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 They can negotiate with prosecutors to have charges withdrawn or reduced, run defended hearings and trials, and present the strongest case for a lenient sentence.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
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(245)Google rating from 245 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Brooke Winter Solicitors provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drink & Drug Driving and Assault & Violent Offences.
Criminal Law+7 moreDrink & Drug Driving · Assault & Violent Offences · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Bail Applications · Family Law · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Mediation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(235)Google rating from 235 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
ROBINSON LAW PTY LTD provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Drug Offences, Assault & Violent Offences and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Drug Offences+7 moreAssault & Violent Offences · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Property & Conveyancing · Criminal Law · Traffic Offences · Bail Applications · Fraud & White Collar Crime
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Queanbeyan, NSW · Southern Highlands & Tablelands
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(232)Google rating from 232 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
North Herring Lawyers provides legal services in Queanbeyan, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(226)Google rating from 226 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Saundh, Singh & Smith Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Corporate Law & M&A.
Family Law+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Corporate Law & M&A · Insolvency & Restructuring · Divorce & Separation · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Criminal Law · Administrative & Government Law
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Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(222)Google rating from 222 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
James & Jaramillo Lawyers Wollongong provides legal services in Sydney, 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 · Traffic Offences · Domestic Violence & AVOs
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(220)Google rating from 220 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
RAI Lawyers & Associates provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Criminal Law.
Property & Conveyancing+3 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Criminal Law · Family Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Campbelltown, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(219)Google rating from 219 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Marsdens Law Group provides legal services in Campbelltown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Criminal Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Planning & Environment · Medical Negligence
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(218)Google rating from 218 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
O’Brien Criminal and Civil Solicitors provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Defamation, Criminal Law and Assault & Violent Offences.
Defamation+7 moreCriminal Law · Assault & Violent Offences · Coronial Inquests · Medical Negligence · Criminal Appeals · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Fraud & White Collar CrimeNo win, no fee
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Liverpool, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(217)Google rating from 217 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
State Law Group provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Personal Injury.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Personal Injury · Family Law · Immigration & Visas · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Perth, WA · Perth CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(214)Google rating from 214 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Perrella Legal provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Assault & Violent Offences, Fraud & White Collar Crime and Property & Conveyancing.
Assault & Violent Offences+7 moreFraud & White Collar Crime · Property & Conveyancing · Partner & Family Visas · Criminal Law · Bail Applications · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Business & Commercial Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(213)Google rating from 213 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Morrison Graeme provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Partner & Family Visas and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Criminal Law+7 morePartner & Family Visas · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Drug Offences · Drink & Drug Driving · Assault & Violent Offences · Bail Applications · Traffic Offences
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(207)Google rating from 207 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
AKN & Associates provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Immigration & Visas.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Immigration & Visas · Criminal Law · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(192)Google rating from 192 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Vstar Lawyers and Consultants provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Immigration & Visas.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Immigration & Visas · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Criminal Law · Notary Public & JP Services · Administrative & Government Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Canberra, ACT · Canberra
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(189)Google rating from 189 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Andrew Byrnes Law Group provides legal services in Canberra, ACT. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Partner & Family Visas and Drink & Drug Driving.
Criminal Law+6 morePartner & Family Visas · Drink & Drug Driving · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Business & Commercial Law · Immigration & Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(188)Google rating from 188 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Australian Criminal and Family Lawyers provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Family Law and Assault & Violent Offences.
Criminal Law+7 moreFamily Law · Assault & Violent Offences · Bail Applications · Traffic Offences · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Drink & Drug Driving · Health & Medical Practitioner Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(186)Google rating from 186 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Astor Legal provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Assault & Violent Offences and Drink & Drug Driving.
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.
