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30 Years of combined experience
Australian Criminal Defence are trusted criminal lawyers, with 200+ 5 star Google reviews, who specialise in defending clients charged with criminal offences, Australia-wide.
Our trusted team of experienced and qualified lawyers have a proven track record of achieving exceptional results including having:
Charges withdrawn prior to hearing or trial through negotiations.
Avoiding criminal convictions for serious offences on sentence.
Acquittals at trial and dismissal of charges at hearing.
Award Winning Criminal and Traffic Lawyers featured in
Whether you are charged with a minor offence like drug possession or a serious drug offence like drug supply or importation, our team has had success in all types of drug matters.
As Sydney’s leading specialist drug defence lawyers, our team has an excellent reputation for drug defence law and our Principal Joseph Harb is one of the most respected and well renowed drug defence lawyers.
Contact our expert lawyers for a FREE consultation if you are facing court for a drug offence.
Are you facing a lengthy disqualification on the road? Have you been caught driving whilst disqualified or drink driving?
Our experienced traffic lawyers in traffic have a proven track record of success in traffic and drink driving cases and can assist you in obtaining the best possible outcome.
Contact our team for a FREE consultation and speak to our top-rated drink driving lawyers.
Our criminal lawyers in Sydney are Sydney’s most trusted, sought-after and experienced sexual assault lawyers.
Our sex offence lawyers in Sydney consist of the most respected and leading instructed criminal barristers who form part of our sex offences defence team.
Contact us for a FREE consultation and speak to our principal regarding how best to defend your charges.
Our Principal Lawyer, Joseph Harb has appeared in many high-profile cases.
Our team of experienced criminal lawyers are on call to assist you, no matter the situation. We specialise in all things criminal and traffic law and work diligently and relentlessly to ensure you receive the best possible outcome. If you are charged with a criminal offence, be sure to get in contact with us today!
The team at Australian Criminal Defence handle all types of criminal offences Australia-wide, appearing before the Children, Local, District and Supreme Court.
Our team of lawyers include specialist drug defence lawyers who deal with the most serious of drug matters and have secured unlikely acquittals in drug supply and importation cases. Together with our select team of leading barristers and forensic experts, we draw on decades of criminal law experience to help you defend your charges. And a guilty plea is a last resort.
At Australian Criminal Defence, our defence lawyers give your case our full attention to ensure you are treated fairly under the criminal justice system, and our team has built a reputation of having serious cases dropped prior to the matter reaching a jury trial.
Whether you are facing a minor offence like drink driving or a more serious charge like drug supply or sexual assault, contact the experienced team at Australian Criminal Defence to give you the best chance of successfully defending your charges.
At Australian Criminal Defence a guilty plea is a last resort.
Why choose Australian Criminal Defence?
If you are stressing about your criminal charges and need the best criminal lawyers working on your side, we are here to help!
We specialise in criminal law and work diligently and relentlessly to ensure you receive the best possible outcome. If you are charged with a criminal offence, be sure to get in contact with us today!
Australian Criminal Defence has some of the best Sydney criminal lawyers who are recognised for their fierce and unrelenting criminal defence advocacy.
We guarantee you will be represented in court by a specialist criminal defence lawyer with real and considerable courtroom experience and with a minimum 10 years criminal law experience
You will be provided with the contact number of the lawyer handling your matter. Our lawyers will handle your matter with care, compassion and professionalism.
Our team has achieved consistent success in helping our clients obtain the best possible outcome in their matter. Our team has a proven track record in having charges withdrawn prior to trial.
Exceptional service from Joseph! He took on my case with a sense of urgency and resolved it quickly, exceeding my expectations. His expertise, communication, and empathy made a stressful situation manageable. His fees are affordable without compromising on quality. Joseph truly cares about his clients and it shows in his work. If you're looking for a trustworthy, efficient, and compassionate lawyer who delivers results, I would highly recommend Joseph. Thank you so much again !!!
Joseph and his team were extremely professional and delightful to work with. Their fees were reasonable compared to most of the other firms i received quotes from. Joseph was very good at court and got me the result I was after. Thank you to Joseph and Australian Criminal Defence.
I was very sceptical about lawyers and was dreading the experience. Joseph was referred to me by a friend, and he made the whole experience a positive one. He was personable, down to earth and understood my needs well and I really felt like he had my best interests in mind. It in know way felt like a reluctant business transaction. I felt safe and stress free with Joseph. Highly recommended.
Great lawyer and services had a very tough case and unusual joeseph helped me through everything very professional and definitely knows what's his doing 10/10
Australian ciminal defence are by far the best criminal defence lawyers out there. I spoke to heaps of other lawyers before I chose them. Joseph was by far the most genuine and honest lawyer and their fees are very reasonable compared to most of the other quotes I got from the internet.
The best person to help you in dark time. Charming, polite, very friendly and understandable. And also know every law and will do everything for best results. He really care about u, as a friend. Very very professional, confident, polite , charming and won't let u down. Ask for help. U will be taken care of as a friend.
I am grateful for Australian Criminal defence. Rob and Joseph were excellent lawyers. They both worked on my matter. I was really happy with my outcome. Their fees were affordable. They did not charge me above what I was quoted at my first meeting even though I know they did so much more work than was originally anticipated. I never had to call them because they would always call me when their was updates in my case. I highly recommend this team of lawyers. Experienced and professional.
Joseph is excellent at his job and very professional. He has made my experience with minimal stress with best outcome. Highly recommend his service! 5 ⭐️
Joe has been very helpful with providing me with advice with a legal issue I needed assistance with. Been able to get in contact with him when I needed, wasn’t trying to take as much money from me like how other legal professionals would, his main aim was to provide the best legal service he could. I would highly recommend him.
Joseph harb showed a deep understanding of my personal situation and demonstrated empathy throughout the legal process. This helped me a great deal to get through this difficult time. Thank you Joseph harb for all your hard work and appreciation highly recommend
Been with Joseph multiple timesAlways very very professionalOn multiple occasions his gotten me better results than expectedOutstanding lawyer, have referred him to multiple friends and they have also been pleased with the outcomeDefinitely recommend
Joseph is the best lawyer I’ve experienced with! He went through everything with me when it comes to the process thoroughly. Day of the court he settled it quickly with his professionalism. Affordable for all situations. Highly recommend him
Thank you to Joseph Harb for your service. His costs are affordable and he cares about his clients. Thank you again and I am very happy with your professionalism and your knowledge of the law and procedures at court. I got the result I wanted.
Thank you to Joseph for the best outcome I could have hoped for. Joseph took me through the whole court process with professionalism and was very good at he what he does at every step of the way. Highly recommend Joseph Harb.
Joseph is an experienced and professional criminal defence attorney who provided me with a seamlessly stress free experience through some hard times along with some personal guidance as a friend. Joseph always provided clarity on each matter and we always left the court room with the best results. Couldn’t recommend him enough, if you need a knowledgeable lawyer definitely give Joseph a call. Prices are also very reasonable.
I can't express enough gratitude for the exceptional legal representation provided by Joseph Harb. From the initial consultation to the resolution of my case, his expertise, professionalism, and dedication was evident. He navigated the complexities of my situation with confidence, keeping me informed every step of the way. The outcome exceeded my expectations, and I wholeheartedly recommend Joseph to anyone seeking a top-notch criminal lawyer. Thank you for your outstanding service!
Joseph is exceptional! His expertise, professionalism, and dedication are top-notch. They provided clear and efficient legal support, promptly addressed my concerns, and delivered excellent results, all at a fair cost. I highly recommend Joseph for anyone in need of reliable legal representation.
Our team of trusted and experienced criminal lawyers are on call to assist you. Get in touch with us now
You should get advice from an experienced criminal lawyer, make sure you know when your first court date is and organise for your lawyer to be there on your behalf.
If you get arrested the police will take you to a police station. They will often offer you the chance to take part in a formal interview, and then they will determine whether you should be released, granted bail, or refused bail. If bail is refused, you will be put before a magistrate, and you may apply bail.
It is extremely important you engage a criminal lawyer, whether you have been charged with a minor offence or a serious offence. The impacts of a conviction or jail sentence can be long-lasting and once the decision is made, there aren’t many ways to rectify the situation.
Police have power to search your house in certain instances. The most common way a police officer may search your house is if they have a search warrant granted by a local court magistrate. They may also enter private property (including a house) in the following circumstances:
A person has suffered significant physical injury or there is imminent danger of such, and it is necessary to enter the premises immediately to prevent further significant physical injury.
The body of a person who has died, other than as a result of an offence, is on the premises, and there is no occupier to consent to entry.
A breach of the peace is being or is likely to be committed, and it is necessary to enter the property to end or prevent the breach of peace.
There are three different types of offences, summary offences, table offences and strictly indicatable offences. Summary offences can only be dealt with in the local court, summary offences are usually dealt with in the Local Court unless the prosecutor or the defendant seeks to have it heard in the district court, and strictly indictable offences are offences that are so serious that they must be heard in the District or Supreme Court. The difference is extremely important as the maximum penalty a local court can impose for an offence is two years imprisonment which is much less than the District or Supreme Court.
You should bring a copy of your fact sheet, a copy of your bail conditions and a copy of your criminal record if you have it. If you wish to bring supporting evidence to verify your version, that may also be a good idea. This can include CCTV footage, photos, etc.
The overall cost of your case will depend on the complexity of your case and whether you wish to plead guilty or not guilty. If you wish to receive a quote for your matter, feel free to reach out to our team of experienced criminal lawyers on 0415 932 866.
It is extremely important to choose a reliable and knowledgeable criminal lawyer. You can search them up on Google to see what reviews they have and significant results they have achieved in the past, and you may wish to speak with them. Some firms offer a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case.
No, it is never advisable to give a police interview, especially without receiving legal advice and discussing your options with an experienced criminal lawyer..
Bail is a determination by either the police or the court that a person should be released with or without conditions while their matter is determined. Bail is a very important and complex area of the criminal process, and if you are required to apply to the court for bail it is crucial that you speak with a criminal lawyer. Generally speaking, a person has two opportunities for bail: the first is in the Local Court of New South Wales and the Second is in the Supreme Court of New South Wales; very rarely is a person able to make multiple applications for bail in the same court.
You have a right to decline to take part in an identification parade. No matter what police tell you, there is no obligation to take part in an identification parade. You should not volunteer to take part in an identification parade, and if police ask, it is often in your best interest to politely refuse. The police may still use photos of you in an identification parade; however, there are significant restraints on the types of photos that can be used.
The case will be listed for what is called a ‘mention’. Often you will be required to enter a plea, however if you are yet to get legal advice and wish to speak with a criminal lawyer you may ask the magistrate for a two-week adjournment so you can get legal advice. It is important that you do so before entering any pleas of guilty or not guilty.
Possess prohibited drug is one of the most commonly charged offences in the criminal justice system. A person can be charged with possession if the drug was in the persons custody or control and the person knew they had custody or control of the prohibited drug.
Supply includes the sale, distribution, agreement to supply, offering to supply, having in possession for the purposes of supply, sending, forwarding, delivering or receiving for supply or authorising, directing, causing, suffering, permitting or attempting to supply of a prohibited drug. Supply can also include possession of a certain quantity of a drug; this is referred to as ‘deemed’ supply.
Drug importation is an extremely serious offence, drug importation involves intentionally bringing a substance into Australia and that substance is listed as a border-controlled drug. Depending on the amount of drugs involved, a person can be subject to a maximum penalty of imprisonment for life if found guilty.
It is possible to avoid a conviction for a drug offence, even if you plead guilty. Relevant factors to determining whether you are likely to receive a conviction involve the number of drugs found on you, the type of drug found on you, whether you have been found guilty of a drug offence previously, any mitigating circumstances around your offending as well as your evident remorse and prospects of rehabilitation. Our lawyers are renowned for getting extremely unlikely results, often achieving non-convictions for serious drug matters.
A criminal conviction will appear on a person’s criminal record unless that conviction is ‘spent’. A conviction will be spent after the expiry of the bond if the person received a conditional release order without conviction; it will also be spent after a period of ten years when a person is convicted of certain offences and does not commit further offences during that period. Certain offences, such as where a prison sentence of more than six months is imposed, and certain sexual offences cannot be spent.
If you are represented by a lawyer, you won’t have to speak in court unless you are giving evidence. Your lawyer will speak on your behalf and make the required applications at the appropriate times.
If you ever find yourself in a case where there may be a criminal charge against you, the chances are that you are going to be scared for your life. There are so many different scenarios that could lead to that, and you need to find someone who has experience dealing with your specific situation. For example, you cannot expect someone who deals with DUI cases regularly to work well on a sexual assault case. When you are shortlisting, be sure to ask for relevant experience and see if the Sydney criminal lawyer you are considering has what you need.
Beyond a reasonable doubt is the standard of proof in criminal matters in New South Wales. Accused persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in all jurisdictions in Australia.
In New South Wales, Australia, reasonable doubt is a legal standard of proof that is used in criminal trials. It requires the prosecution to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused person committed the crime charged. This standard of proof is designed to ensure that innocent people are not convicted of crimes they did not commit.
Reasonable doubt is not the same as absolute certainty. The prosecution does not have to prove the accused person’s guilt beyond all possible doubt. However, the prosecution must prove the accused person’s guilt to such a degree that there is no reasonable doubt about their guilt. In determining whether there is reasonable doubt about the accused person’s guilt, the jury must consider all of the evidence that has been presented in court. The jury must also consider any reasonable inferences that can be drawn from the evidence. If the jury has any reasonable doubt about the accused person’s guilt, then they must find the accused person not guilty.
The standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt is a fundamental principle of the Australian criminal justice system. It ensures that innocent people are not convicted of crimes they did not commit and that the guilty are held accountable for their crimes.
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