Brij Mohan & Associates provides criminal defence representation throughout the entire Lower Mainland, including Surrey and Vancouver. We represent people facing charges in Provincial Court and the BC Supreme Court, from a first arrest through bail, trial or resolution. Call 1 (800) 871-1196 for a free, confidential consultation.
Regional representation
Local court appearances
Early-stage representation
Serious indictable matters
An arrest or a call from police is stressful, and what you do in the first hours often matters as much as anything that happens later. Brij Mohan & Associates serves clients throughout the entire Lower Mainland and appears regularly in courts serving Surrey, Vancouver and surrounding communities. We understand the local Crown offices, the duty counsel process and the custody facilities your case may pass through.
This page addresses criminal defence across the Lower Mainland. Surrey and Vancouver are highlighted as major court locations, but our representation is not limited to those two cities. We serve people throughout the region and provide guidance based on the court, police service and custody process involved in each case.
If a family member is in custody anywhere in the Lower Mainland and you don’t know which facility or courtroom is involved, call us. We can usually locate the file quickly.
A criminal case moves through several stages. The exact court or facility depends on where the arrest occurred, while the path depends on the charge, release decision, evidence and your instructions.
Police decide whether to release you with conditions and a future court date, or hold you for a bail hearing.
If detained, a bail hearing is typically held at Surrey Provincial Court or Vancouver Provincial Court, often within 24 hours.
If bail is denied or unavailable right away, you may be held at Surrey Pretrial Services Centre or North Fraser Pretrial Centre pending a further hearing.
At the first appearance, the court confirms the charge and next steps — this is not a trial.
Crown disclosure follows, and your lawyer reviews the evidence for factual and legal issues, including possible Charter applications.
The case then proceeds toward resolution, a pretrial application, or trial, based on your instructions.
We represent clients throughout the Lower Mainland. Surrey and Vancouver are shown below as local examples, alongside our broader regional coverage.
Surrey’s charge patterns often connect to its highways and its size: impaired driving stops on Highway 1 and King George Boulevard, domestic assault allegations, drug trafficking and firearms charges, and break-and-enter or theft matters tied to the city’s retail and industrial areas.
Vancouver charges frequently arise from the density of the downtown core: assault allegations linked to the nightlife and entertainment district, transit-related incidents on the SkyTrain network, drug possession and trafficking charges, and theft or fraud allegations connected to downtown retail and financial businesses.
We also defend clients facing criminal allegations in communities across the entire Lower Mainland. The court location, police service and custody facility may differ, but the same careful review of the evidence, procedure and Charter issues applies.
Whichever charge you’re facing, the defence approach is the same: examine what the Crown must prove, how the evidence was gathered, and whether your Charter rights were respected at every step.
CHARTER PROTECTIONS
If Surrey RCMP, the Vancouver Police Department or another Lower Mainland police service stops, detains or arrests you, section 10 of the Charter gives you the right to be told why and to speak with a lawyer without delay. Section 11 protects a person who has been charged, including the presumption of innocence.
These rights apply during a traffic stop, a street check, a home search, or a request to unlock a phone anywhere in the Lower Mainland. A breach doesn’t automatically end a case, but it can support an application to exclude evidence or address how the case proceeds.
Being asked to give a statement, whether at the roadside, at a police station, or over the phone, is not something to navigate alone
Stay calm, confirm you want to speak with a lawyer, and avoid explaining your side of the story until you've done that.
This applies whether you've already been charged or you're only a witness or person of interest. Contact us before an interview whenever possible.
CRIMINAL AND IMMIGRATION LAW
A charge or conviction can affect a permanent resident, temporary resident or foreign national living anywhere in the Lower Mainland, including admissibility and future entry to Canada. Brij Mohan & Associates practises both criminal defence and immigration law, so we can flag immigration risk before you make a decision on a plea or resolution.
Review what the Crown must prove and whether the available evidence supports each element of the allegation.
Consider how evidence was gathered and whether a rights breach may support a Charter application.
Assess disclosure, court procedure and available options before deciding between resolution, an application or trial.
Coordinate criminal and immigration advice before a plea or resolution could affect status or admissibility.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Stay calm, ask why you’re being arrested, and ask to speak with a lawyer right away. Avoid discussing the allegation until you’ve received legal advice.
The location depends on where the arrest occurred, the charge and the timing. Surrey arrests are commonly heard at Surrey Provincial Court, and Vancouver arrests at Vancouver Provincial Court, while matters from other Lower Mainland communities may proceed through the court serving that jurisdiction.
Many first-time and less serious charges result in release with conditions rather than a contested bail hearing. Whether that applies to you depends on the charge, your history and the circumstances of the arrest.
The facility depends on where the arrest occurred and how the matter is proceeding. Lower Mainland cases may involve Surrey Pretrial Services Centre, North Fraser Pretrial Centre or another applicable facility. Call us and we can help confirm the location and next court date.
No. A charge is an allegation. The Crown must prove every element of the offence beyond a reasonable doubt, whether the case is heard in Surrey, Vancouver or elsewhere.
Yes. We serve clients throughout the entire Lower Mainland. Call 1 (800) 871-1196 for a free, confidential case review.
Brij Mohan & Associates
A criminal charge moves quickly, and early decisions matter. Our criminal defence lawyers serve the entire Lower Mainland and can review your situation, explain the applicable court process and help you respond with a clear plan.
Call 1 (800) 871-1196 or contact us online to book a free, confidential consultation with a criminal defence lawyer serving communities throughout the Lower Mainland, including Surrey and Vancouver.
