Criminal Lawyers in Sydney

Most criminal charges in Sydney start in the Local Court, and many are finished there. More serious matters may move up to the District Court or the Supreme Court. Several of the city’s criminal defence firms keep their offices a short walk from the Downing Centre in the CBD, while others also run offices in Parramatta, Liverpool and other suburban court centres.

If you have been charged, early advice can make a real difference to how the matter is handled. Legal Aid NSW says duty lawyers are available at all local courts in NSW for criminal matters, although they cannot help on the day of a hearing if you have pleaded not guilty. For anything beyond a first appearance, many people choose a private criminal lawyer who can stay with the case from start to finish.

Nyman Gibson Miralis
Level 9, 299 Elizabeth Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 9264 8884

Nyman Gibson Miralis is a criminal defence firm on Elizabeth Street that handles general and serious matters, from assault and drug charges to fraud, sexual offences and homicide. Lawyers attend police stations, run bail applications (including on weekends), defended hearings, sentencing and jury trials, as well as appeals to higher courts. The firm also acts in white collar and corporate crime, ICAC and crime commission matters plus international work such as extradition. It takes both private and Legal Aid matters and travels across NSW.

Sydney Criminal Lawyers
Museum Towers, Level 5, 267 Castlereagh Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 9261 8881

Located in Museum Towers opposite the Downing Centre courts, Sydney Criminal Lawyers handles criminal and traffic matters across NSW. Its work includes bail applications, guilty and not guilty pleas, mental health applications, applications for non conviction orders, jury trials and appeals, along with drink driving, speeding and licence appeals. The firm offers a free first conference for people going to court and publishes fixed fees for many matters. Its principal is an Accredited Criminal Law Specialist, and the firm has several other offices around Sydney.
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O’Brien Criminal & Civil Solicitors
Level 4, 219-223 Castlereagh Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 9261 4281

Working from Castlereagh Street, this firm defends charges ranging from assault, drug supply and theft to fraud, sexual offences and homicide. It also acts in drink and drug driving matters, AVOs and domestic violence cases, protest arrests and Children’s Court matters, and runs bail applications in the Local, District and Supreme Courts. Clients are kept updated and involved in key decisions. Payment plans are available, and the firm can help with Legal Aid applications. A civil practice handles claims such as false arrest and suing police.
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Hugo Law Group
Level 12, 179 Elizabeth Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 9696 1361

Hugo Law Group defends people facing criminal charges in NSW from its Elizabeth Street office, with further offices in Canberra and Perth. Its NSW work covers assault, dishonesty and fraud, drug and firearms charges, sexual offences and serious charges such as murder. The team also handles AVOs, traffic offences including driving causing death or serious injury, licence appeals and criminal appeals. Court work runs from bail and committal proceedings to defended hearings, trials and sentencing. The firm has Accredited Specialists in Criminal Law.
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Astor Legal
Level 45, 680 George Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 7804 2823

A criminal and traffic law firm with offices in the Sydney CBD and Parramatta, Astor Legal also works from Liverpool and Wollongong. It acts in assault, break and enter, drug, fraud, sexual and weapons offences, as well as AVO and domestic violence matters. Other work includes bail applications in Sydney and Parramatta, mental health applications under sections 14 and 32, sentencing reports and appeals. The firm is led by a Law Society Accredited Specialist in Criminal Law and offers fixed fees where it can.
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Criminal Defence Lawyers Australia
Suite 279, Level 3, 398 Pitt Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 8606 2218

Close to the Downing Centre and Central Local Court, the Pitt Street office of Criminal Defence Lawyers Australia handles criminal and traffic defence. Matters include AVOs and assault, drug importation and supply, fraud, sexual offences and weapons charges, plus drink and drug driving, dangerous driving and licence appeals. The team runs bail and mental health applications in the Local, District and Supreme Courts, along with defended hearings, sentence proceedings, jury trials and appeals. Fixed fees are offered for most cases.
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What a criminal lawyer can help with

A lawyer can advise you before a police interview, apply for bail and explain what the charge means. They can also look at the evidence, talk with the prosecution about the charges and represent you at a hearing or sentence. If you plan to plead guilty, a lawyer may help you gather references and reports that the court can consider.

The Local Court of NSW notes that registry staff can help with forms but cannot give legal advice. It also points people to LawAccess NSW, Legal Aid NSW and community legal centres for free help.

Choosing a firm

Look for a lawyer who regularly appears in the court your matter is listed in. Ask who will appear for you on the day and whether a barrister may be briefed for a trial. Fees vary with the type of charge and how far the case goes, so ask for a written estimate and find out whether a fixed fee is available for your stage of the matter.

Some firms also offer a free first consultation. Use it to bring your court attendance notice and any police paperwork, so the lawyer can give a clear view of the next steps.

Other practice areas in Sydney

Looking outside Sydney? Browse criminal lawyers in other cities.