Cairns & Far North
Criminal & Traffic lawyers in Cairns & Far North
Criminal and traffic lawyers defend people charged with offences, from drink driving and licence matters to serious indictable crimes.
15 firms
Cairns & Far North
Criminal and traffic lawyers defend people charged with offences, from drink driving and licence matters to serious indictable crimes.
15 firms
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
O'Reilly Stevens Lawyers provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Criminal Law and Wills & Estates.
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
Queensland Lawyers provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Atherton, QLD · Cairns & Far North
Northern Plateau Legal provides legal services in Atherton, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
Coral Coast Law provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Assault & Violent Offences.
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
RK Law provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Domestic Violence & AVOs, Criminal Law and Family Law.
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
Cairns Traffic Lawyers provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Traffic Offences and Drink & Drug Driving.
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
Nq Mobile Law Service provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drink & Drug Driving and Bail Applications.
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
UNIVERSAL LAWYERS Pty Ltd provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Malanda, QLD · Cairns & Far North
Marino Lawyers provides legal services in Malanda, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Planning & Environment and Business & Commercial Law.
Marino Lawyers provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Planning & Environment and Business & Commercial Law.
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
Marino Lawyers provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Planning & Environment and Business & Commercial Law.
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
Lawweb Pty Ltd provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Port Douglas, QLD · Cairns & Far North
Marino Lawyers provides legal services in Port Douglas, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Planning & Environment and Business & Commercial Law.
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
Atsils Cairns provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Cairns, QLD · Cairns & Far North
Civic Law Pty Ltd provides legal services in Cairns, QLD. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Bail Applications and Assault & Violent Offences.
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.
Cairns, Port Douglas and Atherton bring together different Far North locations. For a property or business matter, tell the firm whether you are based locally, elsewhere in Australia or overseas.
For criminal & traffic, ask which parts of the work the firm handles itself and whether it has relevant QLD experience. Let the lawyer know if a property, employer, other party or existing proceeding is outside Cairns & Far North. 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.