Criminal
Croftfield Law skilled and experienced in criminal cases of many kinds.
If you, a family member or friend have been arrested, detained or charged by the police, you need a good lawyer. This can be a very stressful situation especially if you have never dealt with the Police or if your liberty is at stake.
If you’re in trouble, you’ll want us on your side.
To get the very best result, you need a lawyer you can trust, who understands what you need and help you take control to get your life back on track. We have helped our clients put together plans to get their life back on track.
There may be no way to avoid your charges – you simply have to face them head on and get through them.
Our Approach
We are both pragmatic and strategic in our approach so we know the best way through the system for you. With many choices and options, we will guide the way to help you make the right choice.
If you want to work with someone who explains things in a way you can understand and help you to make the decisions that are right for you, then you have come to the right place.
We will will explain all the processes to you and what the advantages or disadvantages of different options that you may face when being charged or when appearing in court. These are very important decisions that can heavily influence the outcome in your case.
It is important that you have an experienced lawyer who will give you the best advice right from the start to give you the best chances of success. You need a lawyer that is committed to achieving the outcomes you need.
It is about your life — Your family — Your job — Your future.
Languages
Other than English, if needed, we can also communicate in Mandarin, Cantonese and Korean.
We can help you with
Croftfield’s criminal defence lawyers have experience in a variety of cases in law and can represent clients on a range of criminal charges including:
- Drink Driving/Traffic Offences
- Violence cases
- Drugs cases
- Sexual cases
These cases may involve processes around police station attendances, court appearances, bail applications, judge alone and jury trials, sentencing, discharges without conviction, appeals. Our experienced team have vast experience in the District court, High Court, and Court of Appeal.
We are meticulous and pragmatic in our approach are known to achieve the best outcome for a client.
Myth #1 I am required to answer questions
You are only required to provide your name, address and date of birth to the police……..any further question no matter how simple or straightforward the question may have a huge negative impact further down the track. Your answers will be used against you not for you. Ask to speak to one of our lawyers immediately and remain silent.
Myth # 2 I am not making a statement I am just answering a few questions
Wrong. Anything that comes out of your mouth is a statement will be used against you if it helps the police case. It does not matter if the answer is given in a formal interview or not. For example, what is said in a “friendly chit-chat” in a police car on the way to the station is as much a statement as an answer given in a formal interview back at the police station.
Myth # 3 I have nothing to hide – might as well answer questions or give a DNA sample
Wrong. The police may see it differently. They might see you as a possible suspect. Remember, innocent people do get convicted. Better to play it safe, remain silent, answer no questions, give no samples and call one of our team immediately.
Myth # 4 If I co-operate I will be less likely to be charged
Wrong. The police are after evidence. Co-operation means there will be more to be used against you. Stop. Call one of our team immediately.
Myth # 5 All lawyers are the same
Wrong. Just like any profession, there are great lawyers and average lawyers. You may be stuck with a lawyer for a very long time, so its best to choose one that you get along with and believe can help you the most in the long run. Trust your instincts when picking a lawyer, as more often than not your gut feeling can often prove most effective in these sort of decisions.
Myth # 6 A lawyer will be too expensive
The cost of a lawyer should not be your first consideration – consider how much it could cost you if you were convicted. It is often hard to estimate how much a lawyer will charge, as it all depends on what the lawyer has to deal with throughout the duration of the case. To avoid being taken advantage of, a lawyer should charge approximately between $2,000 and $10,000 for a trial that doesn’t require a jury depending on the work required. For a trial that requires the input of a jury, the charges can be between $8,000 and $40,000, again depending on the amount of work required.
Myth # 7 I am worried about going to jail – theres no way around this
If this is your first offence, there is a very low chance that you would be sent to jail. An end sentence of under three years would most likely result in home detention whereas a sentence over three years will possibly result in jail time.
