Criminal Lawyers in Canberra

Many criminal cases in Canberra begin in the ACT Magistrates Court. The court states that it hears all summary offence matters, which are ACT offences with a maximum sentence of two years or less. It can also hear some indictable offences if the prosecution elects to have them heard summarily or the defendant consents. More serious matters may go on to the ACT Supreme Court.

The firms listed here range from specialist criminal practices to general firms with a criminal team. Many handle drink driving, assault, drug and family violence matters, and some also act in appeals or integrity commission inquiries. Getting advice early, ideally before a police interview, often gives a lawyer more room to help.

Kamy Saeedi Law
Level 1, 1 University Avenue
Canberra ACT 2601
Tel: (02) 6230 6600

Kamy Saeedi Law runs a criminal practice from University Avenue in the city, acting in matters from traffic and drink driving charges through to assault, drug, firearms and dishonesty offences. Its lawyers also defend sexual offence, murder and manslaughter charges, and run appeals. The firm represents clients before the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the ACT Integrity Commission, and acts for people responding to family violence and personal protection orders. Civil law and wills and estates work sit alongside the criminal team.

CODA Criminal Law
Level 7, 1 Hobart Place
Canberra ACT 2601
Tel: (02) 6279 4288

A specialist criminal firm on Hobart Place, CODA Criminal Law acts for people being investigated, charged, held in custody or on bail. Its services list covers traffic, drug, weapons, violence, sexual and property offences, white collar crime, protection orders and parole hearings. The lawyers say they appear in courts across the ACT and NSW, with Children’s Court work among their areas. CODA encourages people to get advice early, especially before agreeing to a police interview, and also handles appeals and related disciplinary matters.
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Andrew Byrnes Law Group
Level 6, 28 University Avenue
Canberra City ACT 2601
Tel: (02) 6210 1075

Defending people charged in Canberra and the surrounding region, Andrew Byrnes Law Group handles assault, theft, drug, weapons, fraud, sexual and serious indictable offences. It acts in the ACT Magistrates Court, the Supreme Court and the ACT Children’s Court, including bail applications and appeals. The firm also helps with police interviews, protection orders, driving offences and matters involving APS employees and security clearances. Diversion and non conviction outcomes are a stated focus where they are available.
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BDN Lawyers
Level 1, 1 Farrell Place
Canberra City ACT 2601
Tel: (02) 6230 1999

BDN Lawyers has criminal lawyers in Canberra City and Queanbeyan who appear in ACT and NSW criminal courts. Matters include drink and drug driving, assault, theft, sexual offences, property damage and domestic violence, along with personal protection orders and workplace orders. Advice covers the charge, the evidence, likely penalties and the effect of a guilty plea. The firm quotes a fixed fee for a guilty plea, while defended charges are quoted case by case.
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RMB Lawyers
Unit 2, 32 Lonsdale Street
Braddon ACT 2612
Tel: (02) 6180 5111

RMB Lawyers is a multi office firm with a Canberra office in Braddon, and its criminal team names Canberra and Queanbeyan among the places it appears. The practice covers firearms, drug, violent and property offences, fraud and Centrelink matters, domestic violence orders and appeals, along with mental health applications. Traffic matters such as drink and drug driving and licence appeals are handled as a separate service. The firm says it builds each defence case by case.
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Help at court and Legal Aid

If you have a court date and no lawyer yet, Legal Aid ACT has duty lawyers at the Magistrates Court. Its site says it is free to talk to a duty lawyer and no appointment is needed, although the help on offer depends on the duty lawyer’s capacity that day. Ongoing representation may be available if you apply for and are granted legal aid.

A private lawyer can take on your matter from the start and stay with it through to sentence or hearing. This can be useful where the charge is serious, the evidence is complex or a conviction could affect your job or licence.

What to ask a criminal lawyer

Ask whether the lawyer appears regularly in the ACT courts that will hear your matter and who will actually stand up for you on the day. It is also fair to ask how fees are set. Some firms quote a fixed fee for a guilty plea, while a defended hearing is usually quoted on the volume of evidence and the time involved.

Bring your charge sheet, any bail conditions and the court notice to the first meeting. Write down what happened while it is fresh, but keep those notes for your lawyer rather than sharing them with others.

Other practice areas in Canberra

Looking outside Canberra? Browse criminal lawyers in other cities.