Save Izzy! A Family’s Quest to Save Their Dog’s Life
Legal history has been made in Victoria after a family was given permission to appeal their pet pet dog’s death sentence to the High Court of Australia. The Staffordshire terrier, named Izzy, escaped from the family home and bit a...
Do I have to turn up to court if I’m pleading guilty?
Several people have recently informed our firm that they took the advice of police and filled out the back of their little yellow ‘court attendance notice’ (CAN), indicated a plea of guilty, then sent it to court only to later...
Moving Backwards with Bail – Is Making Bail Harder a Good or Bad Thing?
The long-awaited overhaul of the outdated Bail Act 1978 has encountered many bumps in the road towards reform. Since it came into effect on 20 May 2014, the new Bail Act 2013 has sparked fierce debate from all ends of...
Should Prison be a Last Resort for Children?
In yet another devastating blow to Australia’s human rights obligations, the president of the Queensland Children’s Court, Judge Michael Shanahan, has warned that the government is breaching the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child by imposing lengthy...
Sydney Criminal Lawyers®: Three Things that a Criminal Defence Firm should Aim to Achieve
Sydney Criminal Lawyers® commenced operation in 2001. Since then, we have introduced a range of innovations to the criminal law profession, including: ‘Fixed Fees’ that are published on our website, A ‘Senior Lawyer Guarantee’, meaning that clients will be represented...
Keeping Up With Changing Morals: The Role of Law Reform Commissions in Australia
Social values are constantly changing, so it’s only natural that laws should adapt to reflect contemporary values. But have you ever wondered who is responsible for initiating law reform? Of course, the parliament enacts and abolishes laws. But in Australia,...
Parker Warnings, Double Counting and the De Simoni Principles – Know The Law
Sentencing is a challenging exercise which tests the skills of even the most experienced criminal lawyers, magistrates and judges. And when courts are too heavy-handed, an appeal may be the best way to set things straight. The following outlines three...
Top Ten Tips For Representing Yourself When Pleading Guilty to Drink Driving
Drink driving is one of the most common criminal offences before the NSW courts. Many people charged with drink driving will wish to plead guilty and get it over with, but won’t have the financial resources to hire a lawyer....
In trouble with the law over the holidays? Getting bail over the silly season
The courts are generally closed over the holiday season. So what happens if you or a loved-one is accused of a serious crime and police refuse to let you out of custody? Will you have to wait until the holidays...
Is the Tightening of Bail Laws in NSW making the Magistrate’s Role Redundant?
The flipping and flopping of politicians when it comes to bail laws is enough to make you mad. Just keeping abreast of the likely changes in order to decide whether and, if so, when to make a bail application (now...
