Who we are

The Ministry of the Attorney General’s Criminal Law Division helps keep the public safe by making sure criminal offences are prosecuted effectively and efficiently. Prosecuting crime is a key job for the division. It helps keep our communities safe, orderly, and secure.

The Criminal Law Division is a large and diverse division. It has just over 2,000 Crown attorneys and business professionals. Together, they work to uphold community and individual safety by prosecuting offences throughout Ontario.

Our mandate

The Criminal Law Division’s mandate is to:

  • Prosecute all offences under The Criminal Code of Canada and the Youth Criminal Justice Act | YCJA, and in certain jurisdictions the most serious offences under the Provincial Offences Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.33 | ontario.ca (Part 3 only).
  • Represent the Crown in criminal appeals at all Court levels (the Superior Court of Justice, the Court of Appeal for Ontario, and the Supreme Court of Canada), also provide specialized services in relation to applications for wiretap authorizations (as designated under Part 6 of the Criminal Code of Canada), extraditions and search warrants.
  • Provide specialized legal advice in all areas of criminal law to the Attorney General, the Deputy Attorney General and the police.
  • Act for the Crown and represents the public interest at Ontario Review Board hearings. This involves individuals found Not Criminally Responsible (NCR) due to a mental disorder or those deemed unfit to stand trial.
  • Participate in the Federal/Provincial/Territorial (FPT) process and the Coordinating Committee of Senior Officials (CCSO). This group has Ministers, Deputy Ministers, and officials from each jurisdiction’s prosecution service. They consider changes to the Criminal Code of Canada and other federal statutes.

Organizational structure

The Criminal Law Division is overseen by the Office of the Assistant Deputy Attorney General (ADAG). The ADAG is also the Chief Prosecutor. ADAG Randy Schwartz has been Ontario’s Chief Prosecutor since July 2022. His office gives strategic leadership on key priorities and policies for the Division. The ADAG is also a key member of the Ministry’s Senior Management Team.

The Criminal Law Division has 6 geographic regions:

  • Central East
  • East
  • Central West
  • North
  • Toronto
  • West

Each region is led by a Director of Crown Operations. There are 51 Crown Attorney offices in these regions. Each office is led by a Crown Attorney who works with Assistant Crown Attorneys and business professionals.

Crown Attorney’s offices are responsible for prosecuting most criminal offences in Ontario. This includes minor offences in the Ontario Court of Justice and serious indictable offences in the Superior Court of Justice. Prosecutions occur across the province from fly-in First Nations communities to the busiest courthouses in downtown Toronto.

In addition to Crown Offices, there are several centralized offices which are further detailed below.

Crown Law Office — Criminal (CLOC)

The Crown Law Office — Criminal works on a broad range of important criminal cases. The office handles almost all appeals for indictable offences in the province. Lawyers from the office appear regularly at the Court of Appeal for Ontario and the Supreme Court of Canada. These appeals raise cutting-edge issues and set new precedents in criminal law.

CLOC also handles two areas of trial work:

  • trials of justice system participants, including police officers
  • special prosecutions, including complex financial crimes and corruption

CLOC is also responsible for:

  • developing legal, policy and strategic advice on criminal law
  • helping develop criminal law policy in Ontario
  • providing practical legal guidance to prosecutors across Ontario
  • providing advice to police services in areas such as search powers and wiretaps

The Guns and Gangs Unit

The Guns and Gangs Unit helps address the ever-changing landscape of organized crime. It specializes in and focuses on:

  • handling complex cases with criminal organizations and firearms
  • giving expert advice and training to Crown attorneys, police officers and others in the justice system
  • playing a key role in improving the Criminal Law Division's skills and methods

The Complex Prosecutions Bureau

The Complex Prosecutions Bureau (CPB) takes a strategic, multi-disciplinary approach to helping Ontario’s prosecution service manage the rising number of serious and violent crimes effectively and efficiently.

The CPB is comprised of 5 specialized units:

  • Cybercrime
  • Auto Theft
  • Serious Fraud
  • Major and Mega Case
  • Provincial Support unit

Human Trafficking Prosecution Team

Human Trafficking Prosecution Team (HT) started in 2017. It was formed to meet the challenges of human trafficking cases. These complex cases require teamwork and special skills to ensure effective prosecution that is consistent throughout the province. The team includes a Provincial Crown Coordinator from the Crown Law Office – Criminal and 23 additional team members, covering every region of the province.

Justice Centres

Justice Centres (JCs) offer an alternative to the traditional justice system model. Community justice solutions are tailored to support victims and communities affected by crime, including Indigenous, Black, racialized, and marginalized groups.

Justice Centres place justice facilities near prevention services, like job training, and community support. This helps offenders get better outcomes and connects them to services that lower the chance of re-offending.

Justice Centres’ counsel build knowledge of local communities and cultural supports. This helps improve outcomes for offenders, their families, victims and crime survivors.

Justice Centres counsel participate in the following for both adult and youth cases in the Ontario Court of Justice:

  • prosecute a variety of cases
  • conduct bail hearings
  • preparing various legal applications for the Ontario Court of Justice and Superior Court of Justice
  • review of court related documents
  • trials
  • guilty pleas

Assistant Crown Attorney

The Criminal Law Division has a professional group of alumni. They have taken on many interesting careers in all areas of criminal law.

Most Assistant Crown Attorneys (ACA) and Crown Counsel in the Division began as articling students in the Criminal Law Division. The articling program is the main source of candidates for new Crown Counsel into the Division.

Role of the Assistant Crown Attorneys

Under the leadership of a Crown Attorney, an Assistant Crown Attorneys’ role includes the following key responsibilities:

  • Preparing cases and conducting prosecutions, hearings, and appeals for the Attorney General in accordance with the Crown Prosecution Manual.
  • Conducting criminal and quasi-criminal offences in various courts, including:
    • Ontario Court of Justice
    • Superior Court of Justice
    • Youth Court
    • Provincial Offences Court (Part III Offences)
    • Indigenous People's Court
    • Bail Court, including Weekend and Statutory Holiday (WASH) Court
  • Providing expertise in criminal litigation by:
    • addressing substantive, procedural, and policy matters
    • drafting indictments
    • reviewing Information and legal documents
    • supporting fellow Counsel in prosecutions
    • managing cases through activities, such as screening, disclosure and resolution discussions
  • Providing legal help and advice to Justice Sector Partners, including:
    • the police
    • Victim/Witness Assistance Program
    • Probation and Parole
    • participating in special justice projects and engaging in community programs

Summer law students

The Criminal Law Division offers a Summer Law Student Program which is open to all first or second-year law students. Candidates must be legally entitled to work in Canada and have a valid Social Insurance Number.

Students are placed across various offices in Ontario and their placements run from May until August. Most summer students are unionized under the Ontario Crown Attorneys Association (OCAA). Information on compensation for summer law students can be found on here.

The Criminal Law Division hires about 75 summer law students. The Division also takes in over 20 students through the Aboriginal Law Summer Student Placement (ALSSP) Program.

Aboriginal Law Summer Student Placement (ALSSP) Program

The ALSSP program supports law students from Indigenous communities and those interested in Aboriginal law. The goal is to encourage them to apply for jobs in the OPS and build a connection between government lawyers and Indigenous law students.

This helps students gain valuable experience and understand government operations. At the same time, it offers lawyers insights into the students’ unique views. This effort also seeks to create new paths for dialogue and reconciliation.

The ALSSP and Summer Law Programs are shorter versions of our articling program. They provide a similar range of work experience.

Learn about more summer student programs.

Application package

Each Crown Attorney office recruits and hires students. You must submit a separate application for each posting.

The application package for most offices must include:

  • cover letter and resume
  • undergraduate and law school transcripts (photocopies are acceptable)
  • a minimum of two references

Search for jobs in the Ontario Public Service.

Application deadlines

Students applying to second year Summer Law Program must apply by the third week of July of each year.

Students applying to the first-year summer program or the ALSSP program must apply by January each year.

Check the Law Society of Ontario for the yearly Toronto recruitment timelines as they are different.

Learn more about the application and the interview process, and find more information about law student programs and practice areas.

Articling students

Articling at a Criminal Law Division trial office offers students an exceptional opportunity to develop their skills in legal research, analysis, and both written and oral advocacy. The experience also provides unparalleled courtroom exposure—setting it apart from any other office or firm in Ontario.

The Criminal Law Division has about 75 articling student positions in trial offices across the province. This makes it a top choice for students looking for practical experience in criminal law. Most articling students work in the division’s 6 geographic regions in different Crown Offices. A limited number of students are chosen for the specialized units mentioned earlier.

Working with a Principal

Each articling student works with a senior lawyer acting as an articling Principal, during their placement. This pairing ensures a complete and balanced articling experience. Principals oversee workload management and provide consistent guidance and support throughout the term. They also provide opportunities for students to work with other Assistant Crown Attorneys on many projects. These projects can match the student’s specific interests.

Practical experience

Our students work closely with Assistant Crown Attorneys on the following work:

  • All aspects of the trial process, including:
    • disclosure
    • pre-trial conferences with defence counsel
    • witness interviews
    • preparations of examinations-in-chief and cross-examinations of witnesses
    • preparation of opening and closing arguments
  • Conduct research on various aspects of criminal law, including:
    • Charter issues
    • evidence
    • litigation matters
    • sentencing ranges for serious offences
  • Bail, plea and/or specialized courts, such as:
    • Youth Court
    • Mental Health Court
    • Indigenous Peoples’ Court (also known as Gladue Court from the 1999 Supreme Court of Canada case of R. v. Gladue)

Students may go to the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court of Justice and observe the cases they work on.

Cases in Provincial Offences Court

In some areas, students will watch and follow cases in Provincial Offences Court. They will also handle matters in set date and plea court. Students may conduct summary conviction trials with supervision. This helps them gain foundational experience in trial advocacy. By the end of their articling term, students should be ready to take on the duties of a junior prosecutor.

Education opportunities

In addition to practical experience, students have access to a variety of educational opportunities. They are often invited to attend and assist with internal educational events for Counsel in the Division. This experience enhances their learning and professional growth.

Future job opportunities and the Hire Back Pool (HBP)

The Hire Back Pool (HBP) allows students who recently completed their articling, Integrated Practice Curriculum (IPC) and Law Practice Program (LPP) placements in the Ontario Public Service to apply at Step 1 (which is restricted only to current OPS employees or those who recently concluded their OPS employment). 

This allows eligible candidates to apply for jobs as an Assistant Crown Attorney in the Criminal Law Division. Students remain in the HBP for a period of 2 years following their Call to the Bar. Candidates can also explore other job openings within the Ministry of the Attorney General that aren't listed publicly.