Confidential consultation by phone or email. The site doesn't say whether the first meeting is free and gives no fee terms. After hours mobile numbers are listed for both partners.
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Mangan Ey & Associates is a long running Adelaide criminal defence practice. The firm says it formed in 1982 and takes on only criminal and traffic work. Managing partner Stephen Ey was admitted in 1978 and has practised criminal law in Adelaide ever since. Partner Andrew Ey joined in 2007 and has been junior counsel in Supreme Court murder trials. Sean Nottle came across from the DPP and the police prosecution unit. It suits anyone facing a serious charge who wants an experienced team. The site doesn't spell out first consultation terms.
Founded in 1982
Also worth knowing
Sean Nottle previously worked as a solicitor with the SA Director of Public Prosecutions.
Obligation free discussion by phone, according to the firm. Appointments are booked through the contact form or by phone.
Office
78 Angas Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Barbaro Thilthorpe Daniel, usually shortened to BTD Lawyers, was set up in 2012 by criminal lawyers Frank Barbaro and Ben Thilthorpe. Jasmine Daniel joined in 2015 and became a partner in 2022, when the firm took its current name. Crime is still the core of the practice, alongside traffic, asset confiscation, family law and injury claims. The firm says it has run appeals to the High Court and works with leading barristers. It suits clients with serious or contested charges. The firm offers an obligation free discussion by phone.
Founded in 2012
Also worth knowing
The firm says it acts on criminal appeals to the High Court of Australia.
Lawyers
The firm's site doesn't say which of its associates work in criminal law rather than family or injury.
First consultation is free, according to the firm. A pricing page is linked from the site. After hours mobiles are listed for both partners.
Office
53 Wright Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Caldicott + Isaacs is a criminal defence firm on Wright Street run by partners James Caldicott and Casey Isaacs. The firm says it acts for more than 1,000 clients a year, from the Magistrates Court to the High Court. According to the firm, Casey Isaacs has practised only criminal law for over two decades and handles serious crime, appeals and asset confiscation. Three more criminal lawyers make up the team. It covers everything from drink driving to terrorism charges. The first consultation is free, and both partners list mobiles for after hours help.
Contact the firm to speak with a lawyer. The site doesn't state first consultation or fee terms. A 24 hour emergency number is listed.
Office
Level 4, 185 Victoria Square, Adelaide SA 5000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Woods & Co is a criminal and traffic firm on Victoria Square led by Michael Woods. He spent 15 years with SA Police as a prosecutor and CIB detective before moving to defence work in 1995, then opened his own practice in 2000. Hugh Woods is a fellow director, and two solicitors round out the team. The firm takes everything from speeding and licence appeals to sexual offences and asset confiscation. It suits people who value a lawyer who knows how police build a case. A 24 hour emergency line is listed.
No obligation initial 20 minute consultation for criminal matters, and fixed fees for criminal work, according to the firm. The firm generally does not take legal aid matters. A 24 hour advice line is listed.
Office
139 Wright Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Craig Caldicott Lawyers is a boutique criminal defence firm that Craig Caldicott OAM set up in 2023. He was admitted in 1979 and co-chairs the Law Society's Criminal Law Committee, according to the firm. Emily Cousins, admitted in 2014, also works on asset confiscation, and two more criminal lawyers support them. The firm says it has acted in high profile trials and ANOM related matters. It suits people facing serious charges who want a senior name. There's a no obligation 20 minute first consultation, and criminal work is charged on fixed fees.
Founded in 2023
Also worth knowing
It charges criminal matters on a fixed fee basis.
Lawyers
Craig Caldicott OAM, Principal Criminal Lawyer and Managing Partner
Contact the firm by phone to book. The site doesn't advertise a free consultation or state fee terms.
Office
90 George Street, Thebarton SA 5031
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Williams Barristers and Solicitors is a Thebarton firm built around criminal defence. Senior founding partner Andrew Williams was a police officer for 22 years and then a prosecutor with the DPP before he moved to defence. Mark Williams has worked with the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement and the Solomon Islands DPP. Rachel Regester and Courtney Loffler handle charges from summary matters to Supreme Court trials. The firm says Doyle's Guide recommended it in 2016, 2017 and 2019. It suits clients wanting a team that knows prosecution tactics. Consultations are booked by phone.
Founded in 2015
Also worth knowing
Four lawyers on the team list criminal law.
Lawyers
Andrew Williams, Senior Founding Partner
Mark Williams, Founding Partner
Rachel Regester, Senior Criminal Defence and Traffic Lawyer
Call the office to discuss your matter. Payment plans and instalments are available, according to the firm. No free consultation is advertised.
Office
120 Wright Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Vadasz Lawyers is the practice of Nicholas Vadasz, a barrister and solicitor who has defended clients in Adelaide for more than 40 years. He graduated in 1974 and started with Aboriginal Legal Rights the next year. The firm says he has acted in over 80 murder cases and more than 100 appeals. According to the firm, he sits on the Legal Services Commission murder and complex criminal panels. It suits people facing homicide, serious violence or drug charges who want a senior advocate. Payment plans are offered.
Also worth knowing
The firm says he sits on the Law Society's Criminal Law Advisory Committee.
Lawyers
The firm's site names only its principal.
Nicholas Vadasz, Principal, Barrister and Solicitor
Contact the firm by phone or email. The site doesn't state first consultation or fee terms.
Office
82 Halifax Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Agresta Moran opened in early 2025 when Dominic Agresta and Travis Moran left Iles Selley Lawyers. Agresta was admitted in 1995 and signed the Bar Roll in 1997, and the firm says he has appeared in every South Australian court as well as the Federal and High Courts. Moran was admitted in 2011 and works across criminal appeals, white collar crime, regulatory investigations and proceeds of crime. The firm also runs commercial litigation. It suits professionals and business owners facing fraud, regulatory or high profile charges. The site doesn't state first consultation terms.
Founded in 2025
Also worth knowing
The firm handles white collar crime and regulatory investigations alongside criminal trials and appeals.
Confidential discussion through the contact form or by phone. The site doesn't state first consultation or fee terms. The firm will visit clients at home, in prison or in police custody.
Office
142 Goodwood Road, Goodwood SA 5034
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
DicksonWright is a small Goodwood firm run by Charles Wright, who spent more than eight years as a senior prosecutor with the SA Director of Public Prosecutions. Before that he worked in private practice on defence and injury work. As a prosecutor he ran drug, sex, fraud, serious assault and murder matters, and he appears from the Youth Court up to the Court of Criminal Appeal. The firm makes home, prison and police custody visits. It suits people who want a former prosecutor on their side. The site doesn't state first consultation terms.
Also worth knowing
It also handles victims of crime compensation claims.
Enquiries are handled in confidence, according to the firm. The site doesn't state first consultation or fee terms.
Office
304 King William Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Fabbian Lawyers is the defence practice of Craig Fabbian, a barrister and solicitor on King William Street. Before starting the firm he worked with crime and professional discipline firms in Australia and England, and he is admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales as well as South Australia. The firm says it has defended high profile murder and major fraud cases. He also acts in regulatory and disciplinary hearings for professionals. It suits clients who want the principal to run their case from first advice to court. The site doesn't state consultation terms.
Also worth knowing
It appears in courts and tribunals across Adelaide and regional South Australia.
Firm details come from each firm's own website. Google ratings are shown as published on Google and don't set the order. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
Not sure which firm suits you?
Tell us a little about your matter and we'll put you in touch with a Adelaide criminal lawyer. It's free and there's no obligation.
How we compiled this list
We include firms and barristers that do criminal defence as a main part of their work and take Adelaide clients. For each one we read its own website in October 2026 and wrote the description ourselves. The Law Society of SA's specialist accreditation doesn't cover criminal law, and this page doesn't name accredited specialists. Free consultations and fee terms are as the firm describes them, so confirm them when you call. Where we show a Google rating, we give the date we checked it, and we leave out self-reported success rates.
No firm pays for its place on this list, and the order is our own. We write the descriptions ourselves, and firms don't get to edit them. If something here is out of date, let us know. There's more detail on how we rank law firms.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws and programs are as published by the SA Government, the SA courts and the Legal Services Commission of SA in October 2026.
Where Adelaide criminal cases are heard
The Magistrates Court hears every criminal matter in SA first. In the city that's the Adelaide Magistrates Court at 260 to 280 Victoria Square, open 9am to 5pm on weekdays. Its criminal registry is on (08) 8204 0481. Duty lawyers, Aboriginal Justice Officers, the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement and a Justice of the Peace all work in the building. Other suburban courts include Elizabeth, at 16 Frobishers Road, and Christies Beach, at 98 Dyson Road.
Court
What it hears
Magistrates Court
Every criminal charge starts here. Its lists include the Treatment Intervention Court, the Domestic Violence Court and Aboriginal community courts
District Court
The state's main trial court. It sits in Adelaide, with criminal circuits to Mount Gambier and Port Augusta
Supreme Court
The most serious criminal matters. The court is on the corner of Gouger and King William Streets, and its criminal registry is in the Sir Samuel Way Building, 241 to 259 Victoria Square
Youth Court
Charges against young people aged 10 to 17, heard in Adelaide and at Elizabeth, Port Adelaide, Christies Beach and regional courts. Hearings are closed to the public
If you've lost your charge paperwork, call the Magistrates Court criminal registry on (08) 8204 0481 with your name and date of birth to find your hearing date. For a Youth Court matter, call the Youth Court registry on (08) 8204 0331. If you're on bail and don't turn up, the court can issue a warrant for your arrest.
Bail in SA
Under the Bail Act 1985, a person who has been charged but not convicted should be released on bail unless the bail authority decides it should be refused. It looks at how serious the offence is, and the risk that you'll abscond, reoffend, interfere with evidence or witnesses, or breach an intervention order. Where there's a victim, their need for physical protection gets primary consideration.
Police bail: before your first court appearance, a police officer of sergeant or above, or the officer in charge of the station, can grant bail. If police refuse, you must be brought before a court no later than 4pm on the next working day
Special circumstances: some applicants have to prove special circumstances to get bail at all. They include people charged with murder, serious firearm offences or some intervention order breaches involving violence, and serious and organised crime suspects. Terror suspects can only get bail from a court
Young people: under changes in force from 16 February 2026, a young person aged 14 to 17 who is a recidivist young offender and is charged with a serious offence must also show special circumstances. A parent or guardian can help a child apply
Reviews: a magistrate can review a police refusal. Review of a magistrate's decision by the Supreme Court needs that court's permission
Breaching a bail condition without a reasonable excuse carries up to $10,000 or 2 years in prison, but no more than the maximum for the original charge. To change your conditions, lodge an Application to Vary Bail (Form 7) at the court registry.
Intervention orders. An intervention order isn't a criminal charge, but breaching one is. Breaching most terms carries up to 3 years in prison, or 5 years if aggravated. A second breach within 5 years, or one involving violence or a threat of it, carries up to 7 years, or 10 if aggravated. Parliament passed a coercive control offence in September 2025, with a maximum of 7 years, but as at October 2026 it isn't yet in force.
Police powers and your rights
You can stay silent and refuse to answer police questions. There are exceptions, such as giving your name and address and identifying the driver of a vehicle
If police reasonably suspect you of an offence, you must give your full name, date of birth, home address and business address. Refusing or giving false details carries up to $1,250 or 3 months in jail
On arrest, police must tell you about your right to silence, that what you say is recorded and can be used as evidence, and that you can tell a relative or friend where you are. You also have the right to have a lawyer, relative or friend present when you're questioned, and to an interpreter
Police can block the call to a relative or friend if it could lead to evidence being destroyed or an accomplice escaping
If you're arrested without a warrant for an indictable offence, or one carrying 2 years or more, police can hold you for questioning for up to 8 hours
A young person under 18 can have a lawyer, adult relative or adult friend at any police interview, and generally shouldn't be interviewed without one
The Legal Services Commission runs an after hours custody service. Police contact it, and people in custody for serious offences, or vulnerable people in custody who don't have a lawyer, can speak to a solicitor by phone. For very serious matters, such as murder, or where the person has special needs, a solicitor may go to the station.
Sentencing, no conviction penalties and spent convictions
The Sentencing Act 2017 gives SA courts a range of options, from a discharge without penalty, fines and good behaviour bonds through community service, intensive correction and home detention, to suspended and immediate imprisonment.
Avoiding a conviction. If an offence is so trifling that a penalty isn't appropriate, the court can dismiss the charge without recording a conviction (section 23). Under section 24, where the court proposes a fine, community service or both, it can impose that penalty without recording a conviction. It has to think you're unlikely to offend again and that there's good reason, having regard to your character, history, age, or physical or mental condition, the offence being trifling, or other extenuating circumstances. Ask your lawyer to argue for this at sentencing.
Spent convictions. Under the Spent Convictions Act 2009, most eligible convictions become spent automatically. You don't need to apply.
Conviction
When it's spent
Adult offence with no jail, or jail of 12 months or less
After 10 consecutive years without reoffending
Juvenile offence with no jail, or detention of 24 months or less, unless dealt with as an adult
After 5 years without reoffending
Sex offences
Not spent automatically. If no jail was imposed, you can apply to a magistrate to have it spent after the waiting period. Sex offences that drew a jail term can't be spent. Old convictions for conduct that is no longer a crime, such as consensual adult homosexual activity, can be spent by a magistrate's order
A spent conviction doesn't appear on a police check and generally doesn't need to be disclosed, but there are exceptions, such as working with children checks. Since 1 February 2025, findings of mental impairment have been brought into the scheme too.
Treatment courts, drug diversion and young people
Treatment Intervention Court: it replaced the Drug Court and is for people whose drug dependence, gambling, mental health condition or mental impairment contributes to their offending. You need charges the Magistrates Court can sentence, a guilty plea and a suitable bail address with public transport. Drug programs run 12 months, the first 3 on home detention bail, and you're sentenced at the end. It sits at Adelaide, Elizabeth, Port Adelaide, Christies Beach and Mount Gambier
Police Drug Diversion Initiative: adults detected with illicit drugs for simple possession are sent to a health assessment instead of the court system
Cannabis: adults caught with cannabis for personal use can get an expiation notice, which is a fine without a conviction. Simple possession of other controlled drugs carries up to $2,000, 2 years in prison, or both
Age: a child under 10 can't commit an offence. A child aged 10 to 13 is presumed not to know their conduct was seriously wrong, and the prosecution has to prove otherwise
Young people: police can give informal or formal cautions, or refer a young person to a family conference with a Youth Justice Coordinator. The Youth Court can order detention of up to 3 years. For a major indictable offence, the DPP can ask for a young person to be dealt with as an adult
Youth Treatment Intervention Court: a voluntary program of up to 6 months at the Adelaide Youth Court for young people whose offending is linked to substance use, mental health or mental impairment. Phone (08) 8204 8615
Costs and free legal help
In SA, at the start, your lawyer must tell you how they'll charge and give you a range of estimates of the total costs, with what might change them. A costs agreement must be in writing or evidenced in writing.
Legal Services Commission Legal Helpline: 1300 366 424, weekdays 9am to 4:30pm. Its Adelaide office is at 159 Gawler Place
Duty lawyers: full time at the Adelaide Magistrates Court and the Adelaide Youth Court, and at other metropolitan courts. They put people in custody first, then help with adjournments, bail and simple guilty pleas for minor offences. They may decline complex matters or cases with a real risk of jail
Youth Legal Service: Legal Services Commission lawyers give free advice on the day of a Youth Court hearing, help young people in the cells apply for bail, and act for the young person, not their parents
Grants of legal aid: in criminal matters there must be a likelihood of jail, and aid is normally refused for traffic offences, including drink driving, unless there's a real risk of imprisonment. If you're charged with an indictable offence that will be tried in the District or Supreme Court, the Commission must provide representation even if you wouldn't normally qualify, though it can set conditions
Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement: 8113 3777 or 1800 643 222
Community legal centres: they can sometimes help outside legal aid guidelines. Try Uniting Communities Law Centre 8202 5960, Northern Community Legal Centre 8281 6911 or WestSide Community Lawyers 8340 9009
Adelaide criminal law: common questions
Will I get a criminal record?
Not always. Under section 24 of the Sentencing Act 2017, if the court is going to fine you or order community service, it can do so without recording a conviction where you're unlikely to reoffend and there's good reason, such as your good character or the offence being trifling. If a conviction is recorded and you weren't jailed for more than 12 months, it usually becomes spent automatically after 10 years without reoffending as an adult, or 5 years for a juvenile offence.
Do I have to answer police questions?
No. You can stay silent. But if police reasonably suspect you of an offence, you must give your full name, date of birth and address, and refusing carries up to $1,250 or 3 months in jail. You have the right to a lawyer, relative or friend at questioning, and to an interpreter.
Will I get bail?
For most charges, SA law presumes you should get bail unless there's a good reason to refuse it, such as a risk you'll abscond, reoffend or interfere with witnesses. For some charges, including murder, serious firearm offences and some violent intervention order breaches, you must prove special circumstances. If police refuse bail, you must be brought before a court by 4pm on the next working day.
Will I lose my licence straight away for drink driving?
It can happen. For a reading of .08 or more, police can give you an immediate loss of licence notice: 6 months for .08 to .149, and 12 months for .15 or more or driving under the influence. Refusing an alcotest or breath analysis means a 12 month immediate loss of licence, and refusing a drug test 6 months. If you're convicted of a first refusal, the court must disqualify you for at least 12 months, and after a breath test refusal you'll need an alcohol interlock when you get your licence back. Drug driving brings a 3 month immediate loss of licence. In limited cases the Magistrates Court can lift or reduce the suspension, so get advice quickly. For a full licence holder, a first offence between .05 and .079 is usually dealt with by an expiation notice and 4 demerit points. Learner and provisional drivers must have a zero reading.
Can I get a free lawyer?
Duty lawyers at the Adelaide Magistrates Court and Youth Court can help on the day with bail, adjournments and simple guilty pleas. Call the Legal Services Commission Legal Helpline on 1300 366 424. If you're facing a District or Supreme Court trial, the Commission must provide representation even if you wouldn't usually qualify. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can call the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement on 1800 643 222.
Are there accredited criminal law specialists in SA?
The Law Society of South Australia's specialist accreditation doesn't cover criminal law, so no Adelaide lawyer holds Law Society of SA accreditation in it. If a lawyer says they're an accredited specialist, ask which body accredited them. This page doesn't name any accredited specialists.
What is the Treatment Intervention Court?
It's a Magistrates Court program that replaced the Drug Court. It's for people whose drug dependence, gambling, mental health condition or mental impairment is linked to their offending. You plead guilty, follow a treatment program for 6 or 12 months and are sentenced at the end. Drug programs start with 3 months of home detention bail.
General information only, not legal advice.
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