Charlottetown was named after Queen Charlotte. It was an unincorporated town until its incorporation in 1855.
Charlottetown was home to the Charlottetown Conference in 1864. This was the first gathering of Maritime and Canadian statements who met to discuss a proposed Maritime Union.
Instead, this conference led to the union of British North American colonies in 1867. This was the beginning of the Canadian confederation.
Prince Edward Island did not join the Canadian confederation until 1873. Because of these events, Charlottetown adopted the motto, “Birthplace of Confederation.”
The population of Charlottetown is around 40,000 individuals. The population of the province is around 160,000 individuals.
The public sector dominates the economy of Charlottetown. The municipal, federal, and provincial levels of government are major employers in Queens County.
Other major employers include secondary and postsecondary education sectors as well as healthcare employers. Another major economic activity in the area is light manufacturing, which includes:
- Chemicals;
- Bio-technology; and
- Machining.
Most places have quirky laws on the books and Charlottetown and Prince Edward Island are no different. For example, in Souris, a town near Charlottetown, it is against the law to build a snowman which is higher than 30 inches tall.
Additional Charlottetown Law Information
When potential clients are seeking legal assistance in Canada, it may be helpful to have knowledge regarding the differences between terminology and legal systems in the United States and Canada. In Canada, a common law lawyer may be referred to as a barrister or a solicitor.
In Canada, the word attorney has a different meaning than it does in the United States. In the United States, attorney refers to an individual who is licensed to practice law while, in Canada, attorney refers to an individual who is appointed under a power of attorney.
If, however, an individual is using a United States based service, such as LegalMatch, to find their lawyer, they can use the terms lawyer and attorney interchangeably. This is because LegalMatch content is written by individuals who reside in the United States and have American vocabularies.
In the United States, lawyers and attorneys can practice law in court or they can choose not to do so, but there is no distinction made and they can alternate between court cases and non-court cases at any time. In Canada, on the other hand, lawyers distinguish themselves as those who practice in court and those who do not by calling themselves barristers or solicitors.
It may also be helpful for individuals who are seeking legal assistance to understand the difference in how attorney’s fees may be handled in the United States and Canada. In the United States, the American Rule is followed.
The American Rule dictates that each party will bear the costs of their own attorney’s fees, unless otherwise agreed. In contrast, the English Rule is followed in Canada.
Pursuant to the English Rule, the losts of a legal action are paid by the party that loses. The party who prevails at trial or on appeal may expect the losing party to pay 50% to 90% of the legal costs of the prevailing party.
There are three main courts in the province of Prince Edward Island, including:
- The Provincial Court;
- The Supreme Court; and
- The Court of Appeal.
The Provincial Court hears offenses and criminal cases in:
- Charlottetown;
- Summerside; and
- Georgetown.
The Supreme Court is the superior trial court for Prince Edward Island. It hears:
- Civil matters;
- Criminal matters; and
- Appeals.
The Court of Appeals is the highest court in Prince Edward Island. This court hears appeals from other trial courts.
Locate Lawyers in Charlottetown, Canada and Charlottetown, Canada Attorneys Quickly
Before a potential client selects their lawyer, barrister, or solicitor in Canada, they should ensure that their prospective representative has completed all of the necessary education and training to be licensed to practice law in the province. In order for an individual to become a lawyer in Prince Edward Island, they must pass the required courses and complete their law school degree.
Following law school, a lawyer is required to complete a year of articling as well as the requirements of the Bar Admission Course. Once they are admitted as a member of the Law Society and take their oaths of office in a court ceremony, they become a lawyer who is permitted to practice law in the province.
A lawyer in Canada can decide to define their practice by the title they choose. A barrister is a lawyer who appears in court, mediation, and arbitration. A solicitor, in contrast, is a lawyer who does not appear in court and whose practice may involve business issues, contracts, and wills.
Prince Edward Island has a legal aid program which provides individuals with representation and assistance if they have a low income and a serious need for legal representation in the areas of:
- Criminal law;
- Youth criminal justice; and
- Family and civil law.
The legal aid program includes several full time lawyers as well as private sector lawyers who provide assistance on a referral basis. Criminal legal aid assists individuals during the criminal trial process.
Using this program, a lawyer may be provided to represent an eligible adult or youth who would not be able to otherwise afford legal counsel who is facing a serious criminal charge or investigation. Legal criminal aid is available to ensure that all individuals receive fair trials and that individuals are not wrongfully convicted or unfairly sentenced.
The Canadian criminal court system does not appoint lawyers for individuals who are accused of crimes. Although there are safeguards for assisting youth in criminal justice proceedings, other individuals are required to hire private lawyers or can apply to be represented by lawyers in the legal aid program.
There is not a duty counsel program at Prince Edward Island criminal court locations. Because of this, it is important for individuals to apply for legal aid prior to their court date because, although legal aid staff lawyers are often present on a docket day, when new criminal charges are brought, the lawyer will not have information about the individual’s case and may not have time to consult with them before their case is called.
Family legal aid provides individuals who cannot afford a private lawyer or law firm with legal representation and assistance if they are facing a serious family or related civil legal issue. Individuals in need of representation may also use a service to find a lawyer in Charlottetown, PEI such as LegalMatch.
LegalMatch allows potential clients to submit information about their legal issue at no cost in about 15 minutes. Potential clients will then be provided with information on Charlottetown lawyers and law firms in Charlottetown, including:
- Educational information;
- Experience;
- Fee schedules;
- Malpractice coverage; and
- Reviews from former clients.
Additional information regarding a Charlottetown lawyer, legal procedures, and laws in Charlottetown, Canada can be found by searching the following websites: