Your next step can change the outcome. Speak with our experienced criminal lawyers first.
- Free Initial Consultation
- Fixed Fee Options Available
- Award Winning Criminal Lawyers
- 30+ Years Combined Experience
What you pay depends on the type of charge, the volume and strength of the evidence, the stage the matter has reached, and whether it is expected to resolve before or at a hearing. Fixed fees apply to most Local Court stages, and staged pricing is used for defended hearings, subpoenas, expert evidence, and associated disbursements.
A free consultation covers scope, what is included, the process, expected timeframes, and what comes next. Payment plans may be available to eligible clients. Where genuine hardship exists, reduced-fee or limited pro bono assistance may be assessed subject to availability.
Our Bankstown assault defence team builds every case on evidence. We review police procedure for flaws, obtain CCTV footage, assess witness reliability, examine injury records, and address identification issues before deciding on the best approach.
A client faced 13 domestic violence-related charges, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, intimidation, and property damage. The prosecution relied heavily on the complainant’s version of events. Following detailed preparation and a three-day defended hearing, we identified significant inconsistencies in the evidence. Through targeted cross-examination, we demonstrated that the allegations were unreliable. The magistrate ultimately rejected the complainant’s account and found the client not guilty on all charges, avoiding a conviction and preserving their record.
The client faced an assault charge after a physical confrontation in a shopping centre carpark. He maintained that he acted to protect himself. We reviewed the evidence, identified inconsistencies and showed that the prosecution could not disprove self-defence beyond reasonable doubt. The court accepted our submissions, found the client not guilty and avoided a criminal conviction.
The client was charged with affray after an incident at a pub. The charge carried a real risk of conviction and professional consequences. We reviewed the brief and identified weaknesses in CCTV coverage, witness evidence and proof of the legal elements. After targeted negotiations, the prosecution withdrew the charge, and the client avoided conviction.
Assault allegations carry consequences for employment, family arrangements, professional licences, and reputation that can materialise before any final decision is made. We manage each stage with practical, clear advice.
We establish your court date, go through your bail conditions and any non-contact restrictions, identify the police allegations, and flag anything requiring immediate action. We also explain your right to silence and tell you what conduct you should avoid before court.
We go through your Court Attendance Notice, police facts sheet, bail papers, and available evidence. We identify the most pressing issues, consider possible defences, and determine what documents are needed to protect your position.
We examine statements, body-worn video, CCTV, medical records, emergency-call audio, screenshots, timing evidence, and any identification issues. This analysis informs our assessment of self-defence, consent, reliability concerns, and negotiation prospects.
We advise on the right course: a guilty plea, representations to police, a request for withdrawal or charge amendment, negotiation of agreed facts, or a defended hearing. Where mitigation material or character evidence would help, we assist in compiling it.
We appear at every court event, engage the prosecutor where it is productive, present your material clearly, and make focused submissions on the issues before the magistrate. For defended hearings, we handle subpoenas, witness preparation, and cross-examination strategy.
Once the matter concludes, we explain the orders made, including any appeal rights, changes to bail or conditions, ADVO implications, and compliance requirements, and make sure you know exactly what avoiding further legal risk looks like going forward.
Assault allegations carry consequences for employment, family arrangements, professional licences, and reputation that can materialise before any final decision is made. We manage each stage with practical, clear advice.
Step1
We establish your court date, go through your bail conditions and any non-contact restrictions, identify the police allegations, and flag anything requiring immediate action. We also explain your right to silence and tell you what conduct you should avoid before court.
Step2
We go through your Court Attendance Notice, police facts sheet, bail papers, and available evidence. We identify the most pressing issues, consider possible defences, and determine what documents are needed to protect your position.
Step3
We examine statements, body-worn video, CCTV, medical records, emergency-call audio, screenshots, timing evidence, and any identification issues. This analysis informs our assessment of self-defence, consent, reliability concerns, and negotiation prospects.
Step4
We advise on the right course: a guilty plea, representations to police, a request for withdrawal or charge amendment, negotiation of agreed facts, or a defended hearing. Where mitigation material or character evidence would help, we assist in compiling it.
Step5
We appear at every court event, engage the prosecutor where it is productive, present your material clearly, and make focused submissions on the issues before the magistrate. For defended hearings, we handle subpoenas, witness preparation, and cross-examination strategy.
Step6
Once the matter concludes, we explain the orders made, including any appeal rights, changes to bail or conditions, ADVO implications, and compliance requirements, and make sure you know exactly what avoiding further legal risk looks like going forward.
Assault offences in NSW span a wide range, from common assault under section 61 of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) through to assault occasioning actual bodily harm under section 59 and more serious grievous bodily harm charges. Assault involves intentionally or recklessly causing another person to apprehend immediate and unlawful physical contact; battery is the actual application of unlawful force. Self-defence is defined by section 418 of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW).
Penalty ranges depend on the specific charge, the nature and extent of any injuries, the intent involved, the defendant’s prior record, the plea entered, and what mitigation is available. Outcomes can include non-conviction orders, fines, community-based orders, intensive correction orders, and imprisonment in the most serious matters.
Yes, early local advice makes a real difference. Understanding the charge, bail conditions, available evidence, and how the court process works gives you the foundation to manage the matter properly. A Bankstown lawyer prepares your material, negotiates where there is a sound basis to do so, and steers you away from decisions that could weaken your position before the first court date.
You will typically receive a Court Attendance Notice and may have bail conditions attached. Your solicitor reviews the evidence, requests full disclosure from police, assesses any available defences, and advises on whether to negotiate, plead guilty, seek withdrawal, or take the matter to a defended hearing.
No, and any lawyer who suggests they can is not being honest with you. The outcome depends on the evidence, the specific charge, the injuries involved, your history, and the magistrate’s decision. Thorough preparation gives your matter the best available chance by identifying weaknesses in the prosecution case, presenting your mitigation fully, and arguing for the best result the law allows.