Darwin & Palmerston
Criminal & Traffic lawyers in Darwin & Palmerston
Criminal and traffic lawyers defend people charged with offences, from drink driving and licence matters to serious indictable crimes.
17 firms
Darwin & Palmerston
Criminal and traffic lawyers defend people charged with offences, from drink driving and licence matters to serious indictable crimes.
17 firms
Darwin City, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
Territory Criminal Lawyers provides legal services in Darwin City, NT. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Traffic Offences and Drug Offences.
Darwin City, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
GRAYS LEGAL provides legal services in Darwin City, NT. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Darwin City, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
Darwin Lawyers provides legal services in Darwin City, NT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Partner & Family Visas.
Moil, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
Northern Legal Services provides legal services in Moil, NT. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Darwin City, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
KJ Lawyers provides legal services in Darwin City, NT. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Immigration & Visas and Criminal Law.
Darwin City, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
K E Roussos and Associates Barristers and Solicitors provides legal services in Darwin City, NT. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Wills & Estates and Traffic Offences.
Darwin Cbd, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
Bradley Solicitors Pty Ltd provides legal services in Darwin Cbd, NT. Listed practice areas include Commercial Property & Leasing, Unfair Dismissal and Criminal Law.
Yarrawonga, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
David C. Story provides legal services in Yarrawonga, NT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Criminal Law.
Darwin Cbd, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
Aboriginal Legal Aid, Darwin provides legal services in Darwin Cbd, NT. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Darwin City, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
Aboriginal Legal Aid, Darwin provides legal services in Darwin City, NT. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Child Protection & Care Matters.
Darwin City, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
AFL Withnalls provides legal services in Darwin City, NT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Criminal Law.
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.
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.
Darwin City, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
Bradley Solicitors Pty Ltd provides legal services in Darwin City, NT. Listed practice areas include Commercial Property & Leasing, Criminal Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Wagaman, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
David C. Story provides legal services in Wagaman, NT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Criminal Law.
Wagaman, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
David C. Story provides legal services in Wagaman, NT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Criminal Law.
Darwin City, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
Grace Jill G provides legal services in Darwin City, NT. Listed practice areas include Contested Wills & Family Provision, Criminal Law and Family Law.
If you've been charged, speak to a criminal lawyer before your first court date. They can tell you whether the charge can be defended, whether the evidence is strong, and what penalty is realistic if you plead guilty. Many criminal lawyers offer a free first conversation and fixed fees for common matters such as drink driving and traffic offences. For serious charges they handle bail applications, negotiations with the prosecution, trials and appeals. Legal Aid and Aboriginal legal services can help if you can't afford a private lawyer.
A criminal charge can affect liberty, employment and travel. Early advice often changes the outcome.
Criminal law is mostly state-based, with Commonwealth offences prosecuted federally, and each state has its own courts, bail laws and sentencing options.
Understand the next step
Criminal and traffic advice begins with the actual allegation and stage of the case. Say whether police want an interview, charges have been laid, bail conditions apply or a decision has been made. An enquiry is not confirmation that a lawyer has accepted responsibility for a forthcoming appearance.
Darwin, Palmerston and Casuarina are grouped for this directory search. For a workplace, tenancy or government-decision matter, identify the decision-maker or other party and gather the written notice before contacting a firm.
For criminal & traffic, ask which parts of the work the firm handles itself and whether it has relevant NT experience. Let the lawyer know if a property, employer, other party or existing proceeding is outside Darwin & Palmerston. Your home address alone does not determine the applicable process.
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
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.
The court decides whether you can stay in the community while the case runs, and on what conditions. A lawyer presents your circumstances and proposes conditions that address the court's concerns.