Criminal lawyers defend people charged with offences and advise them from the police station to the final hearing.
firms
1,114
regions
16
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From the first interview to sentencing, a criminal lawyer protects your rights and gives you a realistic view of your options. They can negotiate with prosecutors to have charges withdrawn or reduced, run defended hearings and trials, and present the strongest case for a lenient sentence.
Why criminal law matters
A conviction can affect employment, travel, visas and licences for years. The right early advice can change the result.
The Australian context
Criminal law is mostly state-based, with each state's crimes legislation and courts, while Commonwealth offences such as drug importation and fraud against the Commonwealth are prosecuted federally. Legal Aid and Aboriginal legal services help people who can't afford a lawyer.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(25)Google rating from 25 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
James & Jaramillo Lawyers Wollongong provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Assault & Violent Offences.
Family Law+7 moreCriminal Law · Assault & Violent Offences · Divorce & Separation · Bail Applications · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Property & Conveyancing · Traffic OffencesFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Footscray, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(25)Google rating from 25 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Nzenza Legal and Migration Services provides legal services in Footscray, VIC. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Criminal Law and Family Law.
Immigration & Visas+3 moreCriminal Law · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Peakhurst, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(24)Google rating from 24 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Dph Lawyers provides legal services in Peakhurst, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Criminal Law · Commercial Property & Leasing
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Forster, NSW · Mid North Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(24)Google rating from 24 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Drinkwater Criminal and Family Lawyers provides legal services in Forster, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Drink & Drug Driving.
Family Law+6 moreWills & Estates · Drink & Drug Driving · Criminal Law · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Traffic Offences
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Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(24)Google rating from 24 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Northan Legal Sydney provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Immigration & Visas · Criminal Law · Banking & Finance · Family Law · Employment LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dee Why, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(24)Google rating from 24 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Wallen Family Law provides legal services in Dee Why, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Criminal Law · Binding Financial Agreements · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Footscray, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(24)Google rating from 24 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Westjustice, Western Community Legal Centre provides legal services in Footscray, VIC. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Health & Medical Practitioner Law and Family Law.
Partner & Family Visas+5 moreHealth & Medical Practitioner Law · Family Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Criminal Law · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTPFree first consult
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East Toowoomba, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(23)Google rating from 23 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bouchier Khan Lawyers provides legal services in East Toowoomba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Bail Applications, Fraud & White Collar Crime and Criminal Law.
Bail Applications+6 moreFraud & White Collar Crime · Criminal Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Coronial Inquests · Business & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Charlestown, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(23)Google rating from 23 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Charlestown Law Firm provides legal services in Charlestown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Criminal Law · Binding Financial Agreements · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Probate & Estate Administration
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Geelong, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(23)Google rating from 23 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Geelong Legal provides legal services in Geelong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Wills & Estates+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Immigration & Visas · Probate & Estate Administration · Family Law · Criminal LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(23)Google rating from 23 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Kalpage & Co Solicitors provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Traffic Offences and Assault & Violent Offences.
Drink & Drug Driving+5 moreTraffic Offences · Assault & Violent Offences · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Maryborough, VIC · Bendigo & Loddon
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(23)Google rating from 23 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Noonan & Sutherland provides legal services in Maryborough, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Administrative & Government Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Criminal Law · Partner & Family VisasFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(23)Google rating from 23 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Queensland Lawyers provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(23)Google rating from 23 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Reliance Law Group provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Skilled & Business Visas and Partner & Family Visas.
Immigration & Visas+7 moreSkilled & Business Visas · Partner & Family Visas · Citizenship · Visa Refusals & Tribunal Appeals · Criminal Law · Bail Applications · Registered Migration Agent (non-lawyer)Free first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ashfield, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(23)Google rating from 23 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Stichter Otto & Associates provides legal services in Ashfield, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Strata & Body Corporate and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreStrata & Body Corporate · Wills & Estates · Commercial Property & Leasing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Shepparton, VIC · Hume & North East
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(22)Google rating from 22 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Camerons Lawyers provides legal services in Shepparton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Criminal Law · Planning & Environment · Personal Injury
Understand the next step
A practical guide to criminal law
What to discuss at the first meeting
Provide the charge or police correspondence and explain the current stage. Ask about representation for the next event as well as longer-term case preparation.
A first consultation and acceptance of ongoing representation are separate; obtain clear confirmation about responsibility for the next appearance.
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 criminal law adviser
Can you advise before the next required step?
Who will appear and what preparation is included?
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
Should I talk to police without a lawyer?
You generally have the right to remain silent. Ask to speak to a lawyer before any interview.
What if I can't afford a lawyer?
Legal Aid, community legal centres and Aboriginal legal services may be able to help, depending on the charge and your circumstances.
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.
