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 They can negotiate with prosecutors to have charges withdrawn or reduced, run defended hearings and trials, and present the strongest case for a lenient sentence.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
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Markotich Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Bail Applications and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Nambour, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Butler McDermott Lawyers Nambour provides legal services in Nambour, QLD. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Marrickville, NSW · Southern Sydney
CM Lawyers provides legal services in Marrickville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
Newman Lawyers provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Manly, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Manly, NSW. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Campbelltown, NSW · Western Sydney
Marsdens Law Group provides legal services in Campbelltown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Ipswich, QLD · Ipswich
Gill & Lane Solicitors provides legal services in Ipswich, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Criminal Law.
Adamstown, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
Howard Terence provides legal services in Adamstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Sutherland, NSW · Southern Sydney
Wayne Pasterfield Lawyer provides legal services in Sutherland, NSW. Listed practice areas include Traffic Offences, Criminal Law and Assault & Violent Offences.
Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
Blackridge Law provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Bail Applications, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Family Law.
Osborne Park, WA · Perth North
WN Legal Pty Ltd provides legal services in Osborne Park, WA. Listed practice areas include Assault & Violent Offences, Criminal Law and Drink & Drug Driving.
Upper Coomera, QLD · Gold Coast
Jeff Horsey Solicitor provides legal services in Upper Coomera, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
Donnelly Law Group provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drink & Drug Driving and Bail Applications.
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
SS Business Investments provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
Dribbin & Brown Criminal Lawyers provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Bail Applications and Drink & Drug Driving.
Liverpool, NSW · Western Sydney
Inner West Criminal Lawyers provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Traffic Offences and Assault & Violent Offences.
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
Riverland Legal & Conveyancing provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
Port Augusta Magistrates Court provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Traffic Offences and Drug Offences.
Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
Malcomson Lawyers provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Salisbury, SA · Adelaide Metro
Pascale Legal Barristers & Solicitors provides legal services in Salisbury, SA. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Powers of Attorney & Guardianship and Traffic Offences.
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
Streeton Criminal Lawyers provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drink & Drug Driving and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Riviere Law provides legal services in Erina, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Assault & Violent Offences and Traffic Offences.
Geelong, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
Loftgood Legal provides legal services in Geelong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Domestic Violence & AVOs, Criminal Law and Traffic Offences.
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.
