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 They can negotiate with prosecutors to have charges withdrawn or reduced, run defended hearings and trials, and present the strongest case for a lenient sentence.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
Bairnsdale, VIC · Gippsland
Peter Murphy & Associates provides legal services in Bairnsdale, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Shellharbour, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
Sward Law provides legal services in Shellharbour, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Criminal Law.
Figtree, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
Sward Law provides legal services in Figtree, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Criminal Law.
Perth, WA · Perth CBD
Butcher Paull & Calder provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Boorowa, NSW · Southern Highlands & Tablelands
Davis Faulkner & Co provides legal services in Boorowa, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Shepparton, VIC · Hume & North East
Nevin Lenne Gross provides legal services in Shepparton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Business & Commercial Law.
Bendigo, VIC · Bendigo & Loddon
Cahills Solicitors Pty Ltd provides legal services in Bendigo, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Family Law and Criminal Law.
Cox Legal provides legal services in Mandurah, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Jamestown, SA · Eyre, Yorke & Mid North
Kelly Kelly Legal provides legal services in Jamestown, SA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Agribusiness & Rural Law.
Penrith, NSW · Western Sydney
Bateman Battersby Lawyers provides legal services in Penrith, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Underwood, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Burns Law provides legal services in Underwood, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Criminal Law and Wills & Estates.
Greenway, ACT · Canberra
Erindale Discount Meats provides legal services in Greenway, ACT. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Elizabeth, SA · Adelaide Metro
Legal Services Commission Elizabeth provides legal services in Elizabeth, SA. Listed practice areas include Health & Medical Practitioner Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Wills & Estates.
Berwick, VIC · South East Melbourne
Neal Collin Lawyers provides legal services in Berwick, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Contested Wills & Family Provision.
Mullumbimby, NSW · Northern Rivers
Universal Legal Recoveries provides legal services in Mullumbimby, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Notary Public & JP Services and Property & Conveyancing.
Camden, NSW · Western Sydney
Marsdens Law Group provides legal services in Camden, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
Michael Sommerville Lawyer provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Traffic Offences and Assault & Violent Offences.
Kingscliff, NSW · Northern Rivers
ONeills Law provides legal services in Kingscliff, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Baker Ryrie Rickards Titmarsh - Parramatta provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Assault & Violent Offences and Traffic Offences.
Yarrawonga, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
David C. Story provides legal services in Yarrawonga, NT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Criminal Law.
Perth, WA · Perth CBD
Ideal Legal Services provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Bairnsdale, VIC · Gippsland
Peter Murphy & Associates provides legal services in Bairnsdale, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Family Law and Criminal Law.
Clare, SA · Eyre, Yorke & Mid North
Voumard Lawyers provides legal services in Clare, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Family Law.
Epping, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Waters & Co Lawyers provides legal services in Epping, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Debt Recovery and Family Law.
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.
