Best Law Firms Australia

Best Criminal Lawyers in Australia

Updated 22 September 2026

Compare criminal lawyers in 26 Australian cities, ranked on criminal law experience, public client reviews and professional standing. A criminal lawyer advises people who are under police investigation, applies for bail, negotiates charges with the prosecution and represents clients at hearings, sentencing and appeals. The offences come from state law, such as the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic) and the Criminal Code (Qld), and from Commonwealth law for federal offences.

The first step after a charge is to check the court date on the court attendance notice or bail papers and get advice before that date. If the person is in custody, a duty lawyer or a private criminal lawyer can apply for bail at the first appearance. Our method for ranking firms is set out in how we rank law firms.

Editor's picks

Chosen by our editors from verified facts and always labelled. Shown separately from the data-ranked list. How we rank law firms

Editor's pick #1Criminal defence law firm

Hugo Law Group

★★★★★ 4.7 (121 Google reviews, Sydney (Level 12, 179 Elizabeth St))

Hugo Law Group is a criminal defence law firm with offices in Sydney, Canberra, Perth and Northern NSW, acting in criminal and traffic matters.

  • Offices in Sydney, Canberra, Perth and Northern NSW.
  • Acts in criminal and traffic law, including assault, dishonesty, firearms, robbery, sexual assault, homicide and perjury matters.
  • Named after the jurist Hugo Grotius.

Sydney NSWCanberra ACTPerth WANorthern NSW

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Editor's pick #2Criminal defence law firm

Doogue + George

★★★★★ 4.8 (223 Google reviews, Melbourne (221 Queen St))

Doogue + George is a criminal defence firm founded in Melbourne, with more than 30 years' focus on criminal law and offices across Victoria and in Sydney.

  • Offices in Melbourne CBD, Broadmeadows, Heidelberg, Moorabbin and Sunshine, and in Sydney.
  • Acts in driving and drug offences through to sexual offences, family violence, white-collar crime and royal commission matters.
  • Several lawyers hold Law Institute of Victoria specialist accreditation in criminal law.

Melbourne VICBroadmeadows VICHeidelberg VICMoorabbin VICSunshine VICSydney NSW

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Editor's pick #3Criminal defence law firm

Angus Cameron Partners

★★★★★ 4.8 (38 Google reviews, Melbourne (Queen St))

Angus Cameron Partners is a Melbourne criminal defence firm whose practitioners hold Law Institute of Victoria specialist accreditation in criminal law.

  • Office at Level 4, 224-236 Queen Street, Melbourne VIC 3000.
  • Practitioners hold Law Institute of Victoria specialist accreditation.
  • Google rating 4.8 from 38 reviews (Google Maps, September 2026).

Melbourne VIC

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Top-rated criminal lawyers by city

Brisbane

Full ranking →
  1. 1Robinson Law★★★★★ 5.0 (235)
  2. 2Watling Roche Lawyers★★★★★ 5.0 (143)
  3. 3Sibley Lawyers★★★★★ 5.0 (108)

Sydney

Full ranking →
  1. 1Criminal Defence Lawyers Australia★★★★★ 5.0 (825)
  2. 2Truth Lawyers★★★★★ 5.0 (356)
  3. 3James & Jaramillo Lawyers★★★★★ 5.0 (222)

Adelaide

Full ranking →
  1. 1WOODS & CO LAWYERS PTY LTD★★★★★ 5.0 (169)
  2. 2Williams Barristers and Solicitors★★★★★ 4.9 (246)
  3. 3ASA Lawyers★★★★★ 4.9 (111)

Melbourne

Full ranking →
  1. 1Markotich Lawyers★★★★★ 5.0 (284)
  2. 2Josh Smith Legal★★★★★ 5.0 (250)
  3. 3Hofman Carroll Criminal Law★★★★★ 5.0 (214)

Perth

Full ranking →
  1. 1WA Criminal Lawyers★★★★★ 5.0 (266)
  2. 2Perrella Legal★★★★★ 5.0 (214)
  3. 3Assurance Legal★★★★★ 5.0 (102)

Canberra

Full ranking →
  1. 1NBC LAW PTY LTD★★★★★ 5.0 (172)
  2. 2CODA Criminal Law★★★★★ 5.0 (91)
  3. 3Andrew Byrnes Law Group★★★★★ 4.9 (190)

Hobart

Full ranking →
  1. 1Logan & Partners★★★★★ 4.9 (53)
  2. 2Hall Payne Lawyers Hobart★★★★★ 4.8 (96)
  3. 3D & X Legal★★★★★ 4.9 (40)

Darwin

Full ranking →
  1. 1Bryson Kelly Legal★★★★★ 4.9 (119)
  2. 2Maurice Blackburn Personal Injury Lawyers Darwin★★★★★ 4.8 (102)
  3. 3Territory Criminal Lawyers★★★★★ 4.9 (32)

Wollongong

Full ranking →
  1. 1Morrisons - Criminal and Traffic Law Specialists★★★★★ 4.9 (213)
  2. 2Karnib & Co Lawyers★★★★★ 5.0 (74)
  3. 3Wollongong Criminal Law★★★★★ 5.0 (65)

What does a criminal lawyer do?

A criminal lawyer acts for the accused person from the police station to the final appeal. The tasks are:

  1. Advise before a police interview, search or arrest.
  2. Apply for bail, or for a change to bail conditions.
  3. Obtain and review the police brief of evidence.
  4. Negotiate with the prosecution to withdraw or downgrade charges.
  5. Enter pleas and prepare sentencing material, such as references and reports.
  6. Represent the client at defended hearings in the Local or Magistrates Court.
  7. Brief a barrister for District, County or Supreme Court trials.
  8. Defend or respond to AVO and intervention order applications.
  9. Appeal against a conviction or a sentence.

The same lawyer usually handles the whole matter. For a jury trial, the solicitor often briefs a barrister to appear in court, and both are paid. The Lawyer vs Solicitor vs Barrister guide explains the split.

Criminal defence lawyer

"Criminal defence lawyer" is another name for a criminal lawyer. There is no separate licence. The lawyer acts only for the defence; the prosecution is run by police prosecutors in the lower courts and by the state Director of Public Prosecutions for serious indictable matters.

Assault lawyer

An assault lawyer is a criminal lawyer who handles assault charges. In NSW, common assault carries a maximum of 2 years' imprisonment under section 61 of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), and assault occasioning actual bodily harm carries 5 years under section 59, or 7 years if committed in company. Assault charges between family members often come with an AVO or intervention order. The Assault Charges & Penalties in Australia guide covers each state.

Drug charge lawyer

A drug charge lawyer defends possession, supply, cultivation and importation charges. In NSW, possession is an offence under section 10 of the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW) and supply is an offence under section 25. Supply of a commercial quantity is a show cause offence for bail under section 16B of the Bail Act 2013 (NSW), so the accused must show why detention is not justified before bail is considered.

When do you need a criminal lawyer?

You need a criminal lawyer as soon as police contact you about an offence, and at the latest before the first court date. The type of charge decides which court hears it and how much is at stake.

Summary vs indictable offences

Summary offences are less serious and are heard by a magistrate without a jury. Indictable offences are more serious and can go to a judge and jury. In NSW, many indictable offences listed in Table 1 and Table 2 of Schedule 1 to the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) stay in the Local Court unless an election is made to have them dealt with on indictment (section 260). When the Local Court deals with those offences, its maximum prison term for one offence is 2 years (sections 267 and 268).

State or territory Summary matters and most pleas Serious indictable matters
NSW Local Court District Court, Supreme Court
Victoria Magistrates' Court County Court, Supreme Court
Queensland Magistrates Court District Court, Supreme Court
Western Australia Magistrates Court District Court, Supreme Court
South Australia Magistrates Court District Court, Supreme Court
Tasmania Magistrates Court Supreme Court
ACT Magistrates Court Supreme Court
Northern Territory Local Court Supreme Court

When you are in custody

Bail is decided within hours of a charge, so a lawyer matters most at the first appearance. The tests differ by state; the Bail in Australia guide compares NSW, Victoria and Queensland.

When there is a protection order

An AVO or intervention order is a civil order, but breaching one is a criminal offence. See What Is an AVO in NSW? Conditions, Breaches & Court and Intervention Orders in Victoria.

Can you get legal aid for a criminal matter?

Yes. Legal aid commissions in each state and territory fund criminal defence for people who meet their eligibility tests. Legal Aid NSW has duty lawyers at all Local Courts in NSW, and seeing a duty lawyer is free. In criminal matters, no means test applies for advice or for a first appearance in custody; representation beyond that generally requires eligibility for legal aid. A duty lawyer cannot represent a person who has pleaded not guilty at a hearing listed for that day. In NSW, LawAccess NSW (1300 888 529) books legal advice appointments. The Legal Aid in Australia guide covers each state's tests.

How much does a criminal lawyer cost?

A criminal lawyer in Australia typically charges between $300 and $800 per hour plus GST, and many firms quote fixed fees for pleas and bail applications. The ranges below are indicative as at September 2026. They vary with the court, the number of charges, the volume of evidence and the lawyer's seniority, and they are not quotes.

Matter Common fee model Indicative range
First consultation Free or fixed fee $0 to around $400
Bail application (lower court) Fixed fee Around $1,500 to $5,000
Guilty plea, Local or Magistrates Court Fixed fee Around $1,500 to $5,000
Defended hearing, Local or Magistrates Court Fixed fee per stage or hourly Around $5,000 to $20,000+
Defended AVO or intervention order hearing Fixed fee or hourly Around $3,000 to $10,000
Sentence in the District or County Court Fixed fee plus barrister Around $5,000 to $20,000
Jury trial Hourly plus barrister daily fees Around $30,000 to $150,000+

In NSW, Victoria and Western Australia, the Legal Profession Uniform Law requires a lawyer to disclose in writing how costs are calculated and an estimate of total costs. The How Much Does a Lawyer Cost in Australia? guide explains costs agreements and billing.

How to choose a criminal lawyer

Choose a criminal lawyer by checking these points before signing a costs agreement:

  1. Practising certificate. Confirm the lawyer holds a current practising certificate on the state regulator's public register. In NSW, the Law Society of NSW keeps the Register of Solicitors.
  2. Accredited specialist status. Ask whether the lawyer is an accredited specialist in criminal law. Accreditation is voluntary and is assessed by the state law society; see What Is an Accredited Specialist Lawyer?.
  3. Court experience. Ask how often the lawyer appears in the court that will hear the matter.
  4. Fee disclosure. Get the costs disclosure and estimate in writing, including barrister fees.
  5. Who does the work. Ask who will appear on each court date.

The How to Choose a Lawyer in Australia guide lists general checks for any practice area.

Criminal Lawyers by location

Criminal law guides

These guides explain the matters criminal lawyers handle most often:

Driving charges such as drink driving and licence disqualification are handled by Traffic & Drink Driving Lawyers in Australia. Parenting and property disputes that follow family violence go to Family Lawyers in Australia.

Frequently asked questions

Is a criminal lawyer the same as a criminal defence lawyer?

Yes. Both terms describe a solicitor who acts for people who are investigated or charged by police. Prosecutions are run by police prosecutors or the state Director of Public Prosecutions, not by private criminal lawyers.

Can a duty lawyer represent me for free?

Legal Aid NSW has duty lawyers at every Local Court in NSW, and seeing one is free. A duty lawyer gives advice and handles first appearances, bail and many pleas, but cannot run a defended hearing listed for that day.

Does a guilty plea always mean a criminal record?

No. In NSW, section 10 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) lets a court find an offence proven without recording a conviction. A lawyer can advise whether this outcome is realistic in a particular case.

Do I need a criminal lawyer for an AVO?

An AVO is a civil order, not a criminal charge, and it does not appear on a criminal record. Many people still use a criminal lawyer, because breaching an AVO is a criminal offence and AVOs are often made alongside assault charges.