Criminal law · Melbourne, VIC
Verified Australian criminal lawyers practising in Melbourne and surrounding suburbs. Practising certificates checked against the VIC register. Fees published. Methodology transparent.
Criminal law in Australia is state-based with significant procedural variation — each state has its own Crimes Act or Criminal Code plus sentencing statute. Matters proceed through the Local/Magistrates Court for summary offences and through the District/County or Supreme Court for indictable offences. Early engagement of a criminal lawyer materially affects outcomes, particularly for sentencing.
Melbourne is the second-largest legal market in Australia with substantial commercial and equity practices. The Supreme Court of Victoria, Federal Court (Melbourne Registry), and Federal Circuit and Family Court (Melbourne Registry) all sit here. The Law Institute of Victoria regulates solicitors; the Victorian Bar regulates barristers.
Regulators: Law Institute of Victoria (liv.asn.au) and the Victorian Bar (vicbar.com.au)
Magistrates Court of Victoria for summary; County Court of Victoria for mid-range indictable; Supreme Court of Victoria for serious. Crimes Act 1958 (VIC); Sentencing Act 1991 (VIC).
Indicative fees drawn from our 2026 practitioner survey and published cost data. Confirm in writing with any firm before engaging — written costs disclosure is mandatory under the Legal Profession Uniform Law.
| Pathway / matter type | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Early guilty plea (Magistrates) | $2,000–$4,500 | |
| Defended hearing | $6,500–$14,000 | |
| County Court indictable | $8,000–$100,000+ |
For the full criminal law cost breakdown across Australia, see our Criminal law cost guide.
Matter types we see most often in our intake from Melbourne and surrounding suburbs.
The most common Local Court charge. Penalty bands run from novice/special through to high-range. Section 10 dismissals (no conviction recorded) are available in narrow first-offence circumstances with appropriate preparation. Mandatory interlock applies in most states for mid-range and above.
Common assault, AOABH (assault occasioning actual bodily harm), GBH (grievous bodily harm). Range from Local Court summary through to District Court indictable. Defended hearings require careful witness evidence preparation.
Possession, supply, trafficking. Quantity thresholds determine jurisdiction. Diversion programs available in most states for personal-use possession. Supply-quantity matters typically proceed indictably.
Defending an apprehended violence order application. Technically civil but heard in criminal jurisdiction. Most contested AVOs resolve at first mention through undertakings or withdrawal.
Theft, larceny, fraud, burglary. Court hierarchy depends on value and complexity. Sentencing options heavily affected by prior history.
Serious offences proceeding by indictment. Committal hearings, jury trials or judge-alone trials, complex evidence. Senior counsel commonly briefed.
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