ALFA LAWYERS

Criminal Defence​​

If you are under investigation, have been asked to attend a police interview, have been charged with an offence or are involved in an intervention order proceeding, early legal advice can make a significant difference to how your matter is managed.

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ALFA Lawyers provides clear, practical advice and representation in Victorian criminal matters, from the first police contact through to bail, negotiations, pleas, contested hearings, trials and appeals. We act in summary and indictable matters, including relevant Commonwealth prosecutions heard in Victoria.

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Key Practice Areas

• Driving and traffic offences - including drink- and drug-driving, dangerous or careless driving, licence offences, speeding and traffic infringements

• Assault and public order offences - including affray and other offences against the person

• Family violence matters - including criminal charges and alleged breaches of intervention orders

• Theft and property offences - including shop theft, burglary and property damage

• Fraud and white-collar crime - including alleged misappropriation, false invoicing, Centrelink or Medicare fraud, and other financial offences

• Drug offences - including possession, trafficking and related proceedings

• Sexual offences - including advice and representation at all relevant stages

• Court applications and hearings - including bail applications, pleas, diversion, contested hearings, committal proceedings, trials and appeals​​​

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The Victorian Criminal Process

1. Police investigation and interview. Obtain advice before taking part in a police interview. In general, a person has a right to silence, subject to limited legal requirements such as providing identifying details in particular circumstances.

2. Charge, summons and bail. A person may be charged and released on bail, required to attend by summons, or brought before a court. We advise on bail, conditions and the immediate steps needed to protect your position.

3. Magistrates’ Court. The Magistrates’ Court determines all summary offences and some indictable offences. It also manages the early stages of indictable matters, including committal proceedings before transfer to a higher court where required.

4. Plea, hearing or trial. A guilty plea proceeds to sentencing, where the court considers the offence, prior history, personal circumstances, rehabilitation, remorse and other relevant matters. A defended summary charge proceeds to a contested hearing; serious indictable charges may proceed to the County Court or, for the most serious offences, the Supreme Court.

5. Sentence or appeal. Available outcomes depend on the offence and circumstances and may include a fine, community correction order, licence consequences or imprisonment. Rights of appeal are subject to strict time limits, so advice should be sought promptly.

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Why Legal Advice Matters

A criminal charge is an allegation, not a finding of guilt. Effective representation can help you understand the evidence, identify available defences, protect your rights, seek bail, engage with police or prosecutors, and decide whether to plead guilty or contest the charge. Where appropriate, we can also seek withdrawal or amendment of charges or prepare a plea in mitigation. In eligible cases, diversion requires prosecution consent and court approval; if the conditions are completed, the matter may be finalised without a finding of guilt or conviction.

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Principal lawyer Alfred Fabrizio is also CPA-qualified and has forensic accounting experience, which can be particularly valuable in fraud and other financial matters involving complex records and transactions.

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Intervention Orders

Victoria has two principal types of intervention order:  family violence intervention orders and personal safety intervention orders. These are civil orders, and the making of an order does not itself create a criminal conviction. However, an alleged breach may result in a criminal charge. Police may also apply for an order and, in family violence matters, may issue a family violence safety notice pending a court hearing.

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We advise and represent both applicants and respondents, including at mentions, directions hearings and contested hearings. Because an order can affect contact, residence, firearms and related criminal proceedings, prompt advice is important.

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​LEGAL COSTS FOR YOUR CRIMINAL DEFENCE OR INTERVENTION ORDER

 

Fees

Fixed fees may be available for intervention order mentions and the first appearance in a straightforward criminal matter, including some single-charge guilty pleas. Multiple charges, contested proceedings, complex matters and further appearances are quoted according to the work required. Barristers, expert reports (if required), and other disbursements are charged separately at cost. ALFA Lawyers does not provide Victoria Legal Aid-funded services.

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Speak With a Victorian Lawyer For a Free Initial Assessment

Contact ALFA Lawyers for a complimentary and confidential free initial telephone assessment and a clear discussion of your options and likely fees. If police wish to interview you, you are in custody, or a court or bail date is approaching, seek legal advice as soon as possible.

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This page provides general information only and is not a substitute for legal advice about your circumstances. No particular outcome can be guaranteed.​​​​