Neil Wiberg, KC

Neil Wiberg, KC has joined our criminal law firm as an associate lawyer. As a member of our criminal defence firm, Neil will defend clients against criminal charges in Kamloops as well as in Williams Lake, Vernon, Kelowna and elsewhere throughout BC.

We’re delighted to welcome Neil, who has close to 40 years of experience practising criminal law! A former prosecutor in Alberta and BC, he has been involved in the highest-level criminal cases for decades. He knows how the Crown and police operate—a huge advantage when defending clients against criminal charges.

During his career Neil has worked on more than 80 murder cases, in addition to cases dealing with other criminal charges including sexual assault, drugs, impaired driving causing death, and dangerous driving causing death.

Lana Walker

Experienced criminal defence lawyer Lana Walker has joined our firm as an associate lawyer. As a member of our Kamloops criminal defence firm, Lana will defend clients against criminal charges in Kamloops as well as in Williams Lake, Vernon, Kelowna and elsewhere throughout BC.

We’re delighted to welcome Lana! She has practised law for 15 years, working in Ontario, Nunavut and BC. Lana will divide her working time between her criminal practice and her role as Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Law of Thompson Rivers University.

She has experience defending clients against all types of criminal charges, including serious sexual assaults, firearms offences, and homicides. Lana has done extensive trial work and has significant experience defending clients charged with serious indictable offences.

Originally from Kamloops, Lana is pleased to defend clients charged with criminal offences in and around her hometown. Read more about Lana

Our Kamloops criminal law firm is pleased to welcome articled student Irene Shih, a recent TRU Law School graduate. Irene began her articles with Brad Smith, QC in May 2022.

Irene first joined our criminal lawyers as a summer student in 2021 where she gained experience in criminal law while working with criminal lawyers Brad Smith, QC and Danielle Ching McNamee. Irene is pleased to continue working with us, helping people charged with a criminal offence or who are being investigated by the police.

Irene has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (Information Security) from the University of Calgary. She has volunteered as a High Risk Youth Mentor and as a Court House Volunteer for the Elizabeth Fry Society of Calgary. She speaks English, French and Cantonese. Additionally, Irene has a Black Belt in Kendo and competed provincially in Alberta.

We are accepting applications for a summer law student job in our Kamloops criminal lawyer firm

Over the past two summers, Smith Law Group has hired summer students with a strong interest in criminal law. The students gained practical experience working under the supervision of defence lawyers Brad Smith, QC and Danielle Ching McNamee.

“The experience law students gain in working in our Kamloops criminal law firm helps them on their journey to become lawyers,” said Brad Smith, QC. “It’s a great opportunity which I’m pleased to offer to a student who is especially interested in criminal law. They will learn about criminal law and procedure, and experience the day-to-day operation of a busy, criminal defence law firm.”

Our lawyers practise criminal law, defending clients against all criminal charges, including assault, sexual assault, and murder. We also have a busy practice in police law and disciplinary proceedings. We serve clients throughout BC, including Kamloops, Quesnel, Williams Lake, Vernon, 100 Mile House, and Kelowna.

During the summer position, students can expect to attend court to watch legal proceedings and conduct research and writing. The full-time, paid position generally runs from the beginning of May to the end of July and is based in our Kamloops office. Our employees are fully vaccinated.

We invite first or second year law students to forward their résumé, transcripts and cover letter to Danielle Ching McNamee. Please be sure to describe your interest in criminal law, police law and disciplinary proceedings.

In February, when Thompson Rivers University law students compete in the BC Court of Appeal Moot, Kamloops criminal lawyer Danielle Ching McNamee will be their co-coach and mentor.

“The moot is very good practice for the students,” said Ching McNamee. “A lot of them want to be barristers.” Ching McNamee is regularly in court defending people charged with criminal offences and representing people being investigated by the police.

As part of the moot, the third-year law students will research an actual Court of Appeal case. The students will create arguments for both sides of the case and argue their positions in front of actual Court of Appeal justices in Victoria next month. The original case is from Alberta and concerns a bank and a person who was defrauded. Ching McNamee and Desmond MacMillan, an Alberta lawyer, will mentor and coach the students as they research the law and create arguments.

Ching McNamee is mentoring the TRU law students as they prepare to compete against law students from UVic and UBC. She provides valuable guidance as they create strategies for the case. Ching McNamee herself is part of a legal team which just finished a year-long murder trial.

“I love the mentorship I can give students and I love resolving legal problems, considering different legal problems, and presenting arguments to a judge,” said Ching McNamee.

Kamloops criminal defence lawyer Brad Smith, QC will start the new year with law students at Thompson Rivers University, as an invited guest lecturer in the law school’s course on Dispute Resolution. Smith will lecture on cross-examination, an advocacy skill which any aspiring trial lawyer needs to develop.

Widely regarded as a highly effective cross-examiner, Smith has previously presented on the topic of cross examination in a variety of forums, including at the Law Society of BC’s Professional Legal Training Course.

Smith’s presentation to the law students will focus on the process, law, and ethics of cross-examination, and will include a demonstration in which he will cross-examine a law professor based on a set of facts from a fictional criminal case. Smith will also assess students tasked with trying their hand at the skills they have learned in the course.

“As a member of the Kamloops legal community, it’s important to me to support our law school and its students. It’s also a pleasure to meet local law students and see them put their learning into action,” said Smith.

Kyle Hunter, Articled Student

Kamloops criminal law firm, Smith Law Group, is pleased to welcome back Kyle Hunter, a recent TRU Law graduate. Kyle began his articles with Brad Smith, QC in August 2021. He completed the Professional Legal Training Course in September 2021.

Kyle first joined the law firm as a summer student in 2020 where he gained experience in criminal law while working with BC criminal lawyers Brad Smith, QC and Danielle Ching McNamee. Kyle is keen to continue working with Smith Law Group, helping people charged with a criminal offence or who are being investigated by the police.