Criminal Lawyers in Perth for WA Charges

Criminal Lawyers in Perth

Most criminal matters in Perth start in the Magistrates Court. Criminal lawyers here handle everything from traffic and drug charges to serious violence and fraud, and several firms practise only in criminal and traffic law. Many have offices on St Georges Terrace or Hay Street, a short walk from the central city courts.

Experience in the right court is worth asking about. Some lawyers spend most of their time on pleas and bail applications, while others regularly run trials before a jury in the higher courts. Ask who will appear for you, how fees are charged and whether a fixed fee is available for your type of matter. A firm that offers an early consultation can often tell you what to expect before your first court date.

Andrews Legal
Level 1, Kings Perth Office Tower, 533 Hay Street
Perth WA 6000
Tel: (08) 9221 2991

Andrews Legal works only in criminal law from the Kings Perth Office Tower on Hay Street, close to the central Perth courts, and says it has more than 30 years of experience in defence work. Its lawyers act on violence, property, fraud, drug, firearm and traffic charges, as well as bail applications, spent convictions and restraining order breaches. The firm also takes on related regulatory work such as extraordinary licences, fisheries prosecutions, AHPRA complaints, proceeds of crime and coronial inquests, and it negotiates with police and prosecutors about charges.

Fisher Legal
Suite 206, Level 2, 22 St Georges Terrace
Perth WA 6000
Tel: (08) 9328 2899

With an office on St Georges Terrace and appointments available in Broome, Fisher Legal is a criminal defence practice that states it has more than 30 years of experience. Its work covers criminal law, criminal confiscation, traffic offences, restraining orders and appeals. Charges it handles include drug offences, robbery, stealing and dishonesty, burglary, assaults including grievous bodily harm and wounding, sexual offences plus murder and manslaughter. The firm says its service extends across Western Australia, which may suit clients facing charges in regional courts.
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HHG Legal Group
Level 8, Cloisters Square, 863 Hay Street
Perth WA 6000
Tel: (08) 9322 1966

Alongside its other practice areas, HHG Legal Group runs a criminal team that advises on general criminal charges, violence matters, misconduct and traffic charges. The team also covers family violence charges and restraining orders, including urgent court representation, and can apply for spent convictions where a conviction may qualify. Its site explains what to expect before a court date and sets out a four step process of consultation, strategy, action and resolution. The firm’s Perth office is in Cloisters Square, with further offices in Joondalup, Mandurah and regional WA.
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Andrew Williams Criminal Law Offices
Level 28, AMP Tower, 140 St Georges Terrace
Perth WA 6000
Tel: (08) 9278 2575

Established in 2008, Andrew Williams Criminal Law Offices focuses solely on criminal and traffic law, with offices in the AMP Tower in Perth and on Pakenham Street in Fremantle. Andrew Williams personally handles each matter from start to finish rather than passing files to junior staff. The practice appears in the Magistrates, District, Supreme and Children’s Courts on charges including drug, sex, assault, firearm and fraud offences, plus drink, drug and dangerous driving. Initial consultations are charged at a fixed fee and cost estimates are given upfront.
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Perrella Legal
Level 9, 26 St Georges Terrace
Perth WA 6000
Tel: (08) 9225 6646

Incorporated in 2011, Perrella Legal practises criminal law and does not take on other areas such as family law or wills. Its lawyers have appeared in the Magistrates Court, Children’s Court, District Court and Supreme Court on charges ranging from assault, burglary and drug offences to fraud, sexual offences, firearms and murder. The firm also handles traffic offences, restraining orders, bail, spent conviction orders and extraordinary driver’s licences. It works on fixed fees rather than hourly billing, and consultations can be held by video call for regional clients.
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Paxman & Paxman
Level 2, Building C, The Garden Office Park, 355 Scarborough Beach Road
Osborne Park WA 6017
Tel: 1300 274 692

Led by Oliver Paxman and Lana Paxman, Paxman & Paxman is a criminal law firm based at The Garden Office Park in Osborne Park. The firm acts on property offences such as burglary, fraud and robbery, drug charges including Drug Court matters, assaults and other offences against the person plus Commonwealth offences such as Centrelink fraud and drug importation. It also covers traffic matters, bail applications, restraining orders and spent convictions, and briefs barristers from the independent bar in Perth when a case calls for one.
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Scerri Legal
1 Brewer Street
Perth WA 6000
Tel: 0420 974 430

Principal Nick Scerri runs Scerri Legal, a Perth practice that works exclusively in criminal and traffic law, including restraining orders and breaches. The firm appears in the Magistrates Court in Perth and regional WA, the District and Supreme Courts and the Children’s Court, and it can attend Northbridge Magistrates Court on weekends for urgent bail applications. Matters it handles include assault, drug, fraud, sex and money laundering charges, burglary and stealing plus extraordinary driver’s licence applications. It aims to give honest advice that is easy to understand.
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How criminal cases move through WA courts

According to the Supreme Court of Western Australia, all criminal proceedings against adults begin in the Magistrates Court, where most matters are dealt with summarily without a jury. The District Court is an intermediate trial court that hears serious offences, including serious assaults and sexual assaults. Above it sits the Supreme Court.

Where your matter ends up may affect how long it takes and what it costs. Asking early which court is likely to hear it can help you plan.

Help on the day and Legal Aid

If you are due in the Magistrates Court without a lawyer, Legal Aid WA says you can see the duty lawyer on the day. The duty lawyer can give advice on a range of matters but cannot represent you at trial. Grants of legal aid may be available for more serious charges if you cannot afford a lawyer, although they are normally not available for matters dealt with in the Magistrates Court unless there are special circumstances.

If you have not been able to get advice in time, you can ask the magistrate to adjourn your matter. A private criminal lawyer can often advise you before your first appearance.