Criminal lawyers defend people charged with offences and advise them from the police station to the final hearing.
firms
1,114
regions
16
AI-generated editorial image
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 They can negotiate with prosecutors to have charges withdrawn or reduced, run defended hearings and trials, and present the strongest case for a lenient sentence.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
Bella Vista, NSW · Hills District
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Branston Neville Lawyers provides legal services in Bella Vista, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Criminal Law · Employment Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Shellharbour, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cruz Lawyers provides legal services in Shellharbour, NSW. Listed practice areas include Building & Construction, Property & Conveyancing and Criminal Law.
Building & Construction+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Criminal Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Commercial Litigation · Administrative & Government Law · Residential Tenancy · Assault & Violent Offences
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Como, WA · Perth South
★★★★★★★★★★3.9(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
DFG Legal WA provides legal services in Como, WA. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Building & Construction · Criminal Law · Business & Commercial Law · Workers Compensation
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Meridan Plains, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★3.9(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
DJ Hinton Lawyers provides legal services in Meridan Plains, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Commercial Litigation and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+4 moreCommercial Litigation · Property & Conveyancing · Criminal Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Murray Bridge, SA · Riverland & Murraylands
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Joseph Ramsay Sanders Lawyers provides legal services in Murray Bridge, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Traffic Offences and Probate & Estate Administration.
Wills & Estates+7 moreTraffic Offences · Probate & Estate Administration · Criminal Law · Drink & Drug Driving · Planning & Environment · Family Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Lough & Wells Lawyers provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Medical Negligence · Criminal Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP · Public Liability
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Caboolture, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Michael Mason Lawyer provides legal services in Caboolture, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Criminal Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Criminal Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Business & Commercial Law · Notary Public & JP Services · Probate & Estate Administration
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Lismore, NSW · Northern Rivers
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Randall Legal provides legal services in Lismore, NSW. Listed practice areas include Coronial Inquests, Criminal Law and Administrative & Government Law.
Coronial Inquests+7 moreCriminal Law · Administrative & Government Law · Wills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Employment Law · Health & Medical Practitioner Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Upper Mount Gravatt, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Rapid Legal Solutions provides legal services in Upper Mount Gravatt, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Traffic Offences.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Traffic Offences · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Criminal Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Agribusiness & Rural Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ballarat Central, VIC · Ballarat & Central Highlands
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Adrian Paull Criminal Lawyers provides legal services in Ballarat Central, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law and Administrative & Government Law.
Criminal Law+1 moreAdministrative & Government Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Gosford, NSW · Central Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
CBD Law provides legal services in Gosford, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Debt Recovery · Criminal Law · Building & Construction · Probate & Estate AdministrationNo win, no fee
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Erina, NSW · Central Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Felicio Law Firm provides legal services in Erina, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Debt Recovery and Property & Conveyancing.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreDebt Recovery · Property & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Drummoyne, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★3.8(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hughes & Taylor provides legal services in Drummoyne, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Criminal Law · Building & Construction · Partner & Family Visas · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bentleigh East, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★2.8(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Prior Law provides legal services in Bentleigh East, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Notary Public & JP Services.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Notary Public & JP Services · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Warrnambool, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(12)Google rating from 12 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bellman Legal provides legal services in Warrnambool, VIC. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Citizenship and Partner & Family Visas.
Immigration & Visas+7 moreCitizenship · Partner & Family Visas · Criminal Law · Visa Cancellation & Character (s501) · Registered Migration Agent (non-lawyer) · Administrative & Government Law · Traffic Offences
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Wagga Wagga, NSW · Riverina & Murray
★★★★★★★★★★3.3(12)Google rating from 12 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Farrell Lusher provides legal services in Wagga Wagga, NSW. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Personal Injury · Criminal Law · Debt Recovery
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Murwillumbah, NSW · Northern Rivers
★★★★★★★★★★3.6(12)Google rating from 12 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
McDonald & Partners provides legal services in Murwillumbah, NSW. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Property & Conveyancing and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Partner & Family Visas+5 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Criminal Law · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law
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.
