Joel Chevrefils
Joel Chevrefils is a criminal defence lawyer who has acted for individuals charged with criminal and quasi-criminal offences in Calgary and the surrounding area since 2004. His practice is grounded in trial-level criminal defence work, with a focus on matters before the Alberta Court of Justice and a steady emphasis on practical strategy, courtroom advocacy, and direct client representation.
Born and raised in Calgary, Joel is a graduate of the University of Calgary, where he earned degrees in Business, Economics, and Law. That local and professional continuity has shaped a long-standing criminal defence practice centred on Alberta courts and the practical realities of criminal litigation.
A Criminal Defence Practice Built in Alberta Courts
Joel’s practice is focused primarily on criminal defence and quasi-criminal matters handled at the trial level in Provincial Court. His work includes all criminal allegations including: assaults (including sexual assault), driving offences including impaired driving and dangerous driving, drug possession and trafficking, theft, fraud, mischief, and resisting arrest or assaulting a police officer.
Although his day-to-day practice has been centred on the Alberta Court of Justice, he has appeared at all levels of court in Alberta, including the Court of King’s Bench and the Alberta Court of Appeal. His work reflects a defence practice built through consistent courtroom experience, practical preparation, and direct advocacy for individuals facing serious legal consequences.
Mentorship, Strategy, and Client-Focused Work
Over the course of his career, Joel has been mentored by respected criminal defence lawyers in Calgary, including Willie deWit, Lorne Scott, and Gregory Dunn. That background is reflected in a practice that combines practical legal judgment with a close focus on the individual circumstances of each client.
He takes the time to understand the person behind the allegation and to develop a strategy suited to the facts, the legal issues, and the practical needs of the case. That approach is consistent with the broader style of serious criminal defence work reflected in Ross Lutz Dunn & Deshaye.
Professional Community and Legal Service
Joel has remained active in the legal community throughout his career. He volunteers as an advising lawyer with Student Legal Assistance and previously with Calgary Legal Guidance. He is a member of the Law Society of Alberta, the Calgary Criminal Defence Lawyers Association, and the Calgary Bar Association, and has also served on the executive of the Alberta branch of the Canadian Bar Association’s Criminal Section.
That level of professional involvement reflects a lawyer with long-standing ties to the criminal defence bar and to the legal institutions that shape practice in Alberta.
How Joel Approaches Your Defence
Joel’s defence work is grounded in practical strategy, trial-level criminal advocacy, and a long-standing focus on criminal and quasi-criminal matters in Alberta courts. His approach is built around understanding the client’s circumstances and responding to the specific realities of the charge.
Provincial Court Focus
Joel’s practice is built around the day-to-day reality of criminal litigation in the Alberta Court of Justice, where preparation, judgment, and direct advocacy often matter most.
Client-Specific Strategy
Joel takes time to understand the individual behind the allegation and to develop a strategy suited to the facts, the legal issues, and the practical needs of the case.
Alberta Courtroom Reach
Although Calgary-based, Joel has acted for clients in courts throughout Alberta. His practice reflects practical provincial experience and a direct understanding of trial-level criminal defence.
Calgary-Based Practice with Provincial Reach
Joel is based in Calgary and has acted for clients in Provincial Courts throughout Alberta, including courts in Calgary, Cochrane, Didsbury, Airdrie, Strathmore, Okotoks, Brooks, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Red Deer, Edmonton, Grande Prairie and Fort McMurray. He has also appeared on occasion in British Columbia and Saskatchewan.
At Ross Lutz Dunn & Deshaye, his profile is that of a criminal defence lawyer with deep Alberta court experience, practical trial-level focus, and a sustained commitment to representing individuals facing criminal and quasi-criminal allegations.
