Criminal Lawyers for Magistrates Court

Our team of experienced criminal lawyers at Perrella Legal, specialise in representing people required to appear on criminal related matters in Magistrates Courts throughout Western Australia. 

We should be the first people you talk to if you find yourself requiring legal representation in any matter that may relate to the offences listed further down on this page.  All conversations are treated in the strictest of confidence and you will be provided sound legal advice from an experienced qualified legal professional.

You can contact us on 9225 6466.

What is the Magistratates Court?

The Magistrates Court of Western Australia is located at courthouses across the metropolitan area and throughout regional WA. Being the busiest of all the courts exercising criminal jurisdiction, proceedings in the Magistrates Court are necessarily less formal than in the superior courts.

Criminal lawyers appearing in the Magistrates Court understand that Magistrates have very big lists. Efficiency is the key to success in Magistrates Court, particularly in sentencing proceedings.

All criminal offences under WA State law comprise two types: simple offences and indictable offences. All simple offences are dealt with in the summary courts. The Magistrates Court is one of two summary courts (the other being the Children's Court).

Although most charges for indictable offences are dealt with in the superior courts some indictable offences are regularly determined in the summary courts. Indictable offences which are capable of being determined in a summary court are known as 'either way' offences. An 'either way' offence will be determined in a summary court unless the prosecution applies to have the the charge dealt with in a superior court or if the Magistrate considers the offence is too serious to be dealt with in the summary court. If an either way offence is dealt with in the superior court the offence will carry a higher maximum penalty than if dealt with in the summary court. A criminal law specialist can successfully oppose applications to have an either way charge dealt with in the superior court. 

All trials and sentencing proceedings in the Magistrates Court are held before a Magistrate. Unlike the superior courts, a person appearing in the Magistrates Court is not required to be represented by a lawyer. However, to successfully defend charges in the Magistrates Court you will need a specialist criminal lawyer who knows the rules of evidence and is able to identify weaknesses in the prosecution case. Most prosecutions in the Magistrates Court are conducted by police prosecutors who are not lawyers. The difference between a good outcome and poor outcome is whether you are represented by a criminal lawyer who knows the technicalities and nuances of the law which must bind a Magistrate in reaching a decision.  

Sentencing hearings in the Magistrates Court are brief and you need a criminal law specialist who knows what matters must be addressed and to successfully present persuasive pleas in mitigation. 

The lawyers at Perrella Legal appear in the Magistrates Court every day. Our lawyers represent people appearing in the Magistrates Courts at all metropolitan and regional courthouses throughout Western Australia.

If you have been charged with any of the following you will be required to appear in the Magistrates Court. The criminal law specialists at Perrella Legal have extensive experience at representing clients in the Magistrates Court on charges for the following offences:

  • Drug offences
    • Possession of a prohibited drug
    • Possession of drug paraphernalia
  • Importing a prohibited drug
  • Being armed in a way that may cause fear
  • Trespass
  • Public nuisance offences
  • Disorderly behaviour in public
  • Breach VRO
  • Breach police order
  • Assault
    • Common assault
    • Aggravated Common Assault
    • Assault public officer
    • Assault occasioning bodily harm
    • Aggravated assault occasioning bodily harm
  • Criminal damage
  • Unlawful possession
  • Indecent assault
  • Traffic offences
    • Driving under the influence
    • Dangerous driving
    • Fail to stop when called upon to do so
    • Interfering with police offences
    • Dangerous driving causing bodily harm
    • Reckless driving in prescribed circumstances to escape police pursuit*
    • Driving motor vehicle whilst legally disqualified
    • Dangerous driving
    • Careless driving
    • Provide false name
    • Driving without a valid motor driver's license
    • Driving with excess 0.08% blood alcohol content
    • Refuse to provide sample of breath for analysis
    • Failure to identify driver or person in charge of a vehicle
  • Importation offences
    • Importing a prohibited import
    • Intentionally importing Tier 1 Good without approval
  • Obstructing public officer
  • Resist arrest
  • Weapons offences
  • Possession of a controlled weapon without lawful excuse
  • Possession of a prohibited weapon
  • Firearms offences
  • Possession of unlicensed firearm or ammunition
  • Threatening behaviour on board an aircraft
  • Breach of bail

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