If you are going to court for the first time, it is a good idea to arrive in court well before your case is scheduled
Some courthouses like the Downing Centre are large complexes with much more to them than a couple of courtrooms.
The Downing Centre has many levels of courtroom. It also has three separate registries and a range of other services and offices. It hosts both the Local and District courts.
Smaller courthouses may be a lot easier to navigate and contain only one or two courtrooms.
Law courts buildings in Sydney are often much smaller and less grand than how they appear on TV, and differ widely depending on which court you attend.
Local and District courts around NSW may be modern or more traditional.
The first thing you are likely to come across when entering a courtroom is their security features.
You and your belongings may be screened upon entry.
But after that, here is a guide to the main features of a courthouse:
The Court Registry / Office
The staff here aren’t trained lawyers, so they can’t give you legal advice, but they can help you make sure you have filled out all your paperwork correctly and file it right.
They will be able to help you to:
- collect forms;
- ask questions and help you with legal issues;
- assistance with applications for AVOs;
- providing court lists; give you general information about the court process; and
- witnessing signatures on court documents
If you have any questions about where to find things in a law courts building in Sydney, the staff should be able to help you out.
For more in-depth assistance you can make an appointment, known as chamber service.
You can also pay fines in person at the courthouse registry.
If you have just been in court and had your matter finalised, paying the fine on the spot can mean that you can put the whole thing behind you.
There will be court lists posted on one of the walls outside the courtrooms if you are unsure of where you are supposed to be.
Each court will publish this list daily. Court lists are also available online.
The Courtrooms
The courtrooms will usually be numbered. There may be just one or two, or there may be several floors of courtrooms.
There will sometimes be a registration desk where you can advise the court officer that you are present, and your intentions for the day eg whether you wish to plead guilty, not guilty or ask for an adjournment to obtain legal advice.
If you do not have a lawyer, you can wait for your case to be heard either inside the courtroom or just outside.
The courtrooms will have seats at the back where you can wait until your case is called.
Since the courtroom is normally open to the public, you are allowed to bring any support people you have with you into the courtroom such as friends or family members.
Legal Aid and other legal assistance
While it is best to speak to Legal Aid well before your court date, you may be able to get some help from a legal aid solicitor on the day.
Legal Aid may be able to help you for free, or only require you to make a smaller contribution towards your legal costs.
However Legal Aid has strict criteria about who they can help, including the merits of your case as well as your financial situation.
Some courthouses will have duty solicitors and maybe even a duty barrister who are free with no merit or finance restrictions.
Anyone who turns up on the day can ask to get advice from a duty solicitor or barrister.
Victim Support Facilities
Complainants may have facilities if they want to ensure they do not come face to face with the defendant.
There may be remote witness facilities where vulnerable witnesses like children and victims can give evidence from a separate room from the courtroom.
Some courts like the Downing centre have conference rooms, where it is possible to speak with your criminal lawyer or even just your support person.
Alternatively, there are a number of law firms near the Downing Centre where you may be able to attend before you are scheduled to attend court.
The lawyers at Sydney Criminal Lawyers® will normally meet our client at our office, across the road from the Downing Centre, before attending court.
If you are driving, you can use the visitor parking within our building and avoid the stress and expense of city parking.
