CRIMINAL LAWYER
Criminal lawyer Brisbane, Gold Coast, Ipswich Sunshine Coast.
Have you been charged with a criminal offence? It is critical that you seek urgent legal advice to ensure your best interests are protected. Facing criminal charges can be overwhelming We understand the weight that legal troubles bear on your life, and our mission is to alleviate your stress, empower you with knowledge, and fiercely safeguard your rights.
We provide legal representation for all criminal offences and have a proven track record for delivering better results to our clients. Below is a list of some of the more common offences people are charged with in Queensland. For a full list of criminal offences and defences please refer to the Criminal Code.
Please read the 10 Reasons to Choose Watling Roche Lawyers below to see why we are not your typical law firm and why clients trust our firm to handle their cases.
At Watling Roche Lawyers we are here to help you in difficult times and offer a FREE CONSULTATION so you have nothing to lose to find out the best way forward.
CALL, SMS or send your free online enquiry whenever you need us, we are available 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Free Enquiry. Ask a Lawyer!
Drug offences
Possession of utensils or anything used in connection with a drug offence
Possession of a dangerous drug
Producing dangerous drugs
Supplying a dangerous drug
Trafficking in a dangerous drug
Dishonesty offences
Break and enter
Burglary
Fraud
Receiving tainted property
Robbery
Stealing
Unlawful use of motor vehicle
Sexual offences
Child exploitation material
Indecent acts
Indecent treatment of a child
Attempt to commit rape
Assault with intent to commit rape
Rape
Sexual assault
WE DELIVER BETTER RESULTS
Watling Roche Lawyers has a proven track record of achieving outstanding results for our clients.
We work day and night to find the best legal path forward for each individual case. We will come up with a strategy that works for you and work tirelessly to have your charges dropped or downgraded. If there is a loop-hole we will find it!
Our firm is closely aligned with the best barristers in Queensland who have outstanding track record of winning cases in the Magistrates, District and Supreme Courts.
If any of our clients choose to plead guilty we regularly achieve results of no conviction recorded and not further punished.
We are not in the business of racking up expensive legal fees and surprising our clients at the end of their case. Too often law firms do not disclose the full costs involved of their representation and their clients get a rude awakening when it comes to the end of their case and a legal bill that is well beyond what they expected or could afford.
We understand that legal representation is expensive so it is our priority to be up front about the costs involved and fix a fee that you can afford. At Watling Roche Lawyers there will be no hidden fees and no nasty surprises when it comes to paying your legal fees.
A lot of law firms will not answer any of your questions until you have put money in their bank account. They will charge you just to find out whether you need legal representation.
For all matters we offer a free first consultation with a lawyer before you commit to anything. You do not need to spend a thing before deciding whether to engage a lawyer to represent you.
From Gympie down to the Gold Coast, a lawyer will attend most courts in Queensland.
We work around the clock to ensure our clients are happy with our services. For our firm, making money is all well and good but if it comes at the expense of client satisfaction we do not want a bar of it.
Watling Roche Lawyers is dedicated to our clients first and foremost. If you are not happy we are not happy. We genuinely care about you as our client and will bend over backwards until you are satisfied with our representation.
Not many firms are willing to go the extra distance and commit to their clients 24 hours, 7 days a week. We understand that your legal questions need urgent answers and that is why you can contact our firm at any time day or night.
Our principal lawyer, Ryan Roche has developed and established relationships with all of the right people when it comes to handling court matters. No matter what the case is, at the end of the day it is people we are dealing with, whether it be the police, prosecutors, barristers, magistrates or judges. It is vital that you engage a lawyer that is familiar with the people involved in your type of matter i.e. has established relationships with the best barristers to defend you, the prosecutors who will be against you and the magistrates or judges that will decide your fate.
We have 100% success rate with work licence and special hardship order applications. If we apply for a work licence or special hardship order on your behalf and you are not successful we will refund you in full!
There are lawyers who will take on your case even though they know your chances of winning are extremely low. For them, you are just a number with a $ sign in front of it.
We pride ourselves on our honesty and we will do our very best to keep your costs down. If your chances of winning are low we will tell you so that you do not waste money with false hope. We are here to change the stigma on lawyers who we know have a reputation for being money-hungry vultures. That is not how we operate and it is about time people can find a lawyer they can trust.
It is never too late to contact our firm. We are prepared to drop everything to make sure you are well advised before finalising your court matter. Even if it is the day before or the day of court do not hesitate to contact us as we are here for you whenever you need us.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
No. A police officer can stop and search your car and anyone in it, if they reasonably suspect that there is something in the vehicle such as:
- a weapon
- a dangerous drug
- stolen property
- tools to break into houses or cars
- something that you plan to use to hurt yourself or somebody else
- evidence that someone has committed an indictable offence (and this evidence may be hidden or destroyed).
A police officer can also stop and search a vehicle:
- to arrest someone in the vehicle
- if they reasonably suspect the vehicle is being used unlawfully
- if they reasonably suspect that the vehicle is being used by or is in the possession of a participant in a criminal organisation.
No. The police can enter and search your home without a warrant to:
- prevent domestic violence
- investigate traffic offences
- catch someone who has escaped from prison or from being arrested
- search for evidence if they reasonably suspect there is evidence that may otherwise be hidden or destroyed
- arrest someone
- reach a crime scene.
Yes. A police officer can search you but only if they reasonably suspect you may have:
- a weapon
- a dangerous drug
- stolen property
- tools to break into houses or cars
- something that you plan to use to hurt yourself or somebody else
- evidence that someone has committed an indictable offence (and this evidence may be hidden or destroyed).
A police officer can also stop and search you if they reasonably suspect you are in a criminal organisation.
If you have been asked by police to give an interview you should seek legal advice immediately. Anything that you do say to a police officer can be used in evidence against you. You may feel like you must talk to the police to cooperate but keep in mind “you have the right to remain silent” which means it is your legal right not to answer any questions. If you give an interview and say the wrong thing it could lead to you being arrested or charged.
Whether you will go to jail or not depends on a number of considerations i.e. the evidence against you, previous criminal/traffic history and seriousness of the offending etc.
A recent research report has found that the amount of jail sentences has increased in Queensland over a 14 year period from 2005-2019. In some courts, an actual jail sentence has been the most common type of penalty with up to 36.2 % of cases resulting in the defendant going to jail.
Further research has found that the rate of imprisonment in Queensland—the number of prisoners per head of population—has increased by 44 per cent between 2012 and 2018.
No matter what the charge is it is important that you seek legal advice before pleading guilty or not guilty in court as a potential jail sentence is not something to take lightly.
The first court date is called the first mention and you will usually need to appear in the local Magistrates Court.
- The depositions clerk calls you and then calls ‘all rise’ as the magistrate enters and sits at the bench.
- The magistrate stands and reads out the charges against you.
- The magistrates asks you how you plead—guilty or not guilty.
- Either you or your defence lawyer stands and responds.
- For simple offences:
- You or your lawyer may ask for an adjournment for more time to consider a plea and set a date.
- You may plead guilty and the magistrate listens to submissions or information presented, then decides on a penalty.
- You may plead not guilty to a simple offence and the magistrate sets a summary hearing. (The magistrate may set other ‘mentions’ before the summary hearing to confirm each party is prepared.)
- For indictable offences:
- You may plead guilty to a minor indictable offence and the magistrate either decides the penalty then or sets a date for a sentence hearing.
- For other indictable offences, the magistrate sets a committal hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to send the defendant to trial in the Supreme or District Court.