Criminal defence · Perth & Western Australia

Charged in Western Australia? Your next move matters most.

Criminal defence across every Western Australian court — from the Perth Magistrates Court through to the District Court, Supreme Court, and High Court of Australia. Speak to a lawyer today. The earlier you get advice, the more options you have.

Call 1300 331 331 — Free Consultation Send an enquiry

Free first consultation · Available 24/7 · Exclusively criminal law

Every court in Western Australia.

Perth Magistrates Court District Court of WA Supreme Court of WA Children’s Court of WA Drug Court of WA High Court of Australia

Who we are

Criminal defence in Western Australia. Every court. Every charge.

A criminal charge in Western Australia sets a process in motion governed by some of the most complex legislation in Australia — the Criminal Code Act Compilation Act 1913 (WA), the Criminal Investigation Act 2006 (WA), the Misuse of Drugs Act 1981 (WA), the Restraining Orders Act 1997 (WA), and the Road Traffic Administration Act 2008 (WA) together create a legal framework that demands specialist knowledge and daily courtroom experience to navigate effectively.

We practice exclusively in criminal law. We appear regularly in the Magistrates Court, District Court, Supreme Court, Children’s Court, and Drug Court across Perth and throughout regional Western Australia — from Fremantle and Joondalup through to Broome, Kalgoorlie, and Karratha. We have also been involved in High Court of Australia appeals. Criminal defence is all we do.

Practice areas

The charges we defend

Our lawyers defend the full range of criminal offences across all Western Australian jurisdictions. Beyond charges at trial, we handle bail applications, appeals, and extraordinary licence applications.

Drug Offences

Possession, supply, cultivation, and trafficking under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1981 (WA). A trafficking declaration triggers permanent asset confiscation under the Criminal Property Confiscation Act — including the family home.

Assault & Violence

Common assault through grievous bodily harm and offences endangering life under the Criminal Code. Mandatory sentencing applies to certain attacks on public officers. Self-defence is assessed objectively on the circumstances.

Family Violence & FVROs

Family Violence Restraining Orders, breaches, and the criminal charges that arise alongside them. Coercive conduct, stalking, financial control, and technological abuse are all captured — without any physical act required.

Sexual Offences

The most severe penalties and mandatory registration consequences in the WA system. Sexual penetration without consent carries life imprisonment in aggravated circumstances. Committal stage decisions shape every trial that follows.

Drink & Drug Driving

BAC tier offences, roadside disqualifications, and extraordinary licence applications. A high-range first offence means a mandatory ten-month disqualification. A subsequent high-range offence can mean lifetime disqualification.

Fraud & White Collar

State and Commonwealth fraud — ASIC, ATO, and ACCC matters. ASIC commenced 132 new investigations in the first six months of 2025 alone. These prosecutions require methodical legal and forensic accounting analysis.

Charged or being investigated in Western Australia? Get advice before you respond to police.

What you say in the first hours shapes every decision that follows — speak with a lawyer first.

Call 1300 331 331

The Western Australian court system

Which court hears your matter determines the stakes.

Understanding which court hears your matter shapes every strategic decision — from whether to contest at committal, to how bail is argued, to what sentence an offence can attract.

Entry point — all criminal proceedings

Magistrates Court of WA

Registries across the state — Perth, Fremantle, Joondalup, Armadale, Midland, Rockingham, Mandurah, and circuit sittings in Albany, Broome, Bunbury, Carnarvon, Derby, Esperance, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Kununurra, and South Hedland. Every criminal charge begins here. Criminal case lodgements reached 104,002 in 2024–25 — up 12% on the prior year.

Serious indictable matters

District Court of WA

Sits at 500 Hay Street, Perth, with circuit sittings across regional WA. Hears serious criminal offences including serious assault, sexual assault, serious fraud, burglary, and drug offences at the district court threshold. Trials heard by a judge, with jury for contested matters. Finalised 405 criminal trials in 2024–25.

Apex trial & appeal court

Supreme Court of WA

Hears the most serious matters — murder, manslaughter, and offences carrying life imprisonment — and serves as the Court of Appeal. In Western Australia, all criminal appeals from the Magistrates Court proceed directly to the Supreme Court. Decisions bind all lower courts.

Youth justice

Children’s Court of WA

Criminal matters involving young people aged 10 to 17. Proceedings focus on rehabilitation and the best interests of the child, but the consequences of a finding of guilt — particularly for serious offences — can be significant and long-lasting. Strategic representation from the outset is as important here as in any adult matter.

Specialist therapeutic court

Drug Court of WA

Operating as a division of the District Court, the Drug Court offers an intensive supervision and treatment program as an alternative to imprisonment for accused persons whose offending is driven by serious drug dependency. Eligibility criteria are strict. Strategic advice about whether to pursue this pathway is essential.

Final court of appeal

High Court of Australia

The final court of appeal for all Australian courts, including the Supreme Court of WA. High Court appeals require special leave and are confined to matters of law of public importance. Our lawyers have been involved in High Court appeals — experience that shapes how we analyse legal issues at every stage of a matter from the outset.

Why clients choose us

Specialist criminal defence — nothing else.

A firm that practises exclusively in criminal law brings a depth of focus that general legal practices cannot match. Our lawyers appear across the Magistrates Court, District Court, Supreme Court, Children’s Court and Drug Court every day, and give honest, strategic advice from day one — before any decision is made that narrows your options. Whatever the charge, the approach is the same: clear advice from the first conversation, thorough preparation throughout, and determined representation at every stage. Your first conference is free and completely confidential.

24/7

Available, day or night

Free

First consultation

All

WA courts & circuit

51k

WA assault offences recorded — 2024

When police contact you

Know your rights before you speak.

Western Australia’s Criminal Investigation Act 2006 governs police investigative powers. The right to silence — preserved under the Evidence Act 1906 (WA) and the common law — is real and meaningful.

You are not required to answer police questions

RightBeyond providing your name, address, and date of birth, you are not obliged to answer. Before interviewing you, police must caution that anything you say may be used as evidence. Under section 570D of the Criminal Code, admissions for serious offences are generally not admissible unless video-recorded — police interviews in WA are conducted on video.

Get advice before any interview

CriticalDo not attend a police interview without first speaking with a criminal defence lawyer. What you say in the first hours shapes every decision that follows — including what defences are available to you. Call 1300 331 331 before you say anything to police.

Bail — the first critical battle

Bail ActUnder the Bail Act 1982 (WA), courts consider risk of failing to appear, risk of reoffending, and risk to community safety. A poorly prepared bail application can result in weeks or months in custody. Preparing compelling surety, accommodation, and conditions before standing before the court is essential.

Legal resources

Understand the WA system before your first court date.

We publish free, detailed guides on Western Australian criminal law — written for people who have been charged, not for other lawyers.