Frequently Asked Questions

Because we have the experience, skills and reputation to fight for the best available outcome, and because you will never be left wondering what is happening with your matter. Your calls and emails get answered, and you hear about developments in your case as they happen, explained in plain language.

Andrew George is the Principal Lawyer at George Criminal Lawyers. He has over 15 years of experience in criminal defence, and has represented clients charged with the most serious crimes in Australia. He is a passionate lawyer with outstanding attention to detail. He leaves no stone unturned in defending his clients and achieving exceptional results.

We usually answer calls and attend appointments between 8am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, but we are contactable 24 hours by SMS or email. If you need to speak to us or require assistance outside of these hours, including weekends, just get in touch.

No. Serious allegations are our core work, including sexual offence and child exploitation material charges, and we act for people from every background and profession. Our job is your defence, not judgment. Everything you tell us stays confidential, and we deal with every client the same way: directly, respectfully and without lectures.

Because the decisions made in the first days of a criminal matter (what you say to police, whether to apply for bail, how the first court date is handled) shape everything that follows, and they are hard to unwind later. The lawyer you choose determines how well those early calls are made, how thoroughly the evidence is tested, and whether you actually know what is happening in your own case. Choose someone who knows this area of law deeply and who you can reach when it matters.

Absolutely. We appear in courts across Queensland, from Brisbane and the south-east to regional centres, and interstate when your matter calls for it. Just contact us to confirm our availability and fees.

Yes. Families often make the first call, especially after an arrest, and we can explain the process and what help is available. Keep in mind that once we are engaged, we act on the instructions of the person charged, and what they tell us is confidential, even from family. Use the “someone else” option on our enquiry form, or just call.

Immediately. We answer (07) 3067 3000 twenty-four hours a day for arrests. We can advise you or your family member before any police interview and, where bail has been refused, prepare an urgent bail application in any Magistrates Court or Supreme Court in Queensland.

It depends on the matter, but you will always know before you commit. For most straightforward matters we act on a fixed fee, agreed up front; complex matters like trials are quoted as a clear estimate broken into stages. You’ll receive your quote at the free first consultation, so finding out what your matter will cost is free.

Often, yes. Even a “minor” charge can put your licence, your job, your travel plans or your record at risk, and those consequences are exactly what early advice protects. Outcomes people assume are automatic, like a recorded conviction or losing a licence, can sometimes be avoided or reduced with proper preparation. The first phone consultation is free, so you can find out where you stand before spending anything.

Any paperwork you’ve been given (a notice to appear, bail undertaking or QP9 if you have one), plus anything you think helps your side: messages, photos, the names of possible witnesses. Don’t worry if you have none of it; we can obtain the police material. The most useful thing you can bring is a frank account of what happened. Everything you tell us is confidential.

Yes, we offer free initial consultations by phone. You can book a time using our online booking page, submit a contact form enquiry, or text, call or email us to set it up.

If you’d prefer to see us in person at our office (or elsewhere), we charge $275. If you want to book an in-person conference, just head to the online booking page to select an available timeslot.

It varies with the charge and the path you choose. A straightforward Magistrates Court plea can be finished within weeks; matters involving negotiations, committal to the District or Supreme Court, or a trial are usually measured in months. We’ll give you a realistic timeline at the start and keep you informed at every step, so a delay is never a mystery.

Never speak to the police unless it is to confirm who you are. Their primary goal is to obtain evidence from you which can support the charge they are investigating. You should contact us immediately for advice.

Get advice before you speak with them again. What has been said cannot be taken back, but it rarely decides a case on its own: the interview can be put in context, challenged, and in some circumstances excluded, and the rest of the evidence still has to be tested. Be frank with us about exactly what was said and we will work from there.

Your first appearance in the Magistrates Court (a “mention”) is usually short and procedural: the charge is formally before the court, and the matter is typically adjourned so the evidence can be obtained and proper advice taken. Most people do not enter a plea on the first date. If you’ve engaged us, we appear with you (and in some matters, for you) and secure the time needed to prepare properly.

A QP9 is the Queensland Police prosecution’s written summary of the allegations against you, provided along with your criminal and traffic history. It’s the first document we obtain after you engage us, because it sets out what the police say happened, and it’s where we start testing the strength of their case.

Sometimes, yes. Queensland prosecutors can withdraw or downgrade charges through case conferencing, a process where we make written submissions attacking the evidence or proposing a more appropriate charge. Whether that’s realistic depends entirely on the evidence in your matter, which is why reviewing the QP9 and brief is always our first step. Contact us for advice on your situation.

Once you engage our services, we will request a copy of the facts from police (known as a QP9) and any criminal or traffic history that you might have. The QP9 will provide a summary of the facts and allow us to provide you with some initial advice about your options.

The next steps from there depend on the nature of the matter and what you want to do. If we can’t get your charges dropped or resolve the matter through negotiations, then serious indictable offences will progress through the Magistrates Court and be committed (transferred) to the District or Supreme Court. Other matters remain in the Magistrates Court, and can be dealt with as a plea of guilty or listed for trial.

Yes, in limited circumstances. If a police officer reasonably suspects you have an unlawful drug, or evidence of a serious offence (one punishable by seven years or more) that might be hidden or destroyed, they can stop and search you and anything in your possession, including your phone, without a warrant under sections 29 and 30 of the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000 (Qld). Getting into a locked phone is different: police generally need a court order under section 154, 154A or 178A of the same Act before you can be required to hand over your PIN or unlock it, and refusing to comply with a valid order is a crime carrying up to 5 years imprisonment. If police want access to your phone, contact us before you agree to anything.

Drug diversion lets police offer some adults caught with a small quantity of an illicit drug for personal use an alternative to being charged. As at 17 July 2026, Queensland’s current scheme gives an eligible person up to three diversion opportunities in their lifetime: a warning, then an initial and a subsequent drug diversion assessment program, under sections 378C, 379 and 379AA of the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000 (Qld). You are only eligible for a minor drugs offence, broadly simple possession up to a regulation-set quantity, not supply or trafficking. A 2026 amending Act has partly commenced, but the provisions replacing this diversion scheme had not started as at 17 July 2026. Read more about drug offence penalties or contact us if you have been offered diversion.

It depends entirely on the offence and your circumstances: some charges carry mandatory penalties, while for many others a first offender with a well-prepared case can achieve a fine, a community-based order or probation, sometimes with no conviction recorded. The difference comes down to preparation: the material put before the court and how your circumstances are presented. Get advice early: the first phone consultation is free.

In many cases a Queensland court that finds you guilty has a discretion not to record a conviction. If no conviction is recorded, the offence generally will not appear on a standard criminal history check, which can make an enormous difference to your employment, travel and licensing. It can still be visible for certain purposes (such as some government and working-with-children checks), so whether the discretion is realistically available in your matter is one of the first things we assess.

It depends on your bail conditions. Some people must report to police or surrender their passport; many others face no travel restriction at all. Read your bail undertaking before booking anything, and if a condition is causing real problems, we can apply to the court to vary it. Ask us before you travel, not after.

Because you are taking a gamble on your future. Duty lawyers typically spend about 5 or 10 minutes with you to discuss your matter on the day of court. They might not ask you the right questions about what happened, and they won’t have any supporting material to hand up to the Magistrate to help reduce your penalty. You also won’t know who the duty lawyer is and their level of experience and skill.

We strongly recommend you contact us to represent you so we can safeguard your rights and the outcome.

If we can’t get your charges dropped or downgraded and you want to go to trial, then the court will give you a date for your trial. Magistrates Court trials are usually listed for a single day, with Supreme and District Court trials lasting 2-3 days on average.

Leading up to the trial, there are a number of steps involved. Firstly, we ensure we have all of the evidence, including any evidence you might have in your defence. If we need to, we issue subpoenas or seek directions from the court for further evidence to be disclosed. Secondly, we might need to make applications to the court to exclude evidence obtained through illegal searches, prejudicial evidence, or to exclude statements made by you. Thirdly, we attend conferences with you and a barrister to fully prepare for the trial. Lastly, we attend court with you for the trial.

Our experience and reputation as trial lawyers means we know where prosecution cases fail, and how to expose it. We intimately understand the problems with the evidence in each case, and the law, and can provide you with advice and representation of the highest standard.

If you’re likely to be sentenced, or want to plead guilty, the sentence you receive depends heavily on what the court knows about you, and building that picture properly is our job. We know exactly what supporting evidence the court wants to see. We will help you organise character references, reports and medical evidence to ensure that no stone is left unturned.

Our connections in the industry mean we can provide extensive material to the court by referring you to rehabilitation for issues like drugs, alcohol, violence and road safety. We can also arrange consultations, treatment and expert reports through close working relationships with leading experts in psychology and psychiatry.

No, not by itself. Under the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012 (Qld), a domestic violence order’s conditions bind you as the respondent, not the aggrieved (sections 56 to 59), and only the respondent commits an offence by contravening the order (section 177). The Act says expressly that the aggrieved commits no offence by encouraging or inviting contact (section 180), but replying, meeting them, or otherwise breaking a no-contact condition can still be a breach on your part, even if they invited it. The aggrieved can apply to the court to vary the order, but only the court can change or end it. The maximum penalty is 120 penalty units or 3 years imprisonment, rising to 240 penalty units or 5 years if you have been convicted of any domestic violence offence in the previous 5 years. We defend contravention charges.