Knowledge base
Guides & answers
Clear, practical answers to the questions people ask us most: about charges, bail, police interviews, sentencing and appeals in New South Wales. General information, written plainly. Not a substitute for advice on your matter.
Solicitor, barrister, Senior Counsel: who actually defends you, and how to choose
Who does what, who briefs whom, and the questions worth asking before you hand over your defence.
Read guide Getting startedJust been charged with a criminal offence in NSW? What happens next
The steps between a charge and a court date, and the decisions that matter most in the first 48 hours.
Read guide Your rightsPolice want to interview you: your right to silence in NSW
What you must tell police, what you don't have to, and why 'just explaining' is so often a mistake.
Read guide BailHow bail works in NSW, and what to do if you're refused
The unacceptable-risk test, 'show cause' offences, and why a refusal is rarely the end.
Read guide SentencingSection 10: how to avoid a criminal conviction in NSW
How a court can find the offence proven yet record no conviction, and how to earn that outcome.
Read guide AppealsHow criminal appeals work in NSW
From Local Court appeals to the Court of Criminal Appeal, grounds, courts, and the deadlines you can't miss.
Read guide Getting startedYour first day at the Local Court: what to expect
What to wear, when to arrive, what a 'mention' actually is, and how to start well.
Read guideThe earlier we start, the more we can do.
Whether you’ve been charged, arrested, or are helping a family member, the earliest advice is the most valuable.