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 They can negotiate with prosecutors to have charges withdrawn or reduced, run defended hearings and trials, and present the strongest case for a lenient sentence.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
Wonthaggi, VIC · Gippsland
Wakefield Lawyers provides legal services in Wonthaggi, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Petrie Terrace, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Wickham Lawyers provides legal services in Petrie Terrace, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Coronial Inquests.
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
Inner West Criminal Lawyers provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Traffic Offences and Assault & Violent Offences.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Mediation Australia - Brisbane provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Criminal Law and Traffic Offences.
Ringwood, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Dribbin & Brown Criminal Lawyers provides legal services in Ringwood, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Bail Applications and Drink & Drug Driving.
TASIC Legal provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drug Offences and Assault & Violent Offences.
Bentleigh, VIC · South East Melbourne
Pugh Legal provides legal services in Bentleigh, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Notary Public & JP Services.
Richmond, NSW · Western Sydney
Cathy Stevenson & Associates provides legal services in Richmond, NSW. Listed practice areas include General Practice (regional generalist), Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Perth, WA · Perth CBD
Farquhar Ian R & Co provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Parenting & Child Custody.
Redcliffe, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
Wallace Davies Solicitors provides legal services in Redcliffe, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Geelong, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
Ben von Einem & Associates provides legal services in Geelong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Criminal Law.
Geelong, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
Dribbin & Brown Criminal Lawyers provides legal services in Geelong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Bail Applications and Drink & Drug Driving.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Gilshenan & Luton Legal Practice provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Health & Medical Practitioner Law, Coronial Inquests and Criminal Law.
West Perth, WA · Perth CBD
Savannah Legal Barristers & Solicitors provides legal services in West Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Immigration & Visas.
Ipswich, QLD · Ipswich
M.A. Kent & Associates provides legal services in Ipswich, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Criminal Law and Wills & Estates.
Launceston, TAS · Launceston & North
Oxley Barristers and Solicitors provides legal services in Launceston, TAS. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Bail Applications and Drink & Drug Driving.
Mandurah, WA · Perth South
Petherick Cottrell provides legal services in Mandurah, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Family Law.
Mount Eliza, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
McDonald E M & Co provides legal services in Mount Eliza, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Liverpool, NSW · Western Sydney
Mulcahy's Solicitors provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Traffic Offences and Bail Applications.
Burwood, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
ABBEY LAWYERS PTY LTD provides legal services in Burwood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Family Law and Traffic Offences.
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
Barsha Defence Lawyers provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Bail Applications and Criminal Law.
Box Hill, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Ghaffari Lawyers & Notary Public provides legal services in Box Hill, VIC. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Business & Commercial Law and Notary Public & JP Services.
Port Macquarie, NSW · Mid North Coast
GWM Lawyers provides legal services in Port Macquarie, NSW. Listed practice areas include Fraud & White Collar Crime, Banking & Finance and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Hannay Lawyers provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drink & Drug Driving and Assault & Violent 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.
