I got a ticket for failing to stop. Location Mississauga.

I plan to fight the ticket. Mississauga has a process where you meet a prosecutor before a trial date is set.

How formal is that process? Can the prosecutor bully me into accepting a "deal"?

I'm thinking that I can save some money with a bit of DIY, and if I can get to the trial stage and the cop isn't there, then I can get it dismissed. But I'm a bit worried about messing up before I get there.

When should I get hired help? Is hired help allowed in that 1st meeting?

I believe it's called first attendance. I went to the place in Mississauga (Mavis and Burnhamthorpe) for this. Basically, people line up in front of the prosecuture before the trial. The prosecuter gives you a lower fine amount and asks if you would plea guilty. If you say yes, you wait until the trial begins. If you say no, then you schedule a court date. I said yes and waited for the trial to start. When your name is called, you go up and plea guilty and pay the lower fine.

Hope it helped.