Jul 24, 2026
Choose a criminal lawyer whose court experience matches both the court your case will be heard in and the type of charge you face. A matter in the Magistrates’ Court needs different experience from a jury trial in the County Court, and a specialist in your charge type, whether it is drink driving, drug offences, assault, or a sex offence, will know that area far better than a generalist. The best fit is a lawyer who regularly appears in the right court, has run cases like yours, will handle your matter personally, and is honest about your prospects and fees.
Jul 24, 2026
It depends. A criminal record does not automatically stop you getting a firearms licence in Victoria unless it makes you a “prohibited person” under the Firearms Act 1996 (Vic). Even if you are not a prohibited person, a record can still count against you under the separate “fit and proper person” test that every applicant must satisfy.
Jul 24, 2026
Legal aid is government-funded representation for people who pass a means and merits test, while a private criminal lawyer is one you choose and pay for directly. Legal aid is free or low cost but eligibility is limited, and private representation gives you choice, direct access, and dedicated attention at a price.
Jul 23, 2026
A criminal record in Victoria is permanent. It is never deleted, because Victoria Police keeps your criminal history on file for life, and the Spent Convictions Act 2021 is not an erasure scheme. What changes over time is not the record but its visibility. Most convictions become spent and stop appearing on standard police checks after a conviction period of 10 years for an adult, or 5 years if you were under 21, and some are spent immediately. Serious convictions can still show, and even spent convictions are disclosed for certain roles.
Jul 23, 2026
Sometimes, but not simply because a charge looks weak. A magistrate in Victoria cannot throw out a charge at the first mention just because they doubt it. Charges are ended early only through defined routes, most commonly a no case to answer submission at a contested hearing, a defective or out-of-time charge, or the prosecution offering no evidence.
