Bail, AVOs & Appeals
Criminal Defence (All Charges)
Whatever the charge, the first step is the same: get advice before you say anything to police.
Being charged with a criminal offence is frightening, and the first hours matter. What you say to police, whether you apply for bail, and how the matter is prepared from the start all shape where it ends.
City Group Legal defends the full range of criminal and traffic charges across South-West Sydney and every NSW court. Whatever you are facing, the first step is to get advice before you speak with police.
What's at stake. Penalties depend entirely on the charge, from fines and non-convictions in the Local Court to lengthy terms for serious indictable matters. The right advice early is what keeps a matter at the lower end of that range.
How we defend criminal defence
We advise you on your rights, including your right to silence, before you deal with police. We then prepare the matter to its strengths, whether that is a defended hearing, negotiating the charge, or a sentence prepared to protect your record and your liberty.
Frequently asked
Do I have to answer police questions?
Generally you must give your name and address, but beyond that you have a right to silence. Anything you say can be used against you. The safest course is to ask for a lawyer and say nothing else until you have advice.
Do you offer a first consultation?
Yes. Contact City Group Legal to arrange a consultation about your charge. For urgent matters, an arrest or a bail issue, the firm keeps a 24-hour line.
Should I speak to the police?
Get advice first. Beyond providing identifying particulars you are generally not required to answer questions, and what is said in an interview becomes evidence that is very difficult to walk back. Declining to answer until you have spoken to a lawyer is not an admission of anything.
What happens at the first court date?
Usually the first mention is procedural: the charges are formally put, the prosecution brief is ordered, and the matter is adjourned. It is rarely the day a matter is decided, which is why pleading guilty at the first mention, before the brief has been read, can be a costly decision.
Every stone turned. Every avenue pursued.
Whether you’ve been charged, arrested, or are helping a family member, the earliest advice is the most valuable.