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 They can negotiate with prosecutors to have charges withdrawn or reduced, run defended hearings and trials, and present the strongest case for a lenient sentence.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
Darwin Cbd, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
Torney Legal provides legal services in Darwin Cbd, NT. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Criminal Law and Family Law.
Abledale Law provides legal services in Ipswich, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drug Offences and Bail Applications.
Mackay, QLD · Mackay & Whitsundays
Atsils Cairns provides legal services in Mackay, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Grant Lawyers provides legal services in Bundall, QLD. Listed practice areas include Insolvency & Restructuring, Family Law and Criminal Law.
Picton, NSW · Western Sydney
Justice Lawyers provides legal services in Picton, NSW. Listed practice areas include Personal Injury, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Dural, NSW · Hills District
Peter Dawson & Associates provides legal services in Dural, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Brookwater, QLD · Ipswich
Savannah Legal Barristers & Solicitors provides legal services in Brookwater, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Immigration & Visas.
Wingham, NSW · Mid North Coast
Anytime Conveyancing provides legal services in Wingham, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Iles Selley provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Commercial Litigation and Defamation.
Fairfield, NSW · Western Sydney
Milena Mijatovich provides legal services in Fairfield, NSW. Listed practice areas include Medical Negligence, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Croydon, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Remington Wright & Co provides legal services in Croydon, VIC. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Debt Recovery and Family Law.
Cobram, VIC · Hume & North East
Taylor & Whitty provides legal services in Cobram, VIC. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Murwillumbah, NSW · Northern Rivers
Turner Freeman Lawyers provides legal services in Murwillumbah, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Bundaberg Central, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
Atsils Cairns provides legal services in Bundaberg Central, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Bathurst, NSW · Central West & Orana
Cain Timothy provides legal services in Bathurst, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Bendigo, VIC · Bendigo & Loddon
Cathryn Shiels Lawyers provides legal services in Bendigo, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law and Criminal Law.
Ipswich, QLD · Ipswich
Driving Law Queensland provides legal services in Ipswich, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drink & Drug Driving and Traffic Offences.
South Yarra, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Lewenberg & Lewenberg Solicitors provides legal services in South Yarra, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Golden Beach, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Neale Tobin Solicitor provides legal services in Golden Beach, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law.
Norwood, SA · Adelaide Metro
Newman Lawyers provides legal services in Norwood, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Nimbin Law provides legal services in Grafton, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Vermont South, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Parke Lawyers provides legal services in Vermont South, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
Patsouris and Associates provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include General Practice (regional generalist), Health & Medical Practitioner Law and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Noosaville, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Sykes Pearson Miller provides legal services in Noosaville, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
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.
