Criminal Lawyers represent the interests of clients charged with an unlawful act by police.  Criminal Lawyers advise in matters such as traffic offences, assaults, homicides, theft and fraud. Some Solicitors Firms are only Criminal Lawyers, while other practise in other areas of law, as well as Criminal Law.

There are about 3600 Solicitors firms and Barristers that practise Criminal Law on the directory.  A Criminal Lawyer who is a Solicitor will take instructions from the client. A Criminal Barrister will be instructed by the Solicitor to represent the client in Court. Occasionally the Solicitor will represent the client in Court, but this is usually on minor matters such as some traffic offences, or in the lower Courts.

There are more than 1700 Criminal Barristers on the Directory. Criminal Barristers, like all Barristers, do not work in partnership with others. They do however often share Barristers Chambers with other Barristers. When in Court Criminal Lawyers are the defence, while the police, representing the State are the Prosecution.

When a Criminal Lawyer is provided with the client’s side of the case they will do their utmost to find arguments and evidence to support their client’s case to gain the fairest hearing in Court. Criminal Lawyers cannot defend a client on a not guilty basis, if they are aware the client is guilty.

 A Criminal Lawyer has to complete a Law Degree. To be a Criminal Barrister a lawyer has also applied to and been admitted to the Bar.