Best for People facing serious charges who want an accredited criminal law specialist close to Maroochydore court
Chelsea Emery is a Queensland Law Society Accredited Specialist in Criminal Law, according to the QLS register, and the firm says she is the only one on the Sunshine Coast.
It practises only criminal and traffic law.
It runs a 24/7 crime hotline as well as its Maroochydore office line.
Accredited criminal law specialist (1)Chelsea Emery
The site doesn't set out first consultation or fee terms. A 24/7 crime hotline is available alongside the office number.
Office
Unit 6, 111-113 Aerodrome Road, Maroochydore QLD 4558
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Chelsea Emery & Associates is a criminal and traffic practice on Aerodrome Road in Maroochydore. Chelsea Emery is a Queensland Law Society Accredited Specialist in Criminal Law, and the firm says she is the only one on the Sunshine Coast. Its work runs from drink driving and work licences through to drug trafficking, sexual offences, homicide and Commonwealth charges, plus parole, appeals and crime commission hearings. A 24/7 crime hotline sits alongside the office line, which helps if you are arrested out of hours. The site doesn't set out first consultation terms, so ask when you call.
Also worth knowing
Its work extends to parole, appeals, crime and misconduct hearings and Commonwealth charges.
Best for People facing indictable charges in Maroochydore or Gympie who want lawyers who know how the Crown works
Principal solicitor Rose Killip has nine years in the Queensland criminal justice system and previously worked as a prosecutor.
Solicitor Maddy Olivero worked at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, including as a Crown Prosecutor, before moving to defence in 2024.
Rose Killip took over the firm from previous owner Anna Smith in 2024, according to local press.
The firm starts with an initial meeting to hear your side, which can be by phone or video. The site doesn't set out fee terms.
Office
Shop 1, 18-22 First Avenue, Maroochydore QLD 4558
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Smith Criminal Law is a criminal and traffic firm with offices on First Avenue in Maroochydore and Mary Street in Gympie. Principal solicitor Rose Killip took over the practice from previous owner Anna Smith in 2024 and previously worked as a prosecutor. Solicitor Maddy Olivero spent years at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, including as a Crown Prosecutor, before moving to defence in 2024. That time on the other side of the bar table is the draw. The firm handles everything from police interviews and bail to trials and appeals, and can meet by phone or video.
Starts with a confidential conversation by phone or enquiry form, with an appointment set to suit you. The firm publishes a legal costs guide.
Office
1st Floor, 7 Ocean Street, Maroochydore QLD 4558
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Rynderman Law is a criminal defence practice on Ocean Street in Maroochydore led by director and principal lawyer Ben Rynderman. He was admitted in 2015 and has about a decade of work in the Magistrates, District and Supreme Courts, according to the firm. Doyles Guide recommended the firm for Sunshine Coast criminal defence in 2022, 2023 and 2025. Alongside violence, drug, sexual and domestic violence matters, it takes mental health tribunal hearings and Legal Aid work. The first step is a confidential conversation, and clients get a secure portal to read their brief of evidence.
Also worth knowing
Clients can read their brief of evidence through a secure online portal.
Lawyers
Ben Rynderman is the only lawyer named on the site; the other team member listed is a law clerk.
Confidential consultation, booked by phone or the enquiry form. The site doesn't set out criminal fee terms.
Office
6-8 William Street, Nambour QLD 4560
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Butler McDermott says it was established in 1913, and it has offices on William Street in Nambour and on Innovation Parkway at Birtinya. Its criminal team includes lawyer Thomas McKee, who appears before judges and juries, along with senior associate Callum Neal and consultant Peter Boyce. It covers drug, violence, property and sexual offences as well as domestic violence and peace and good behaviour orders. As a full service firm it suits people whose criminal matter overlaps with family or other legal problems. Enquiries start with a confidential consultation.
Established in 1913
Also worth knowing
Its criminal page covers domestic violence orders and peace and good behaviour orders as well as criminal charges.
Free initial consultation for drink and drug driving matters, according to the firm. Other consultation terms aren't stated.
Office
6A/63 The Esplanade, Maroochydore QLD 4558
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Trianon Law is a small Maroochydore firm on The Esplanade, established in 2018 and led by director and principal solicitor Patrick Meehan. The firm says he has more than 19 years of experience across crime, family and litigation, and that he takes matters to trial when they can't be resolved. Criminal work covers assault, drug, fraud, stalking and domestic violence charges, along with bail, pleas, sentences and appeals, plus drink and drug driving. Because the firm also does family law, it suits clients facing a DV matter alongside a separation. Drink and drug driving clients get a free initial consultation.
Founded in 2018
Also worth knowing
It offers a free initial consultation for drink and drug driving matters.
Lawyers
The other solicitor listed, Christina Fawkes, works in family law.
The site doesn't set out consultation or fee terms. It suggests calling at least a few days before a court date.
Office
11/8 Pikki Street, Maroochydore QLD 4558
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Aitken Whyte is a Maroochydore firm with addresses on Pikki Street and Plaza Parade, led by principal Robert Aitken, who began practising in 1992 and comes from a commercial and insurance litigation background. Its criminal page covers a wide spread of charges, from public nuisance and common assault to drug supply, fraud, sexual offences and homicide, and mentions drug diversion, justice mediation and asking for no conviction to be recorded. The site doesn't name its criminal lawyers or give consultation terms. It suits people with a lower level charge who want a local general practice.
Confidential consultation, bookable online. Private practice only, no Legal Aid matters.
Office
7 Heathfield Road, Coolum Beach QLD
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Sunshine Coast Legal is a general practice on Heathfield Road at Coolum Beach, with Noel Woodall as its senior criminal defence lawyer. The QLS register lists four solicitors at the firm, three of whom include criminal law among their practice areas. Criminal work runs from assault through to homicide, drug charges from possession to trafficking, drink driving, domestic violence, weapons and sexual offences, and police interviews. It is a private practice and doesn't take Legal Aid matters. It suits clients on the northern coast around Coolum and Noosa. Appointments can be booked online.
Also worth knowing
It doesn't take Legal Aid matters.
Lawyers
The QLS register lists criminal law among the practice areas of Joshua Woodall and Jonathan Hall.
Free 30 minute initial consultation with no obligation, according to the firm. It offers free quotes.
Office
Level One, Echelon Centre, 65-67 Bulcock Street, Caloundra QLD 4551
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Ferrall & Co is a Caloundra firm in the Echelon Centre on Bulcock Street, led by legal practitioner director Rowena Ferrall, who was admitted in 2004 after training at ATSILS in Townsville. Family law is its main work, but it has a criminal defence practice that appears in Caloundra Magistrates Court and covers assault, sexual, drug and fraud charges and DV breaches. The QLS register lists Rowena Ferrall and solicitor Kiara Goodfellow with criminal law among their areas. It suits Caloundra locals, especially where a DV charge sits alongside a family law matter. The first 30 minute consultation is free.
Also worth knowing
It offers a free 30 minute first consultation.
Lawyers
The site doesn't say who handles criminal work; criminal law is listed for these two on the QLS register.
Rowena Ferrall, Legal Practitioner Director
Kiara Goodfellow, Solicitor
Areas of criminal law handled
Assault charges
Sexual offences
Drug offences
Drug driving
Domestic violence breaches
Fraud
Police interview advice
Guilty pleas
Trials
Traffic offences
Office
Level One, Echelon Centre, 65-67 Bulcock Street, Caloundra QLD 4551
Firm details come from each firm's own website and the Queensland Law Society register. 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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How we compiled this list
We include firms with a Sunshine Coast office that do criminal defence as a main part of their work. Some are criminal law practices, and some are general or family firms with a criminal practice, which we note in the write-up. For each firm we read its own website in October 2026 and wrote the description ourselves. Where a lawyer is a Queensland Law Society accredited specialist, we say so, and you can check the QLS register. We list eight firms rather than ten because we'd rather show fewer firms we've checked than pad the list. 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. We write the descriptions ourselves. 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 Queensland Government, Queensland Courts and Legal Aid Queensland in October 2026.
Where Sunshine Coast criminal charges are heard
Almost every criminal case starts in the Magistrates Court. On the Sunshine Coast the main criminal courts are Maroochydore Courthouse on Cornmeal Parade, phone (07) 5376 5100, and Caloundra Magistrates Court at 3 Gregson Place, phone (07) 5293 4100. There are also Magistrates Courts at Nambour, 156 to 168 Currie Street, (07) 5374 7900, and Noosa, Langura Street, (07) 5473 2200. The Maroochydore registry is open 8:30am to 4:30pm, closing at 4pm on Wednesdays. Caloundra keeps the same hours but closes at 4pm on Tuesdays.
Type of matter
Where and when it's dealt with
Arrests, bails and notices to appear
Maroochydore at 9am daily, along with short sentences of 20 minutes or less. Caloundra hears arrests at 8:45am and 2pm, Monday to Friday except public holidays
Summary offences and most property offences, such as stealing and fraud
Magistrates Court. Caloundra runs its criminal and traffic callover at 8:30am on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For some charges you can choose to go to a higher court
Serious indictable charges
Committed to the District Court or Supreme Court. Maroochydore runs a summary and committal mention callover at 9:30am, and the District Court holds criminal sittings, including trials and sentences, in the same courthouse
Domestic violence criminal charges
Maroochydore has a monthly 9am callover, on a set Friday, for domestic violence breach charges and longer pleas. Caloundra hears criminal and police domestic violence hearings on Mondays
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants
Murri Court, a less formal, culturally appropriate sentencing court, sits at Maroochydore on set dates
Probation and parole breaches
Maroochydore, 9am on Thursdays
Charges against under 18s
Childrens Court. Maroochydore's Youth Justice Court sits on Wednesdays, with bails and notices to appear at 8:30am. The Childrens Court of Queensland sits with District Court judges
At a committal, the magistrate decides whether there's enough evidence for the case to go to trial.
Young people: the Childrens Court and adult penalties
Maroochydore runs a Youth Justice Court on Wednesdays, with bails and notices to appear at 8:30am. Legal Aid Queensland's Caloundra duty lawyer roster says all Childrens Court matters at Caloundra are transferred to Maroochydore Magistrates Court. Legal Aid Queensland's Maroochydore office runs the Childrens Court duty lawyer service there on Wednesdays, phone (07) 5451 6900. The Sunshine Coast Youth Justice Service Centre is at Level 1, 61 The Esplanade, Maroochydore, (07) 5376 9800.
The state's youth crime laws apply on the Sunshine Coast as they do everywhere else in Queensland:
Adult Crime, Adult Time: since 13 December 2024, children sentenced for listed serious offences face the same penalties as adults, up to the adult maximum, and mandatory adult penalties apply too. For murder that means mandatory life detention, with at least 20 years before parole
A longer list: it started with 13 offences, including murder, grievous bodily harm, robbery, burglary and unlawful use of a motor vehicle. It has been extended three times, in May 2025, March 2026 and April 2026, and now covers more than 40 offences, including drug trafficking, rape, arson and strangulation in a domestic setting
Sentencing: courts sentencing any child must give primary regard to the impact on the victim, and no longer treat detention as a last resort
Electronic monitoring: since 30 April 2026, a court anywhere in Queensland can make electronic monitoring a bail condition for a child if it decides it's appropriate after a suitability assessment, and the services needed to support it are available where the child lives
Bail for children is dealt with under the Youth Justice Act. The Breach Bail, Go to Jail laws, passed on 29 October 2026 and starting on 30 November 2026, cover children as well as adults: for a child, committing an Adult Crime, Adult Time offence while on bail carries at least 12 months in youth detention, and police and courts face a tougher bail test. The bail section below has the detail. The rules that apply depend on when the offence happened, so if your child has been charged, get advice early.
Arrest, police questioning and bail
You have the right to stay silent. You only have to give your name and address when police are entitled to ask, for example if they suspect you of an offence. Police must caution you before questioning. Before they question you about an indictable offence, they must tell you that you can contact a lawyer and a friend or relative, and give you a reasonable time to do it. Your lawyer can be present during the interview. Police can generally hold you for up to 8 hours to question you about an indictable offence, with no more than 4 hours of actual questioning, unless police get a magistrate to extend it. Extra protections apply to children and to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The bail rules below are the adult rules in the Bail Act. A court must grant bail unless there's an unacceptable risk you would fail to appear, commit another offence, endanger someone's safety or interfere with witnesses. It looks at the seriousness of the charge, your background, your bail history and how strong the evidence is. For some charges you must show cause why you shouldn't be held, including:
an indictable offence allegedly committed while you were already on bail or awaiting trial for another indictable offence
an indictable offence involving a firearm, offensive weapon or explosive
an offence against the Bail Act, such as failing to appear in court
serious domestic violence offences, such as strangulation or a violent breach of a protection order
Where a conviction would mean mandatory life imprisonment, only the Supreme Court can grant bail. If you're refused bail, you can apply again if your circumstances change, or apply to a higher court.
Maroochydore is one of the courts that runs Court Link, a bail based program that connects people with support for housing, substance use, mental health, physical health and jobs, to deal with what's behind the offending. The Court Link team is on Level 2 of the Cornmeal Parade courthouse.
The Breach Bail, Go to Jail laws. Parliament passed the Breach Bail, Go to Jail bill on 29 October 2026, and the government says the changes start on 30 November 2026. They apply to adults and children. They create a new offence of committing a listed serious offence while on bail, with a mandatory minimum of 12 months, served wholly in custody, and a maximum of 3 years. For children, the listed offences are the Adult Crime, Adult Time offences, and the 12 month minimum is served in a youth detention centre. The laws also make bail harder to get for anyone charged with one of those offences while on bail: police and courts must refuse bail unless satisfied to a high degree of confidence that the person won't commit another listed offence on bail. Under the bill as introduced, the new offence applies only where bail is granted on or after 30 November 2026, and the tougher bail test to listed offences committed after that date, whenever the first bail was granted. If you're on bail now, ask a lawyer how the change affects you.
Domestic violence charges on the Sunshine Coast
Neither Maroochydore nor Caloundra is one of Queensland's specialist domestic and family violence courts, so DV charges go through the ordinary Magistrates Court lists. Maroochydore has a monthly 9am callover, on a set Friday, for DV breach charges and longer pleas, and hears protection order applications at 9am on Tuesdays. Caloundra hears criminal and police domestic violence hearings on Mondays, and protection order applications at 8:30am on Wednesdays. Legal Aid Queensland's domestic violence duty lawyer is at Maroochydore on Tuesdays to help people applying for or responding to a protection order. That service is for protection orders, not criminal charges, so if you're facing both an order and a charge, get advice early.
Coercive control: a criminal offence in Queensland from 26 May 2025, with a maximum of 14 years in prison. It covers an adult who uses domestic violence on more than one occasion against someone they're in a domestic relationship with, including a former partner, intending to coerce or control them, where that conduct is reasonably likely to cause them harm
Bail: serious domestic violence offences, such as strangulation or a violent breach of a protection order, are show cause offences
Young people: choking, suffocation or strangulation in a domestic setting is on the Adult Crime, Adult Time list
If you're in danger, call 000. DVConnect Womensline is on 1800 811 811 and 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, both 24 hours. DVConnect Mensline is 1800 600 636, 9am to midnight.
Drug charges and avoiding a conviction
If police find a small amount of drugs they believe is for your own use, police must offer an eligible person a drug diversion instead of a charge. Under 18s have the same eligibility, though police can use a caution or another youth justice option instead. You get up to three chances in your lifetime: a warning, then an assessment program, then a final assessment program. Each one is used up once it's offered, even if you say no. You're not eligible if there's a related indictable charge, or if you've ever been jailed for supplying, trafficking or producing drugs. Parliament has passed laws replacing this scheme with a single diversion chance, plus on-the-spot fines for minor drug offences other than cannabis. When we checked on 24 October 2026 those changes had not started, so check with a lawyer or the Legal Aid drug diversion line.
Drug
Diversion limit
Cannabis
50 grams
MDMA
4 pills
LSD
3 tabs
Ketamine
0.2 grams
Most other illicit drugs, such as cocaine, heroin and methylamphetamine
1 gram
If you've been charged and plead guilty to a minor drug offence in court, the Illicit Drugs Court Diversion Program may still let you avoid a conviction. The Queensland Drug and Alcohol Court sits only in Brisbane, and you have to live, or intend to live, in the Brisbane Magistrates Court district to take part. On the Sunshine Coast, Court Link at Maroochydore is the closest option for people on bail who need drug and alcohol support.
For many first offences, the big question is whether a conviction will be recorded. The court can decide not to record one, looking at the nature of the offence, your character and age, and the effect a conviction would have on your job prospects and wellbeing. An unrecorded conviction isn't treated as a conviction for most purposes. A recorded conviction can stop showing on most checks after a rehabilitation period, as long as you weren't sentenced to more than 30 months' imprisonment, even if the sentence was suspended. The period runs from the date the conviction is recorded, or until any court order is satisfied if that's later. A new conviction during the period can restart the clock.
Conviction
Rehabilitation period
Adult convicted on indictment (a higher court)
10 years
Any other conviction, including all convictions as a child
5 years
Some jobs, such as working with children or in the law, still require you to disclose older convictions.
Free and low cost criminal law help on the Sunshine Coast
Legal Aid Queensland: 1300 65 11 88, Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm. Its Maroochydore office is on the ground floor of the M1 Building, Duporth Avenue, (07) 5451 6900, open the same hours. The youth legal advice hotline, for under 18s or anyone with a Childrens Court matter, is 1800 527 527
Duty lawyers: Legal Aid Queensland lists Maroochydore, Caloundra, Nambour and Noosa among its criminal duty lawyer courts. On your court day they help with bail, adjournments and less complex guilty pleas, but not trials, committals, complex sentence hearings, domestic violence matters or traffic offences such as speeding, and not a first or second drink or drug driving charge unless jail is likely. Arrive early and ask to see the duty lawyer. If you're in the watch-house, you can ask before you're taken into court
Drug diversion advice line: Legal Aid Queensland, 1300 004 924 (over 18s, Monday to Thursday, 8am to 5pm)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service: Suite 3, 115 to 117 Aerodrome Road, Maroochydore, (07) 5452 7633, for criminal, family and civil law, with access from Maud Street. Its free line 1800 012 255 takes general enquiries during business hours, and after hours is a custody notification service for new arrests only
Suncoast Community Legal Service: free advice and referrals for Sunshine Coast residents, with criminal matters and domestic violence among the areas it lists. It isn't means tested but aims to help people who can't afford legal advice. Bookings are essential, on (07) 5376 7800 or online, and sessions usually run 15 to 20 minutes. The office is at Level 3, 29 The Esplanade, Maroochydore
To check a lawyer is practising, or to find an accredited criminal law specialist, search the Queensland Law Society register of solicitors.
Sunshine Coast criminal law: common questions
Do I need a lawyer for my first court date at Maroochydore or Caloundra?
Not always, but get advice before it. A duty lawyer at Maroochydore, Caloundra, Nambour or Noosa can help on the day with bail, an adjournment or a simple guilty plea, and Legal Aid Queensland can tell you if you qualify for a grant of aid. For anything that might mean jail, a lost licence or a recorded conviction, it's worth having a lawyer from the start.
What happens if I'm arrested and held in custody on the Sunshine Coast?
Adults are usually brought before a Magistrates Court. Maroochydore hears arrests, bails and notices to appear at 9am daily, and Caloundra hears arrests at 8:45am and 2pm, Monday to Friday except public holidays. Ask for a lawyer as soon as you can. For an indictable offence, police must give you a reasonable chance to contact one before questioning.
My child has been charged on the Sunshine Coast. What should I do?
Get advice quickly. Legal Aid Queensland's youth legal advice hotline is 1800 527 527. Maroochydore's Youth Justice Court sits on Wednesdays, Caloundra sends its Childrens Court matters there, and Legal Aid runs a Childrens Court duty lawyer at Maroochydore. Since 13 December 2024, children sentenced for listed serious offences face the same penalties as adults, and the list now covers more than 40 offences. From 30 November 2026, the new Breach Bail, Go to Jail laws also apply to children charged with an Adult Crime, Adult Time offence while on bail. The rules that apply depend on when the offence happened.
What are the new Breach Bail, Go to Jail laws?
Queensland bail changes passed by Parliament on 29 October 2026, which the government says start on 30 November 2026. They apply to adults and children. Committing a listed serious offence while on bail becomes a separate offence with a mandatory minimum of 12 months in custody, or in youth detention for a child, where for children the listed offences are the Adult Crime, Adult Time offences. Police and courts also face a tougher bail test for anyone charged with a listed offence committed while on bail. Under the bill as introduced, the new offence applies only where bail is granted on or after 30 November 2026, and the tougher bail test to listed offences committed after that date, whenever the first bail was granted.
Is there a drug court on the Sunshine Coast?
No. The Queensland Drug and Alcohol Court sits in Brisbane, and you have to live, or intend to live, in the Brisbane Magistrates Court district to take part. At Maroochydore, Court Link is a bail based program that links people with support for substance use, mental health, housing and other needs. For small amounts of drugs, police diversion or the Illicit Drugs Court Diversion Program may let you avoid a conviction.
What is an accredited criminal law specialist?
A solicitor accredited in criminal law by the Queensland Law Society. To keep it, they must spend at least 25 per cent of a full-time practice load in criminal law and complete 15 CPD points a year, at least 10 of them in criminal law. It isn't required to practise, but it's a good sign of depth. You can search for one on the QLS register of solicitors.
Do I have to answer police questions?
No. You only have to give your name and address when police are entitled to ask, for example if they suspect you of an offence. You can say you want to speak to a lawyer first, and your lawyer can be with you during the interview.
General information only, not legal advice.
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