I was called to the bar in 2020 right in the midst of Covid. Shortly thereafter in one of my first written decisions, Judge Stewart, then sitting in Prince Rupert, had the following to say:

“Finally I should acknowledge the hard work of Mr. Maxwell on this application. His dedication exceeded any understanding of the limits of a legal aid retainer. His hard work and diligence persuaded Crown Counsel of the merits of the Application, and then significantly narrowed the issues before the court. At the time this application was heard M.P’s journey towards healing and recovery had begun. Mr. Maxwell’s advocacy for her has no doubt supported M.P.’s belief in herself.”

That case has a publication ban, and cannot be reproduced in full in this website.

It took months and months of dedication, phoning every single person who had even a tangential connection to the case, countless hours of legal research, and a dedication to the cause of my client – a young indigenous woman who despite her myriad struggles made clear to me that she wanted to withdraw her guilty plea. I succeeded in that case, and have succeeded in many others since. It was the same work ethic that let me prevail in many of those cases.

If you want to hire me, I can assure you that I will work hard on your matter, give you advice with candour, and take the time to ensure that you feel I am listening to you about your matter. If I make a mistake, I will be frank and honest with you, swallow the legal fees and not bill you for it. No matter how difficult your matter gets, I will stick with it.

When I moved across the province (from Terrace to Kamloops), I kept every single one of my files to make sure that I didn’t leave any of my clients without assistance. I had to fly back 20+ times, but I did it (and am still continuing to do it). I think very few lawyers could say the same. If you have a family or criminal matter, please call today and let me work with you. I will provide free consultations over the phone on most matters.

In criminal law, I have gone to trial and received acquittals on violent crimes, motor vehicle offenses, sexual crimes, regulatory offenses, and many others. I am completely willing and able to fight for your innocence. Should you decide to pursue a guilty plea, I will advocate for you on sentence as well. Although I am mindful of client finances and time, ultimately I recognize this is an area where your innocence and legal rights are paramount, and I have no qualms about fighting to help you get there.

In family law, when it comes to settlement of finances, I am more conciliatory. I recognize that most people want to exit their relationships with as little cost as possible and I strive to assist my clients in this way. I recognize that settlement isn’t always possible, and in those cases I am willing and able to help you at trial. I have succeeded on spousal support, child support, and property matters. When it comes to custody, I recognize that if you are coming to a lawyer about this, settlement may be a vanishing possibility, and it may not be inextricably tied to finances. Regardless of your family law problems, your matter will almost certainly be hourly. Only for uncontested divorces will I generally do a flat rate. For complex criminal matters, I am willing to travel across the province. For family law matters, I take referrals from Williams Lake to Revelstoke.