Going to court for any matter is an uncomfortable and often stressful experience. If you are facing charges that are to be dealt with at a District Court it is a good idea to be as well prepared as possible. District courts generally deal with more serious criminal cases and appeals against local court decisions, so it… Read more »
If you are attending a local court for a criminal matter, it is not essential to have a lawyer represent you. You can represent yourself, but it’s still a good idea to seek some professional legal advice. There are a number of free advice services available through Legal Aid, but one of the most useful… Read more »
A criminal barrister is a legal professional with specialist training in the justice and court system. Criminal barristers are usually called in to work with clients who are going through the justice system and are facing complex or more serious legal matters. Criminal barristers in Sydney usually work from a number of different courts in the area,… Read more »
The Magistrates Early Referral into Treatment program (MERIT) is a voluntary rehabilitation program that is available to offenders in most local courts, including North Sydney Local Court. For offenders who have a confirmed substance abuse problem, the MERIT program provides an opportunity to seek treatment and address their issues, and can also lead to a less severe sentence… Read more »
All local courts have a court registry that is staffed with trained court registrars. A court registrar is an employee of the local court who is trained to deal with a number of administrative and clerical court matters, including preparing court lists, filing and keeping track of court-related documents, helping members of the public with… Read more »
If you are facing legal proceedings for a criminal matter at any court, you will probably benefit from seeking legal representation. Representation can be provided by private lawyers, but they may be costly. An alternative is to seek a grant of legal aid. If successful, this means that the Legal Aid Commission can pay a… Read more »
