Trusted Criminal Defence Representation When It Matters Most

Unfortunately you cannot take back a court elected fine. Once you have elected, you must attend Court.

Technically, yes. However, if the sentencing judge is considering a harsher penalty, they must inform you and your lawyer. This warning is known as Parker Direction. If you receive a Parker Direction, the best thing to do is to seek leave to withdraw the appeal. In these circumstances, the original sentence stands.

No, you do not need to plead guilty in order to bring an application under section 14.

Eligibility for Legal Aid in Sydney is based on several factors, with the primary focus being financial need and the nature of the legal issue. To qualify, applicants must prove they cannot afford to hire a private lawyer. This usually involves assessing income, assets, and overall financial situation.

The Legal Aid Commission sets specific income thresholds that applicants must meet. If your income exceeds these limits, you may not qualify for assistance. In addition to financial factors, the type of legal issue is also important in determining eligibility. Legal Aid typically covers serious criminal cases, family law matters, and certain civil issues. If you are facing criminal charges that could lead to imprisonment, you are more likely to qualify for Legal Aid than if you are dealing with a minor civil dispute.

Understanding these eligibility criteria is crucial for anyone seeking assistance, as it helps set realistic expectations regarding the support available through Legal Aid.

To improve your chances of receiving a section 10 dismissal, it’s important to provide the court with supporting material that demonstrates the following:

1. Good Character and Strong Community Ties: Submitting up to three character references can help establish your good character and demonstrate you have strong community ties.
2. Show the Court why you will not offend again: If the offence occurred during a challenging period in your life, it is important to tell your lawyer this. Explaining to the Court why the offending won’t happen again helps to establish a strong argument that you have ‘good prospects of rehabilitation’.
3. Efforts to Address Underlying Issues: Show that you’ve taken steps to address any underlying issues, such as attending counseling, completing relevant courses (e.g., anger management, drug and alcohol programs), or seeing a psychologist/psychiatrist. Your lawyer can then obtain a report based on this progress.

For driving offences, completing a Traffic Offender Program can also improve your chances of a section 10 dismissal.

Our team of lawyers specialise in criminal law. We are passionate and consistently strive to achieve the best possible outcome for our clients. We have an outstanding level of client satisfaction, we offer fixed fees to ensure our clients have complete transparency from the outset, and we offer an initial consultation without charge.

Perhaps our greatest accolade, however, is the recognition we receive from others in the legal profession, including the judiciary, for our knowledge of the law and attention to detail. We do not pay for advertising that place us on lists like ‘Sydney’s Best Lawyers’, we simply rely on our reputation for being among the best and most trusted Criminal Defence Lawyers in Sydney.