Criminal & Traffic
Criminal lawyers defend people charged with offences and advise them from the police station to the final hearing.
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 They can negotiate with prosecutors to have charges withdrawn or reduced, run defended hearings and trials, and present the strongest case for a lenient sentence.
A conviction can affect employment, travel, visas and licences for years. The right early advice can change the result.
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.
Criminal Law firms in the directory
1,114 firms
Norwest, NSW · Hills District
SCB Legal provides legal services in Norwest, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Criminal Law.
Nuriootpa, SA · Barossa & Adelaide Hills
Shorter Legal provides legal services in Nuriootpa, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Parenting & Child Custody.
Warwick, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
Skuse Graham Criminal Lawyers Warwick provides legal services in Warwick, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Traffic Offences and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Berridale, NSW · Snowy Monaro
Snowy Legal provides legal services in Berridale, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Criminal Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Cooma, NSW · Snowy Monaro
Snowy Legal provides legal services in Cooma, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Criminal Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Chatswood, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Starlight Legal (Chatswood) provides legal services in Chatswood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Immigration & Visas and Criminal Law.
Launceston, TAS · Launceston & North
Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service provides legal services in Launceston, TAS. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Child Protection & Care Matters and Youth Justice & Children's Court.
Seymour, VIC · Hume & North East
TBA Law provides legal services in Seymour, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Joondalup, WA · Perth North
Timpano Legal Criminal Lawyers Mandurah provides legal services in Joondalup, WA. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Bail Applications and Assault & Violent Offences.
Blacktown, NSW · Western Sydney
Toongabbie Legal Centre Inc. provides legal services in Blacktown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and NDIS & Disability Law.
Baulkham Hills, NSW · Hills District
Van Houten Law Solicitors Barristers Notaries provides legal services in Baulkham Hills, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Five Dock, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
Vincent Love & Co provides legal services in Five Dock, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Family Law.
Mascot, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
Vizzone Ruggero Twigg Lawyers provides legal services in Mascot, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Gladesville, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Vizzone Ruggero Twigg Lawyers provides legal services in Gladesville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Miranda, NSW · Southern Sydney
WMD Law provides legal services in Miranda, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Batemans Bay, NSW · South Coast
WMD Law provides legal services in Batemans Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
WMD Law provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Blacktown, NSW · Western Sydney
Smythe & Mallam provides legal services in Blacktown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Family Law and Divorce & Separation.
Liverpool, NSW · Western Sydney
Justice Lawyers provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Personal Injury, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Grace Jill G provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Family Law and Contested Wills & Family Provision.
Walkerville, SA · Adelaide Metro
BSG Lawyers & Notary Public Adelaide provides legal services in Walkerville, SA. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Criminal Law.
Kingaroy, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
J.A. Carroll Solicitors Murgon provides legal services in Kingaroy, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Andrews Legal provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Bail Applications and Drink & Drug Driving.
Understand the next step
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.
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.
Ask what evidence is available and what must be obtained. Decisions about a plea or statement should follow advice on your own circumstances.
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.
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.
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.
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
You generally have the right to remain silent. Ask to speak to a lawyer before any interview.
Legal Aid, community legal centres and Aboriginal legal services may be able to help, depending on the charge and your circumstances.
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.
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.
