Lawyers defend assault charges, including common assault, assault occasioning bodily harm and domestic violence-related charges.
firms
245
regions
16
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Assault cases often turn on self-defence, the reliability of witnesses and CCTV. A lawyer tests the evidence, raises available defences, and where appropriate negotiates a plea or argues for a non-custodial sentence.
Why assault & violent offences matters
Assault convictions can mean jail, a criminal record and restrictions on work with children or vulnerable people.
The Australian context
Assault offences are defined in each state's crimes legislation, with self-defence and other defences available. Domestic violence-related assaults usually carry additional consequences, including protection orders.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Coral Coast Law provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Assault & Violent Offences.
Drink & Drug Driving+7 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Assault & Violent Offences · Business & Commercial Law · Criminal Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Bail Applications · Fraud & White Collar Crime
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Surfers Paradise, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
No Win No Fee Personal Injury Lawyers Brisbane & Gold Coast provides legal services in Surfers Paradise, QLD. Listed practice areas include Personal Injury, Medical Negligence and Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP.
Personal Injury+5 moreMedical Negligence · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP · Business & Commercial Law · Assault & Violent Offences · Health & Medical Practitioner LawNo win, no fee
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Manly Vale, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
McGowan Lawyers provides legal services in Manly Vale, NSW. Listed practice areas include Traffic Offences, Contested Wills & Family Provision and Criminal Law.
Traffic Offences+7 moreContested Wills & Family Provision · Criminal Law · Drink & Drug Driving · Wills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Drug Offences · Assault & Violent OffencesFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Sydney Criminal Defence Lawyers provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Assault & Violent Offences and Traffic Offences.
Criminal Law+7 moreAssault & Violent Offences · Traffic Offences · Bail Applications · Firearms & Licensing Matters · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Drug Offences · Drink & Drug DrivingFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Alice Springs, NT · Alice Springs & Central
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Central Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Unit provides legal services in Alice Springs, NT. Listed practice areas include Domestic Violence & AVOs and Assault & Violent Offences.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Launceston, TAS · Launceston & North
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Fran McCracken CRIMINAL DEFENCE LAWYER provides legal services in Launceston, TAS. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law and Assault & Violent Offences.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Coffs Harbour, NSW · Mid North Coast
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
North Coast Criminal Law provides legal services in Coffs Harbour, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Traffic Offences and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Grafton, NSW · Northern Rivers
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Northern Rivers Law provides legal services in Grafton, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Property & Conveyancing and Drink & Drug Driving.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cleveland, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Sibley Lawyers provides legal services in Cleveland, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Employment Law and Traffic Offences.
Criminal Law+7 moreEmployment Law · Traffic Offences · Family Law · Class Actions · Assault & Violent Offences · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Fraud & White Collar CrimeFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mackay, QLD · Mackay & Whitsundays
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Sibley Lawyers provides legal services in Mackay, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Employment Law and Traffic Offences.
Criminal Law+7 moreEmployment Law · Traffic Offences · Family Law · Class Actions · Assault & Violent Offences · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Fraud & White Collar CrimeFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Sydney Criminal & Traffic Lawyers provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drink & Drug Driving and Traffic Offences.
Criminal Law+7 moreDrink & Drug Driving · Traffic Offences · Assault & Violent Offences · Bail Applications · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Mental Health & Guardianship TribunalFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Penrith, NSW · Western Sydney
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Sydney Criminal Defence Lawyers provides legal services in Penrith, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Assault & Violent Offences and Traffic Offences.
Criminal Law+7 moreAssault & Violent Offences · Traffic Offences · Bail Applications · Firearms & Licensing Matters · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Drug Offences · Drink & Drug DrivingFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Werribee, VIC · Western Melbourne
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
A Hannebery provides legal services in Werribee, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Assault & Violent Offences.
Criminal Law+7 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Assault & Violent Offences · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Drug Offences · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Wills & EstatesFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Liverpool, NSW · Western Sydney
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Astor Legal provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Assault & Violent Offences and Drink & Drug Driving.
Criminal Law+7 moreAssault & Violent Offences · Drink & Drug Driving · Traffic Offences · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Drug Offences · Health & Medical Practitioner LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Maroochydore, QLD · Sunshine Coast
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Brooke Winter Solicitors provides legal services in Maroochydore, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drink & Drug Driving and Assault & Violent Offences.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Nowra, NSW · South Coast
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Lambert Legal provides legal services in Nowra, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Property & Conveyancing and Assault & Violent Offences.
Criminal Law+4 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Assault & Violent Offences · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
North Shore Criminal Law provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Property & Conveyancing and Assault & Violent Offences.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Djugun, WA · Pilbara & Kimberley
Aboriginal Family Law Services provides legal services in Djugun, WA. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Child Protection & Care Matters and Family Law.
Partner & Family Visas+5 moreChild Protection & Care Matters · Family Law · Assault & Violent Offences · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
Daniel Wakim Law Firm provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Administrative & Government Law.
Criminal Law+7 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Administrative & Government Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Drug Offences · Assault & Violent Offences · Firearms & Licensing Matters · Fraud & White Collar Crime
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Gosford, NSW · Central Coast
Goubar Defence Lawyers provides legal services in Gosford, NSW. Listed practice areas include Traffic Offences, Criminal Law and Bail Applications.
Traffic Offences+7 moreCriminal Law · Bail Applications · Drink & Drug Driving · Assault & Violent Offences · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Drug OffencesFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Understand the next step
A practical guide to assault & violent offences
What to discuss at the first meeting
Tell the lawyer the alleged conduct, any existing conditions and the next appearance date. Related protection orders should be provided alongside the charge documents.
Ask about contact restrictions and the scope of advice for each proceeding rather than assuming one engagement covers them all.
How the engagement may progress
01
Send the charge, summons, bail paperwork and hearing dates through the method requested by the lawyer. Identify whether you are enquiring for yourself or someone else.
02
Ask what evidence is available and what must be obtained. Decisions about a plea or statement should follow advice on your own circumstances.
03
Confirm who will attend the next event, where to meet and what preparation is included. Ask how changes in the case would affect the estimate.
Fees and the scope of work
One mention, a contested hearing and an appeal are different scopes of work. Ask about preparation, barrister fees and additional appearances.
Ask for a written scope identifying the work you are authorising, the person responsible and when costs will be reviewed. If you only want advice on one step, say so before the firm begins wider work.
Dates to raise at first contact
Make hearing dates and bail conditions clear at first contact. If the firm cannot assist in time, ask about an available practitioner or the relevant legal-aid service.
Questions to ask a assault & violent offences adviser
How do the charge and any related order interact?
What material is needed to assess the allegation?
Can you act before the next interview or hearing?
Who will appear and is that included in the quote?
What should I do if police contact me again?
Directory guidance updated 19 September 2026. General information to help you prepare for a conversation with a professional; not advice about your individual matter. Check current requirements with the relevant authority.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Is self-defence a defence to assault?
Yes, if you believed your conduct was necessary and it was a reasonable response in the circumstances as you perceived them.
Should I plead guilty?
Get advice first. A lawyer can check whether the police followed proper procedure, whether a defence is available, and whether the charges can be reduced or withdrawn before you enter any plea.
Can I keep my licence after a drink driving charge?
It depends on the reading, your record and your state's laws. In some cases a lawyer can argue for a reduced disqualification period or a work licence where one is available.