We represented a university student charged with possessing a small amount of cocaine at a music event. A conviction would have had significant consequences for his future employment prospects, travel plans, and professional opportunities.

The client accepted responsibility at an early stage. We guided him through gathering strong subjective material, including character references, academic records, and evidence of his otherwise positive behaviour and future aspirations. He also undertook counselling to demonstrate insight and steps towards harm minimisation.

At sentence, we submitted that the offence was an isolated incident, entirely out of character, and that the long-term impact of a conviction would be disproportionate to the conduct. The Court accepted these submissions and determined that a conviction was not warranted.

The matter was finalised without a recorded conviction.

Outcome: No conviction recorded.