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 They can negotiate with prosecutors to have charges withdrawn or reduced, run defended hearings and trials, and present the strongest case for a lenient sentence.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
Bondi Junction, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
Worrad Traffic & Criminal Lawyers provides legal services in Bondi Junction, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Traffic Offences and Drink & Drug Driving.
Brookwater, QLD · Ipswich
Abledale Law provides legal services in Brookwater, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drug Offences and Bail Applications.
Penrith, NSW · Western Sydney
Claremont Legal Pty Ltd provides legal services in Penrith, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Traffic Offences.
Pialba, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
Driving Law Queensland provides legal services in Pialba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drink & Drug Driving and Traffic Offences.
Emerald, QLD · Central Queensland
Golsbys Solicitors provides legal services in Emerald, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Battery Point, TAS · Hobart & South
Leonard Fernandez Barristers & Solicitors provides legal services in Battery Point, TAS. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Immigration & Visas and Business & Commercial Law.
Maitland, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
McCarley & Associates provides legal services in Maitland, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Health & Medical Practitioner Law and Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal.
Laverton, VIC · Western Melbourne
Nanscawen Lawyers provides legal services in Laverton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Darwin City, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
Newman Lawyers provides legal services in Darwin City, NT. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Truganina, VIC · Western Melbourne
Paramount Lawyers Vic Pty Ltd provides legal services in Truganina, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Criminal Law.
Walcha, NSW · New England & North West
Peter Murphy & Associates provides legal services in Walcha, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Wetherill Park, NSW · Western Sydney
Prestige Solicitors & Associates provides legal services in Wetherill Park, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Criminal Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Noosa Heads, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Sykes Pearson Miller provides conveyancing services in Noosa Heads, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Surfers Paradise, QLD · Gold Coast
Abledale Law provides legal services in Surfers Paradise, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drug Offences and Bail Applications.
Katherine South, NT · Alice Springs & Central
Aboriginal Legal Aid, Darwin provides legal services in Katherine South, NT. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Child Protection & Care Matters.
Newcastle, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
Cooper Criminal Law provides legal services in Newcastle, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law.
NSW · Central West & Orana
Evans G P & Englert provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Bunbury, WA · South West
Hammond Legal provides legal services in Bunbury, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Mount Waverley, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Hartleys Lawyers provides legal services in Mount Waverley, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
NSW · Mid West & Gascoyne
Justice, Department of (State) - Mid West Gascoyne provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Health & Medical Practitioner Law, Business & Commercial Law and Criminal Law.
Sanctuary Point, NSW · South Coast
Marriott Oliver provides legal services in Sanctuary Point, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Gympie, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Smith Criminal Law Sunshine Coast provides legal services in Gympie, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Traffic Offences and Drug Offences.
Lismore, NSW · Northern Rivers
Universal Legal Recoveries provides legal services in Lismore, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Notary Public & JP Services and Property & Conveyancing.
Armidale, NSW · New England & North West
A W Simpson & Co provides legal services in Armidale, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Criminal 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.
