We receive many enquiries from people who are unsure whether they need legal representation. It will always depend on the charges and circumstances, but the short answer is no, you do not always need representation, but having an experienced solicitor advocate on your behalf will significantly increase your chances of getting the best outcome for your matter.

Streeton Lawyers have three experienced solicitors, including an accredited specialist, who appear daily in local and district courts throughout Sydney. We only represent clients who have been charged with a range of criminal and traffic matters. As a result, we have a specialised knowledge of criminal and traffic law and we are therefore able to provide our clients with quality advice and outstanding court representation. We are able to help our clients understand the nature of their charge and accurately assess how to achieve the best possible outcome.

There is more information about our lawyers here.

People who appear unrepresented unfortunately do not have this in depth knowledge of the law. If you appear unrepresented, the court officer will be able to assist you with administrative matters, but the court is unable to provide you with any advice on how you should present your matter to the Magistrate or Judge. Similarly, due to their impartiality, magistrates or judges are unable to advise on what you should do to receive the best result.

If you choose to appear unrepresented, we highly recommend the following:

1. Ensure you understand the charges that are on your Court Attendance Notice

It is imperative that you understand what you have been charged with, why you have been charged, and what the maximum penalties are. An understanding of these factors will help you to decide whether you wish to plead guilty or not guilty.

2. Ensure you turn up to court and appear well presented

If you send in the Notice of Pleading and have the matter dealt with in your absence, the magistrate or judge will not have knowledge of the subjective circumstances unique to your case. As a result, it is unlikely you will receive any leniency in your sentence.

Furthermore, when you attend court ensure you are well presented. Court is a very formal environment so you should dress to reflect this formality in order to show the court that you take your matter very seriously.

3. Prepare, prepare, prepare!

Court can be a very daunting process, particularly for those who have never been before a court before.

To ensure your nerves do not wipe your memory when it is time to plead your case, we strongly recommend preparing what you wish to say. Take in some dot points of the key issues you wish to raise to ensure nothing is forgotten.

4. Call Streeton Lawyers for FREE advice.

At Streeton Lawyers, we offer a free initial consultation. Therefore, if you are unsure whether you need representation, or if you need help understanding your charges, we are here to help. Please contact us on (02) 9025 9888 to book an appointment with one of our experienced lawyers.

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