearing is successful, a Crown has the right to seek a Bail Review. In other words, if an accused person is released at a Bail Hearing, the Crown can still seek the detention of the accused.
Bail Hearings and a Bail Review
In preparation for a Bail Review, the Defence or Crown must file a package of materials, which may include:
- Affidavits from the accused and potential sureties where the applicant is the accused;
- A transcript of the initial Bail Hearing so the Bail Review Judge can see exactly what transpired at the original hearing; or
- Any other relevant material can also be included in the package for consideration.
At the Bail Review hearing itself, there is no standard procedure. Sometimes, it can proceed by way of counsel’s submissions only and other times with evidence being called. How the Bail Review plays out in Court will depend on the specific issues raised by the particular case.