Richard J. Aitken
Call to the Bar, Ontario 1984
B.A. (History) Trent University 1979
LL.B. Osgoode Hall 1982

While attending Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, Richard Aitken studied primarily business courses. However, early in his legal career he was approached by the local Crown Attorney to assist as a part-time Assistant Crown Attorney. As he gained experience, he focused more on a criminal practice. Over the past 25 years, this focus shifted to include cases involving impaired driving - the area of law that now dominates Aitken Robertson.

Mr. Aitken is proud of a number of noteworthy cases, namely, one summary conviction appeal, prepared by colleague Edwin Boeve which was argued by Mr. Aitken at Superior Court. This case dramatically changed the law regarding when an accused must be given their rights to counsel.

Mr. Aitken is a Qualified Breath Technician, having taken courses comparable to those which the police take to operate the Intoxilyzer 5000C and the Intoxilyzer 8000C, the instruments used by the police to measure blood/alcohol readings.

"As a child, it was the hope of my parents and grandparents that I would be a lawyer," he says.

"Fortunately, it has turned into a career that I love."