Criminal Lawyers In Bankstown

The client was charged with reckless grievous bodily harm and affray following a fight outside a Sydney nightclub. Injuries alleged included a broken cheekbone, jaw, and nose requiring surgery. We conducted detailed analysis of CCTV and witness evidence and reconstructed a precise timeline. Cross-examination exposed inconsistencies in the prosecution case and supported a clear self-defence argument. The court found the prosecution could not disprove self-defence beyond reasonable doubt. All charges were dismissed. The client avoided imprisonment and retained employment, travel rights, and a clear criminal record.

Our client faced 13 criminal charges including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, stalking or intimidation, property damage, and distributing an intimate image. We prepared the matter for a defended hearing, analysing statements, recordings, and procedural compliance. During cross-examination, significant inconsistencies emerged between versions of events and supporting material. The magistrate was not satisfied beyond reasonable doubt as to the reliability of the complainant’s evidence. All charges were dismissed. The client avoided serious criminal convictions and the substantial employment, reputational, and custodial consequences attached to these offences.

There is no single maximum income figure because Legal Aid NSW applies both a means test and a merit test, and the settings can change over time. Eligibility can be influenced by your weekly income, savings, assets, dependants, rent or mortgage commitments, and other necessary living costs. The type and seriousness of the charge also matters, including whether there is a real risk of imprisonment and whether it is a Local Court matter or likely to progress to a higher court. Criminal lawyers Bankstown can check the current criteria, help you gather supporting documents, and lodge the application promptly so funding options are clarified before key court dates. If a grant is approved, a contribution, conditions, or later reassessment may apply depending on your circumstances.

Costs depend on the charge, the complexity of the evidence, the number of court dates, and whether the matter resolves by plea or proceeds to a defended hearing. Many mentions, negotiations, pleas, and straightforward sentencing work can be offered on fixed fees because the steps are predictable. Defended hearings and more complex matters are usually priced in stages linked to milestones such as reviewing the police brief, conference preparation, witness statements, subpoenas, instructions for hearing, and final submissions. Disbursements may include interpreter bookings, transcript requests, expert reports, and sometimes counsel fees if a barrister is briefed for a contested hearing. Criminal lawyers Bankstown should confirm what is included in writing, explain what might trigger extra work, and give practical budgeting guidance so you can make decisions early and avoid avoidable adjournments.

If you cannot afford representation, you should consider applying for Legal Aid NSW as early as possible and ask about duty lawyer assistance at court for urgent guidance on the day. Duty lawyers can often provide short advice and help with immediate steps, but ongoing representation usually depends on eligibility and available resources. Criminal lawyers Bankstown can quickly assess your risk profile, identify the most urgent issues, and discuss options such as payment plans, staged work, or limited-scope assistance focused on the highest impact tasks. Examples include bail preparation, negotiating a withdrawal or downgrade, drafting a sentencing bundle, or managing strict AVO and bail conditions to reduce breach risk. Bring paperwork to your first appointment, including your charge sheet, bail paperwork, any AVO documents, and any police facts, so advice is accurate from the first listing.