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Streeton Lawyers is Sydney’s premier criminal law firm. Recognised as a First Tier Criminal Law Firm by Doyle’s Legal Guide every year from 2017 to 2023, the team of highly respected, dedicated professionals are committed to providing clients with exceptional service and representation.
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At Streeton Lawyers, we do offer a first consultation free of charge for those who are considering engaging a lawyer. This consultation can be on the phone or in person.
If you have received any paperwork or electronic items from the police, it is important that you bring everything with you to your first consultation.
If you have been charged with a criminal offence, the most important documents are the Court Attendance Notice (CAN) and the Police Fact Sheet. You may also have a Bail Acknowledgment or an Apprehended Violence Order, which you should also bring with you.
If the police provided you with a disc of your interview, or the interview of another witness, you should also bring that disc with you.
If you decide that you want us to represent you, we will need to email you a copy of our service agreement. You need to read, sign and send the service agreement back to us via email.
You will also need to pay a retainer into our trust account, which is a part-payment of the fees in your matter. This fee will vary depending on your matter.
If you have a simple Local Court matter, we may offer you a “fixed fee”. This means that you will be charged a fixed amount for the entirety of your matter, including advice, preparation and appearance at court.
If your matter is more complicated, or will be heard in a higher court, we will provide you with an estimate of our fees before you decide whether to engage us. After the initial retainer, the fees are payable incrementally as your matter progresses.
In Australia, lawyers are divided into solicitors and barristers. Barristers are specialists advocates who are usually engaged in more complex criminal matters, such as trials in the District Court. When a barrister is involved, the solicitor is responsible for liaising with the client and assisting the barrister to prepare the case.
In most Local Court matters and some District Court matters, a barrister may not be required. In these cases, the solicitor will prepare the case and speak on your behalf in court. If we think that you might need a barrister, we will advise you of this.
Most barristers will not represent clients without a solicitor being involved. If you contact a barrister directly, they may suggest that you engage a solicitor first. The solicitor can then “brief” the barrister on your behalf.
If there is a particular barrister that you want to represent you, the solicitor can brief that barrister on your behalf.
You are legally allowed to represent yourself in any court. You are also entitled to have a lawyer represent you in any type of criminal or traffic matter in New South Wales.
Representing yourself can be confusing and stressful if you are unfamiliar with the court system. The more serious your matter, the more likely it is that you will need a lawyer to represent you to prepare and present your case effectively. However, even with traffic and minor criminal offences, there are several benefits to having a lawyer.
A lawyer can provide you with advice on the strength of the case against you and what your legal options are. A lawyer will also help you to prepare material for your hearing or sentence, and will speak on your behalf when you go to court. This ensures that you have the best possible chance of a successful outcome.
