Richard Aitken

Education

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

At law school, Richard Aitken studied mainly business courses, but 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 years this focus shifted more and more to include cases involving Impaired Driving, the area of law that now forms the bulk of the Aitken Robertson practice.

Mr. Aitken is one of the few Canadian members of the renowned National College for DUI Defense (NCDD). He has extensive training on Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, Drug Recognition Evaluation and DUI trial tactics, attending 3 training conferences in 2013. In 2014, Mr. Aitken brought that Aitken Robertson team to Atlanta, Virginia for further DUI tactics training and further training on both the Intoxilyzer 5000C and 8000C breath testing instrument.

In 1999, he acquired the practices of Harry Robertson and John Robertson Q.C. and founded Aitken Robertson Barristers & Solicitors, eventually bringing in other lawyers to assist him in building a successful firm.

Aitken is proud of a number of noteworthy cases. One summary conviction appeal, prepared by colleague Edwin Boeve, was argued by Aitken at Superior Court, a case which dramatically changed the law regarding when an accused must be given rights to counsel. Mr. Aitken handles most of the firm’s Oshawa cases.

“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.”