Meetings in person, by video or by phone, with an after hours emergency line. The site doesn't say whether the first consultation is free
Office
7 Little Bridge Street, Ballarat Central VIC 3350
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Adrian Paull opened this criminal defence firm in Ballarat in 2017 and has since added a Geelong office. He is an LIV accredited criminal law specialist with more than 20 years in criminal law, and senior solicitor Hollie Lyons holds the same accreditation. The Ballarat office covers courts across western Victoria, including Ballarat, Ararat, Bendigo, Horsham and Stawell. The firm handles everything from bail and pleas to trials and appeals. It suits anyone charged in the Ballarat region who wants a local specialist team. You can meet in person, by video or by phone.
Opened in Ballarat in 2017
Also worth knowing
The Ballarat office covers courts from Bacchus Marsh to Horsham and Bendigo.
Lawyers
The site doesn't say which lawyers work from Ballarat and which from Geelong.
Adrian Paull, Principal Accredited criminal law specialist
Hollie Lyons, Senior Solicitor Accredited criminal law specialist
Free first consultation, according to the firm. Fees depend on the matter, and you can ask for a costs assessment once you send your charge sheet. Legal aid enquiries welcome
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
A Melbourne based criminal and traffic firm with nine offices, one of them in Ballarat near the Magistrates' Court, where the firm says it appears routinely. Founding partners David Dribbin and Michael Brown have practised criminal law for decades, and the firm lists around 20 defence lawyers across Victoria. Benjamin Smith is the lawyer it names for Ballarat. Its advice line runs from 7am to midnight, seven days. It suits people facing drink driving, traffic or general criminal charges who want a larger team behind them. The first consultation is free, according to the firm.
Also worth knowing
The firm lists around 20 criminal defence lawyers across nine Victorian offices.
Lawyers
The firm names Benjamin Smith as its Ballarat lawyer, with the partners based in Melbourne.
David Dribbin, Founding Partner
Michael Brown, Founding Partner Accredited criminal law specialist
Benjamin Smith, Criminal Defence Lawyer, Ballarat
Ryan Robertson, Managing Lawyer, Geelong, also listed for Ballarat
Simon O'Halloran, Criminal Defence Lawyer
Areas of criminal law handled
Drink driving and drug driving
Traffic offences and licence matters
Drug offences
Assault and violence charges
Family violence and intervention orders
Fraud, theft and Centrelink fraud
Sex offences
Firearms and weapons offences
Bail applications
Appeals
Children's Court matters
Murder and manslaughter
Other details
Other offices
Melbourne CBD, Ringwood, Dandenong, Frankston, Moorabbin, Geelong, Werribee and Broadmeadows
Free 30 minute confidential consultation in person, by phone or by video. Fixed lump sum fees for Magistrates' and Children's Court matters, with a quote before work starts.
Office
Level 1, 15 Dana Street, Ballarat Central VIC 3350
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
McMahon Criminal Defence Lawyers is a Ballarat criminal defence firm run by principal Luke McMahon, with its office on Dana Street directly across from Ballarat Magistrates' Court. The firm says he has worked in both government and private practice, and he holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Melbourne. It offers urgent and same day appointments and covers courts from Bacchus Marsh to Stawell and Maryborough. It suits anyone who needs help quickly before a court date. The first 30 minute consultation is free, and Magistrates' Court work is charged as a fixed lump sum.
Also worth knowing
It offers urgent and same day appointments, according to the site.
Lawyers
The site names only Luke McMahon.
Luke McMahon, Principal Lawyer
Areas of criminal law handled
Bail applications
Guilty pleas and sentencing
Contested hearings
Diversion
Appeals
Drink driving and drug driving
Family violence and intervention orders
Sexual offences
Serious violence
Fraud and dishonesty
Children's Court matters
Office
Level 1, 15 Dana Street, Ballarat Central VIC 3350
Book a consultation through the site. It doesn't say whether the first meeting is free or how fees are set
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
A small Ballarat criminal defence practice run by founder and principal solicitor Tyson Manicolo, who the firm says has spent his whole ten year career defending people charged with criminal offences. He works in the Magistrates' and County Courts, runs bail applications, pleas and contested hearings, instructs in jury trials and handles sentence and conviction appeals. The firm says it keeps its caseload small so each file gets proper preparation. It suits people who want one lawyer on their matter from start to finish. The site doesn't publish first consultation terms, so ask when you call.
Also worth knowing
It also acts for respondents in intervention order applications.
Lawyers
Tyson Manicolo is the only lawyer named on the firm's site.
Tyson Manicolo, Founder and Principal Solicitor
Areas of criminal law handled
Bail applications
Guilty pleas
Contested hearings
Instructing in jury trials
Sentence and conviction appeals in the County Court
Intervention order matters
Police interview advice
Traffic offences
Submissions for security and firearms licence holders
Obligation free initial 30 minute consultation, terms and conditions apply, according to the firm.
Office
21 Lydiard Street South, Ballarat Central VIC 3350
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
David Tamanika Solicitors is a Ballarat firm on Lydiard Street South led by principal solicitor David Tamanika, who the firm says has defended clients in Ballarat for more than 15 years. Criminal law is the core of the practice, with family law, intervention orders and traffic matters alongside it. The firm says it regularly appears at Ballarat Magistrates' Court and also covers Ararat and Bacchus Marsh, with County Court appeals and trials. It suits locals who want an established Ballarat defence lawyer. The first 30 minute consultation is obligation free.
Also worth knowing
The office is on Lydiard Street South, open Monday to Friday.
Lawyers
The site doesn't say which practice area Brooke Tamanika works in.
David Tamanika, Principal Solicitor
Brooke Tamanika, Solicitor
Areas of criminal law handled
Criminal defence
Bail hearings
Pleas
Contested hearings
County Court appeals
Drug charges
Drink driving and DUI
Family violence charges
Intervention orders
Traffic offences
Office
21 Lydiard Street South, Ballarat Central VIC 3350
Consultations booked by phone or online form. The firm says fee arrangements are flexible, with upfront quotes.
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
A Melbourne CBD criminal defence firm led by directors Emma Turnbull and Adrian Lewin, with partner Manny Brennan. The firm says all three are accredited criminal law specialists and that it works only in criminal defence and intervention orders. Nine lawyers handle everything from summary charges to jury trials and appeals. Its website lists only the Lonsdale Street office, so ask whether a lawyer will travel to Ballarat for your hearings. It suits serious charges where you want a specialist team.
Lawyers
Emma Turnbull, Director Accredited criminal law specialist
Adrian Lewin, Director Accredited criminal law specialist
Manny Brennan, Partner Accredited criminal law specialist
Free first consultation and case review, in person by appointment or by phone or Zoom. Upfront costs estimate at the first meeting and fixed fees available, according to the firm
Office
4 Market Street, Ballarat Central VIC 3350
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Wilkinson Lawyers is a sole practice run by principal solicitor Jess Wilkinson, who is based in Ballarat and does criminal defence and intervention order work only. The firm says she handles every matter herself from first call to final hearing, and appears at Ballarat Magistrates' Court as well as the County and Supreme Courts. It suits people who want one local lawyer they can reach directly. The first consultation and case review is free, with an upfront costs estimate at the first meeting and fixed fees available.
Also worth knowing
It offers a free case review and an upfront costs estimate at the first meeting.
Lawyers
The firm is a sole practice and its site names no other lawyers.
Free 30 minute consultation, in person or remote. The firm says it gives upfront views on costs and the process before any further steps.
Office
1013 Sturt St, Ballarat Central VIC 3350
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Olympus Lawyers is a small Ballarat firm on Sturt Street, set up in July 2019 by founding partner and director Kirk Walker. He was admitted in South Australia in 2014 and has practised in Victoria since late 2014, and the firm says he has family ties to Ballarat. Criminal defence sits alongside family law, intervention orders, traffic and civil work, so it suits clients whose charge overlaps with a family violence or family law matter. The first 30 minute consultation is free, in person or remote, and costs are discussed upfront.
Not stated on the site. The firm says it helps clients apply for legal aid
Office
Boswell House, 17 Dawson St Sth, Ballarat VIC 3350
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
A Ballarat general practice founded in 1984 by Dean Cinque, who still works at the firm. Criminal law is a small part of what it does, with one line among 11 practice areas and no criminal law page. Its strength here is Jon Irwin, who joined in mid 2021 after running his own criminal law practice in Ballarat for ten years, and Richard Oakley also covers criminal matters. The firm acts in police matters, traffic offences and court appearances, and helps with legal aid applications. The site doesn't publish consultation terms.
Founded in 1984
Also worth knowing
The firm helps clients with Legal Aid applications.
Lawyers
Brett Bryant, the firm's fourth solicitor, is an accredited specialist in commercial litigation, not criminal law.
Jon Irwin, Solicitor
Richard Oakley, Solicitor
Dean Cinque, Founder and Solicitor
Areas of criminal law handled
Police matters and interviews
Traffic offences
Magistrates' Court appearances
Pleas
Legal Aid applications
Victims of crime assistance
Office
Boswell House, 17 Dawson St Sth, Ballarat VIC 3350
15 Doveton Street North, Ballarat Central VIC 3350
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
A full service firm based in Moonee Ponds with a Ballarat office on Doveton Street North. Criminal law is one of six practice areas, and the site doesn't say which of its lawyers work from Ballarat. Partner Phillip Barravecchio, a solicitor advocate with more than 20 years in practice, handles serious criminal matters, and Robert Auricchio and Sofia Ribeiro also list criminal work. The firm says its predecessor practices go back more than 60 years. It suits clients who want one firm for a charge plus property, family or estate work. The site doesn't publish consultation terms.
Also worth knowing
The firm incorporates earlier practices including McNamara's and Gambles Lawyers.
Lawyers
The site doesn't say which lawyers work from the Ballarat office.
Phillip Barravecchio, Partner, Solicitor Advocate
Robert Auricchio, Special Counsel
Sofia Ribeiro, Associate
Areas of criminal law handled
Criminal defence
Homicide
Sexual offences
Drug offences
Fraud and white collar crime
Drink and drug driving
Traffic law
Intervention orders
Jury trials
Appeals
Office
15 Doveton Street North, Ballarat Central VIC 3350
Other details
Other offices
Moonee Ponds, Wheelers Hill and Werribee (by appointment)
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.
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Tell us a little about your matter and we'll put you in touch with a Ballarat criminal lawyer. It's free and there's no obligation.
How we compiled this list
We include firms with a Ballarat office that do criminal defence work. Some are criminal law only practices, and some are general firms where criminal law is one part of the work, and we say which. For each firm we read its own website in October 2026 and wrote the description ourselves. Where a firm says a lawyer is an LIV accredited specialist we say so, and you can check the LIV's specialist directory. Free consultations and fee terms are as the firm describes them, so confirm them when you call. We show Google ratings with the date we checked them.
No firm pays for its place on this list, and the order is our own. 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 Victorian Government, the Victorian courts and Victoria Legal Aid in October 2026.
Where Ballarat criminal cases are heard
Most cases start at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court, 100 Grenville Street South, phone (03) 7003 4113. It's open Monday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm. Besides its general criminal lists, the court runs:
Drug Court: opened in 2022, for people whose offending is linked to drug or alcohol use. A Drug and Alcohol Treatment Order is a jail sentence served in the community, with treatment and close supervision
Assessment and Referral Court: for people with a mental illness, intellectual disability, acquired brain injury, autism or a neurological impairment (including dementia) that substantially reduces their capacity for self care, self management, social interaction or communication. ARC links them with support under an individual plan, with regular reviews before a magistrate
Court Integrated Services Program: a bail support program run through the court
Specialist Family Violence Court: one of Victoria's specialist courts for family violence charges and intervention orders
Ballarat isn't one of the Koori Court locations. A magistrate can jail you for up to 2 years for one offence, or 5 years in total. More serious charges go to the County Court, which sits on circuit in Ballarat at the same building. Murder, treason and some other very serious charges are tried in the Supreme Court. If your filing hearing was on or after 28 December 2025, committal now has a filing hearing, a committal case conference (unless it's dispensed with) and a committal mention, with a committal hearing only if the magistrate allows witnesses to be cross-examined. Cases that started earlier follow the old process. Ask your lawyer how this affects your case.
The Children's Court sits at Ballarat Magistrates' Court, the main court for the Grampians region. The age of criminal responsibility in Victoria is 12. For offences allegedly committed on or after 27 February 2026, young people aged 15 to 17 charged with home invasion, aggravated home invasion, aggravated carjacking or causing serious injury in circumstances of gross violence have their cases heard in the adult courts. For 14 year olds charged with those offences, and for carjacking at 14 to 17, there's a presumption the case goes to an adult court. Filing hearings for these charges are held at the Melbourne Children's Court.
Bail in Ballarat and Victoria's tougher bail laws
Ballarat Magistrates' Court only sits on weekdays. If you're arrested when it's closed, police can grant bail, call a bail justice, or take you before the Bail and Remand Court in Melbourne, which sits seven days a week until 9pm. For the most serious charges, only a court can decide bail. If bail is refused, you stay in custody until you can be taken to court.
Victoria changed its bail laws four times between March 2025 and March 2026. Community safety is now of overarching importance in every bail decision, and there are three tests depending on the charge:
Exceptional circumstances: for the most serious charges, including murder, armed robbery, aggravated burglary, home invasion, carjacking and commercial drug trafficking, you must show exceptional circumstances to get bail
Compelling reason: for other serious charges, and since 31 March 2026 for many indictable offences allegedly committed while you were already on bail for another indictable offence, you must show a compelling reason
High degree of probability: since 30 September 2025, if you're charged with armed robbery, aggravated burglary, home invasion or carjacking while already on bail for one of those offences, the court must be satisfied to a high degree of probability that you won't commit another
For every charge, bail can be refused if there's an unacceptable risk you would commit a serious offence, endanger someone, interfere with witnesses or not turn up. It's also an offence to commit an indictable offence while on bail, and for an adult to breach a bail conduct condition, each with up to 3 months jail. With this much at stake, it's worth having a lawyer prepare your bail application.
Diversion for first and minor offences
If the offence isn't too serious, such as shop theft, minor damage or a small amount of drugs, you may be offered the Criminal Justice Diversion Program in the Magistrates' Court. You accept responsibility, which isn't a plea of guilty, and complete a plan that might include an apology, counselling or a donation.
The prosecution has to agree, and the plan usually runs for up to 12 months. If you complete it, you're discharged without any finding of guilt, so there's no conviction. Diversion isn't available for offences with a minimum penalty or licence loss, or for drink or drug driving. The Children's Court has its own diversion scheme for young people.
Spent convictions and when a conviction isn't recorded
The court can find you guilty without recording a conviction, after looking at the offence, your character and history, and the effect on your work and wellbeing. A finding of guilt without conviction is spent straight away. So are all convictions for offences committed under 15, and infringement convictions.
Conviction
When it's spent
Aged 15 to 20 when sentenced
5 years with no further offending
Aged 21 or over when sentenced
10 years with no further offending
Serious convictions: a jail term of more than 30 months, or any sexual or serious violence offence
Only by a Magistrates' Court order, and only for some. If you were 21 or over when sentenced, you can't apply if you were jailed for a sexual or serious violence offence, or sentenced to 5 years or more in prison for any charge
Once a conviction is spent, it no longer forms part of your criminal record and in most cases you don't have to disclose it.
If police want to interview you
Ballarat Police Station is at 20 Dana Street, and its counter and phone line, (03) 5336 6000, are open 24 hours. Before questioning, police must tell you that you don't have to say or do anything, and that anything you say may be used as evidence. They must also tell you that you can contact a friend or relative and a lawyer, and give you a reasonable time to do it, with a private conversation with your lawyer where practicable. If your English isn't good enough, you have the right to an interpreter. Police can skip some of these steps if it's urgent or evidence could be destroyed.
You can refuse to answer questions. Police can ask for your name and address if they have a lawful reason, and refusing then is an offence. Police generally can't question a young person under 18 in custody unless a parent, guardian or independent person is there, except where the delay would put someone's safety at risk, or contacting the adult would let an accomplice escape or evidence be destroyed.
Free and low cost criminal law help in Ballarat
Victoria Legal Aid, Ballarat: 106 Market Street, (03) 5329 6222. For criminal charges, apply through its free Help Before Court service online or by calling Legal Help on 1300 792 387, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Eligibility depends on your charges and income
Duty lawyers: Victoria Legal Aid's Ballarat office coordinates duty lawyers at the Ballarat and Bacchus Marsh courts, and at Ararat with the Horsham office. Not everyone is eligible, so ask court staff on the day
Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service: 1800 064 865
Djirra: 1800 354 772
Allied Justice: formerly the Ballarat and Grampians Community Legal Service, (03) 5331 5999. It doesn't do criminal defence, but helps with intervention orders, fines and victims of crime assistance
Law Institute of Victoria: its Find Your Lawyer referral service can put you in touch with a firm offering a free 30 minute first consultation
Ballarat criminal law: common questions
Where will my Ballarat criminal case be heard?
Most cases are heard at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court, 100 Grenville Street South. More serious charges go to the County Court, which sits in Ballarat at the same building in regular criminal circuits. Charges against young people go to the Children's Court, which also sits there.
Do I need a lawyer for a Magistrates' Court hearing?
Not always, but you should get advice first. A Victoria Legal Aid duty lawyer may be able to help on the day if you're eligible, and Victoria Legal Aid can tell you whether you qualify for a grant of aid. If you're facing jail, a community correction order or a large fine, it's worth having a lawyer from the start.
What is an accredited criminal law specialist?
A lawyer who has passed the Law Institute of Victoria's specialist accreditation in criminal law, which needs at least five years in practice and three in the area, and is renewed every three years. You can search for one on the LIV's accredited specialist directory.
What happens if I'm arrested in Ballarat at night or on the weekend?
Ballarat Magistrates' Court only sits on weekdays. If you're arrested when it's closed, police can grant bail, call a bail justice, or take you before the Bail and Remand Court in Melbourne, which sits seven days a week until 9pm. For the most serious charges, only a court can decide bail. If bail is refused, you stay in custody until you can be taken to court. You can ask to speak to a lawyer before any police interview.
Can I avoid a criminal record?
Often, for a first or minor offence. Diversion means no finding of guilt if you complete the plan, so there's nothing on your record to spend. A court can also find you guilty without recording a conviction, and that's spent straight away.
What is the Ballarat Drug Court?
A part of the Magistrates' Court, opened in 2022, for people whose offending is linked to drug or alcohol use. If you plead guilty, live in the court's catchment area and are facing a jail term of up to two years, you may be sentenced to a Drug and Alcohol Treatment Order. It's a jail sentence served in the community, with treatment, regular testing and close supervision by a magistrate, and the jail term can be activated if you don't follow it. Sexual offences and offences causing more than minor injury aren't eligible.
How much does a Ballarat criminal lawyer cost?
It depends on the charge and the court. Several firms here offer a free first consultation, and some quote a fixed fee for Magistrates' Court matters. Ask for a written estimate, and check whether you qualify for legal aid.
General information only, not legal advice.
Looking in another city? See all our criminal lawyers by city, with a plain English guide to how it works.
