Criminal lawyers defend people charged with offences and advise them from the police station to the final hearing.
firms
1,114
regions
16
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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 They can negotiate with prosecutors to have charges withdrawn or reduced, run defended hearings and trials, and present the strongest case for a lenient sentence.
Why criminal law matters
A conviction can affect employment, travel, visas and licences for years. The right early advice can change the result.
The Australian context
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.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(108)Google rating from 108 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Sibley Lawyers provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Employment Law and Traffic Offences.
Criminal Law+7 moreEmployment Law · Traffic Offences · Family Law · Class Actions · Assault & Violent Offences · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Fraud & White Collar CrimeFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ipswich, QLD · Ipswich
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(105)Google rating from 105 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Millwater Tyrrell Law provides legal services in Ipswich, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Criminal Law · Parenting & Child Custody · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(104)Google rating from 104 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Hanna Legal provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Assault & Violent Offences.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ipswich, QLD · Ipswich
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(103)Google rating from 103 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Brett Smith & Co Solicitors provides legal services in Ipswich, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Family Law+4 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Wills & Estates · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Maroochydore, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(102)Google rating from 102 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Smith Criminal Law Sunshine Coast provides legal services in Maroochydore, QLD. Listed practice areas include Traffic Offences, Criminal Law and Drug Offences.
Traffic Offences+7 moreCriminal Law · Drug Offences · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Assault & Violent Offences · Family Law · Drink & Drug Driving · Domestic Violence & AVOs
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(101)Google rating from 101 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Abbas Jacobs Lawyers provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Personal Injury.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Personal Injury · Criminal Law · Insolvency & Restructuring · Family Law · Banking & Finance · Public Liability
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mackay, QLD · Mackay & Whitsundays
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(97)Google rating from 97 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Harvey Legal provides legal services in Mackay, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Criminal Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Commercial Litigation · Business & Commercial Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Williams Landing, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(97)Google rating from 97 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
KPM Lawyers provides legal services in Williams Landing, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Criminal Law · Divorce & Separation · Wills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Domestic Violence & AVOs
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(96)Google rating from 96 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Kammoun Sukari Lawyers provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Criminal Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Criminal Law · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Employment Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Building & Construction
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(92)Google rating from 92 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Santone Lawyers provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Employment Law · Criminal Law · Administrative & Government Law · Assault & Violent Offences · Partner & Family Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sunshine, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(90)Google rating from 90 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bamyan Lawyers provides legal services in Sunshine, VIC. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Family Law and Citizenship.
Immigration & Visas+7 moreFamily Law · Citizenship · Partner & Family Visas · Visa Refusals & Tribunal Appeals · Skilled & Business Visas · Criminal Law · Parenting & Child Custody4 languages
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Fairfield, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(90)Google rating from 90 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
David Legal provides legal services in Fairfield, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Criminal Law · Planning & Environment · Immigration & Visas · Probate & Estate Administration5 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: arabic, greek, persian, vietnamese
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
St Leonards, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(90)Google rating from 90 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Sunsolis Legal provides legal services in St Leonards, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Partner & Family Visas and Family Law.
Business & Commercial Law+7 morePartner & Family Visas · Family Law · Criminal Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Commercial Litigation
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(89)Google rating from 89 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Australian Lawyers and Advocates provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Traffic Offences and Fraud & White Collar Crime.
Criminal Law+7 moreTraffic Offences · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Drink & Drug Driving · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Assault & Violent Offences · Family Law · Firearms & Licensing Matters
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(89)Google rating from 89 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Buckley Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Commercial Property & Leasing · Building & Construction · Criminal Law · Residential Tenancy · Partner & Family Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(87)Google rating from 87 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Adam & Dean Lawyers provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Criminal Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreCriminal Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Commercial Litigation · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Probate & Estate Administration
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(86)Google rating from 86 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Caldicott + Isaacs Lawyers provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Assault & Violent Offences, Drug Offences and Fraud & White Collar Crime.
Assault & Violent Offences+7 moreDrug Offences · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Criminal Law · Firearms & Licensing Matters · Drink & Drug Driving · Centrelink & Social SecurityFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Understand the next step
A practical guide to criminal law
What to discuss at the first meeting
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.
How the engagement may progress
01
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.
02
Ask what evidence is available and what must be obtained. Decisions about a plea or statement should follow advice on your own circumstances.
03
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.
Fees and the scope of work
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.
Dates to raise at first contact
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.
Questions to ask a criminal law adviser
Can you advise before the next required step?
Who will appear and what preparation is included?
Can you act before the next interview or hearing?
Who will appear and is that included in the quote?
What should I do if police contact me again?
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
Frequently asked questions
Should I talk to police without a lawyer?
You generally have the right to remain silent. Ask to speak to a lawyer before any interview.
What if I can't afford a lawyer?
Legal Aid, community legal centres and Aboriginal legal services may be able to help, depending on the charge and your circumstances.
Should I plead guilty?
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.
Can I keep my licence after a drink driving charge?
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.
