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A criminal defence lawyer is a legal practitioner who represents the interests of those accused of criminal offences by government agencies such as state and federal police forces, Offices of the Director of Public or the Roads and Maritime Service.
A traffic lawyer is a defence lawyer with specialist experience in representing those accused of driving and other road-related offences such as drink or drug driving, driving whilst disqualified, speeding and red light cameras by state agencies such as the police or Roads and Maritime Service.
There are many factors to consider when looking for the best criminal lawyer and law firm for your case, including whether they:
Be wary of firms who advertise percentages of ‘success’ or guarantee results, as these claims can be misleading and are seldom substantiated.
Take your time – choosing the right lawyer is an important decision that can make all the difference to the outcome of your case.
The price for a criminal defence lawyer will depend on several factors, including whether the case is undertaken on a fixed fee basis or an hourly rate, as well as whether the lawyer specialises exclusively in criminal law, their years of experience doing so and whether they have been certified as Accredited Criminal Law Specialists.
Fixed fee court representation in criminal cases will normally start from around $2000 + GST for a specialist criminal defence lawyer, and hourly rates will normally range from $300 + GST for a junior criminal lawyer up to $600 + GST or more for an Accredited Criminal Law Specialist, who are generally regarded as the very best criminal lawyers in the state.
You can get a free first appointment with a criminal lawyer by checking on the firm’s website whether these are offered, or by calling or emailing the law firm and asking.
A first appointment is a way to obtain advice about your case, your options and the best way forward, as well as to determine whether the lawyer and law firm you are seeing are right for you.
First appointments should always be obligation-free, meaning you should never be or even feel forced to engage the lawyer or law firm for your case.
If you are facing allegations of having committed a criminal offence, it is extremely important to contact a criminal defence lawyer right away because they are there to protect you and your interests, whereas those who are prosecuting you have interests that are not aligned with yours.
A specialist criminal lawyer will have the knowledge and experience to advise you about where you stand, your options and the best way forward.
If you are going to court for a traffic offence or have received a penalty notice (fine), it is very important to consult a defence lawyer who is experienced in driving cases as they will be able to advise you of the right steps to take in order to achieve the optimal outcome in the circumstances.
Several law firms who are experienced in traffic law cases will offer free first conferences to those who are going to court.
You can find the nearest Sydney Criminal Lawyers office to you by entering your location into our handy find a lawyer near me tool – we have ten office locations across the Sydney metropolitan area and beyond, including Newcastle, Cessnock and Wollongong. We also offer conferences by phone and Zoom.
