Our legal services focus exclusively on criminal and traffic offences, and related proceedings. That focus means our lawyers have deep expertise across the full spectrum of criminal law — from summary offences in the Magistrates Court to complex trials in the District and Supreme Courts, contested bail applications, coronial inquests, confiscation proceedings, and appeals.

With over 1,500 criminal cases defended, our experienced team acts for all persons required to appear before the Magistrates, District, and Supreme Courts. We also regularly travel to regional and remote Queensland to represent clients where access to experienced criminal lawyers is limited, and our lawyers are admitted to practise across Australia where matters extend beyond Queensland.

Our legal services cover the full spectrum of criminal and related proceedings, including:

• Criminal defence: Representing clients charged with a wide range of criminal offences — from common assault and drug charges through to murder, manslaughter, and serious sexual offences
• Traffic offences and applications: Defending traffic charges and making applications to protect your licence and livelihood
• Appeals: Reviewing convictions and sentences and running appeals in the Court of Appeal and High Court where there are genuine grounds to do so
• Bail applications: Making urgent bail applications across all levels of court, including the Supreme Court for serious charges
• Parole: Advising on parole eligibility, preparing applications, and appearing at Parole Board Queensland hearings
  Inquests and inquiries: Representing witnesses, interested parties, and families in coronial inquests and formal inquiries
• Confiscations: Advising on and contesting restraining orders, forfeiture orders, and proceeds of crime applications under the Criminal Proceeds Confiscation Act 2002 (Qld)
  Prosecutions: Accepting briefs to act as prosecutors on behalf of government agencies and regulatory bodies
• Advocacy: Providing specialist courtroom representation across all levels of the Queensland court system

We offer initial consultations across all matters, including in prisons for clients currently in custody, so you can get clear, honest advice about your situation before making any decisions.

If you are facing a criminal charge or legal proceeding in Brisbane or anywhere across Queensland, contact Guest Lawyers today for experienced, practical legal advice.

If you are charged with an offence and refused bail, you may be held in custody on remand while your matter proceeds through court. Being on remand means you are in prison before your case has been finalised, which can affect your employment, family life and ability to prepare your defence.

In some cases, a lawyer can make a bail application on your behalf or apply to have bail conditions changed. The court will consider factors such as the seriousness of the charge, your criminal history, your ties to the community, the risk of failing to appear, and whether there is any risk to the public, witnesses or the alleged victim.

Acting quickly and having experienced legal representation significantly improves your chances of a successful bail application. A criminal lawyer can assess the reasons bail was refused, identify what can be addressed, prepare supporting material and make submissions to the court. Guest Lawyers can advise you on your bail options and appear on your behalf.

Yes, Guest Lawyers offer initial consultation visits to all prisons in Queensland, and interstate. Prison visits may be needed for people who have been refused bail, are serving a sentence, are preparing an appeal, or need advice about parole or other legal options.

If you have been convicted of a criminal offence or believe your sentence was excessive, you may have grounds to appeal. An appeal is not a retrial, but it is a review of whether the original court made a legal error, whether the verdict was unreasonable given the evidence, or whether the sentence imposed was manifestly excessive or inadequate.

Appeals in Queensland are heard in the Court of Appeal, and in some circumstances, in the High Court of Australia. The grounds and process for appeal are technical and time-sensitive; there are strict deadlines that apply, and missing them can affect your ability to appeal at all.

A criminal lawyer can help with an appeal by:

• Reviewing the transcript and evidence from the original proceedings to identify any legal errors
• Advising on whether there are genuine grounds for appeal and what the realistic prospects are
• Drafting and filing the necessary documents within the required timeframes
• Appearing in the Court of Appeal or High Court to argue your case
• Advising on sentence appeals separately from conviction appeals, as the two involve different considerations

Guest Lawyers conduct criminal appeals in Queensland courts, including the Court of Appeal, and can advise on whether an appeal is available in your circumstances.

Parole allows a person to serve part of their sentence in the community under supervision rather than in prison.

When you can apply for parole depends on your sentence, the type of offence, and whether the court set a parole release date or parole eligibility date. In Queensland, people sentenced to imprisonment for 3 years or less will generally have a parole release date fixed by the court, although exceptions apply for some offences. People sentenced to more than 3 years usually need to apply to the Parole Board Queensland for release on parole. Life sentence prisoners, including those convicted of murder, cannot apply until they have served their minimum non-parole period.

A criminal lawyer can help prepare a strong parole application and represent you at a hearing. Learn about the difference between probation and parole.

In Queensland, criminal matters are heard across three levels of court depending on the seriousness of the offence.

Magistrates Court handles the majority of criminal matters in Queensland, including all summary offences and the early stages of more serious charges.

Less serious indictable offences can also be finalised here. Every charge, regardless of how serious, starts in the Magistrates Court.

District Court handles more serious indictable offences. This includes charges such as serious assault, robbery, most drug offences, and sexual offences. Matters in the District Court are heard before a judge, and where a not guilty plea is entered, before a jury.

Supreme Court deals with the most serious criminal matters, including murder, manslaughter, and other offences carrying the highest penalties. The Court of Appeal, which hears appeals against convictions and sentences, also sits within the Supreme Court structure.

Guest Lawyers act for clients across all three levels of court, as well as in the Court of Appeal and the High Court of Australia.

No, and in most cases you should not. Your first court date is usually a mention, a brief administrative hearing where the court confirms your representation and next steps. Entering a guilty plea before you have reviewed the evidence or received proper legal advice is one of the most common mistakes people make and can be very difficult to undo.

A criminal lawyer can appear with you, request an adjournment if needed, and make sure you are in the best possible position before any plea is entered.