Jul 28, 2026
Many criminal lawyers in Melbourne offer payment plans, letting you pay in instalments rather than one lump sum, though it varies by firm. A payment plan is a private arrangement set out in your written costs agreement, usually involving an upfront deposit and then staged payments as your case moves through court. One thing to know: criminal defence cannot be done “no win, no fee,” because conditional costs agreements are prohibited for criminal matters in Victoria. Always get the terms, and what happens if you miss a payment, in writing.
Jul 28, 2026
You can change your bail conditions in Victoria by applying for a bail variation to the court. You cannot simply ignore a condition or rely on telling police your circumstances have changed, because doing that is a breach. An interested party, the accused, police, or the prosecution, applies to the court, which decides whether to change the conditions.
Jul 27, 2026
Reviews are a useful starting point, but for a criminal lawyer they should be read critically, not counted. What actually matters is whether reviews are specific and relevant to your court and charge, whether they show clear communication, honesty, and reliability, and whether the pattern across many reviews is consistent. What matters far less is the raw star rating, the total number of reviews, or claims about outcomes, because every case is different. The most reliable checks sit beyond reviews entirely, in the lawyer’s professional standing and your own first consultation.
Jul 27, 2026
Yes. In Victoria, police can reopen an investigation after NFA (no further action), because NFA is a decision not to proceed at the time, not a court finding that clears you. Whether they can lay a charge later depends on the type of offence: summary offences generally have a 12-month time limit, while indictable offences usually have none.
Jul 26, 2026
Yes. If you are the respondent to an intervention order in Victoria, you can contest it, meaning you dispute the application and argue against the order at a contested hearing. But contesting is only one of four options, alongside consenting, consenting without admission, and offering an undertaking, and the right choice depends on the facts and what is at stake.
