South East Melbourne
Criminal & Traffic lawyers in South East Melbourne
Criminal and traffic lawyers defend people charged with offences, from drink driving and licence matters to serious indictable crimes.
40 firms
South East Melbourne
Criminal and traffic lawyers defend people charged with offences, from drink driving and licence matters to serious indictable crimes.
40 firms
Bentleigh, VIC · South East Melbourne
Horn Legal provides legal services in Bentleigh, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Criminal Law.
Cranbourne West, VIC · South East Melbourne
Kohinoor Legal provides legal services in Cranbourne West, VIC. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
Dlegal Barristers & Solicitors provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Immigration & Visas and Family Law.
Hughesdale, VIC · South East Melbourne
Asher Freeman Lawyers provides legal services in Hughesdale, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
Freemont Family Lawyers Dandenong provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
Dribbin & Brown Criminal Lawyers provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Bail Applications and Drink & Drug Driving.
Bentleigh, VIC · South East Melbourne
Pugh Legal provides legal services in Bentleigh, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Notary Public & JP Services.
Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
Victoria Legal Aid provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Parenting & Child Custody.
Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
James Dowsley & Associates provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drink & Drug Driving and Bail Applications.
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Berwick, VIC · South East Melbourne
Neal Collin Lawyers provides legal services in Berwick, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Contested Wills & Family Provision.
Dandenong North, VIC · South East Melbourne
Smythe & Mallam provides legal services in Dandenong North, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Family Law and Divorce & Separation.
Bentleigh, VIC · South East Melbourne
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Bentleigh, VIC. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
South Melbourne, VIC · South East Melbourne
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in South Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
OAKLEYS LAW provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Commercial Litigation.
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.
Dandenong, Frankston, Cranbourne and Moorabbin span a broad search area. A firm’s suburb, meeting options and experience with your matter are more informative than the South East Melbourne label alone.
For criminal & traffic, ask which parts of the work the firm handles itself and whether it has relevant VIC experience. Let the lawyer know if a property, employer, other party or existing proceeding is outside South East Melbourne. 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.