Fee estimate given early; fixed fees for most matters, including all traffic matters. No Legal Aid funded matters.
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Navarro Lawyers is a small Townsville practice run by Zoe Navarro, who set it up in 2018. The firm says she has worked only in criminal defence since her admission in 2011, including time with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service. She became a Queensland Law Society Accredited Specialist in Criminal Law in December 2022, and the firm says she is the only one in the Townsville region. The practice sticks to criminal, traffic and domestic violence work. It suits people who want a specialist on their file. It doesn't take Legal Aid funded matters and uses fixed fees for most work.
Founded in 2018
Also worth knowing
The firm says she still regularly represents clients on Palm Island.
Confidential consultation on request by phone or online form.
Office
416 Flinders Street, Townsville QLD 4810
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Connolly Suthers has been in Townsville since 1895, the firm says. Its criminal team of five is led by partners Bill O'Toole, Bradley Searston and Mathai Joshi, with senior associate Patrick Staunton focused on criminal and domestic violence litigation. The firm says the team has handled murder, drug trafficking and sexual offence charges, and advises on Crime and Corruption Commission investigations. It suits clients who want a large local firm with depth behind the criminal team. The firm offers a confidential consultation through its enquiry form.
Founded in 1895
Also worth knowing
Mathai Joshi has acted on murder, manslaughter and drug trafficking charges.
Lawyers
Bill O'Toole, Partner
Bradley Searston, Partner
Mathai Joshi, Partner
Patrick Staunton, Senior Associate
Lloyd Kennedy, Solicitor
Areas of criminal law handled
Criminal charges
Drug offences
Murder and manslaughter
Sexual offences
Weapons Act offences
Burglary and theft
White collar crime
Domestic violence
Traffic offences
Work licences and special hardship orders
Crime and Corruption Commission investigations
Office
416 Flinders Street, Townsville QLD 4810
Other details
Other offices
Ayr; the firm also has Brisbane and Mount Isa pages
Call the office or the 24/7 Crime Line, or request a consultation online. The site doesn't say whether the first consultation is free.
Office
62 Walker Street, Townsville City QLD 4810
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Anderson Telford Lawyers is a criminal defence firm that says it has worked in Townsville and Mount Isa since 2000. The firm says its principal was admitted in 1994 and has practised only in criminal law, with appearances claimed in every Queensland jurisdiction up to the High Court. Solicitors Morgan Place and Holly Trentin make up the rest of the legal team. A 24 hour Crime Line is a practical plus for anyone arrested at night. It suits people who want a dedicated criminal firm with long local roots.
Practising in Townsville since 2000
Also worth knowing
The firm also advises on liquor, workplace safety and environmental investigations.
Lawyers
The site names the principal only as 'Anderson Telford'.
Kely Law is a one lawyer criminal defence practice run by Michael Kely, who says he personally handles every matter rather than passing it down the line. According to the firm, he spent about a decade as a defence lawyer with Legal Aid Queensland, has done prosecution work in the United Kingdom and has advised two former Queensland Attorneys General. The firm covers the usual criminal and traffic work plus coronial inquests, parole, dangerous prisoner applications and council prosecutions. It suits people who want one experienced lawyer from start to finish. It offers fixed fees.
Also worth knowing
The firm takes coronial inquests, parole and dangerous prisoner applications as well as standard criminal work.
Fixed fees for criminal law matters, payment plans available, fees explained at the start.
Office
Level 1, 131 Denham Street, Townsville QLD 4810
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Kalo Criminal Law is a Townsville criminal defence firm led by director Kerri Patterson, who the firm says has practised criminal law since she was admitted and appears in court regularly. She studied law and psychology at James Cook University. The firm appears in the Townsville Magistrates, District and Supreme Courts and travels to regional courts at Ingham, Charters Towers, Ayr, Bowen, Cairns and Mount Isa. It also takes council, regulator and RSPCA prosecutions and youth matters. Fees are fixed for criminal matters and payment plans are offered.
Also worth knowing
Criminal matters are charged at fixed fees with payment plans available.
Book by phone or online form; the site doesn't set out first consultation terms.
Office
150 Walker Street, Townsville City QLD 4810
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
CBC Lawyers started in Townsville in 1976 as Crosby Brosnan Creen. Husband and wife principals Michael and Sandra Clive bought the firm in 2009 and lead its crime and traffic team themselves, with more than 60 years of combined experience, the firm says. The team handles everything from traffic and summary charges in the Magistrates Court to indictable matters such as grievous bodily harm, drug trafficking and murder. It also pushes for diversion and no conviction outcomes where they fit. It suits clients who want principals running their criminal file at a general firm.
Founded in 1976
Also worth knowing
It seeks diversion, good behaviour orders and no conviction outcomes where available.
Lawyers
Michael Clive, Principal
Sandra Clive, Principal
Areas of criminal law handled
Summary offences
Indictable offences
Traffic offences
Work licences
Assault and grievous bodily harm
Sexual offences
Drug trafficking
Murder
Domestic violence
Firearm and weapon offences
Charge negotiation and diversion
No conviction submissions
Office
150 Walker Street, Townsville City QLD 4810
Other details
Other offices
Serves Mount Isa and the Burdekin (only Townsville address listed)
The site doesn't set out consultation terms. The firm says it is a Legal Aid Queensland preferred supplier.
Office
Suite 1, 291 Ross River Road, Aitkenvale QLD 4814
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Rennick Lawyers is a family run Aitkenvale firm led by principal Phil Rennick, who practises criminal and family law and, the firm says, was formerly a barrister of the High Court. Lawyer Thomas Proctor covers criminal, traffic, family and estate matters. The firm says it has more than 40 years of experience and is a Legal Aid Queensland preferred supplier, which matters for people who qualify for aid. Its criminal work runs from domestic violence breaches and Centrelink fraud up to homicide. An after hours number is published for urgent matters.
Anderson Fredericks Turner is a Queensland firm with a Townsville office in the Suncorp Building on Sturt Street, plus offices in Brisbane, Beenleigh, Maroochydore and Toowoomba. It calls itself a firm of lawyers and courtroom advocates, and its criminal pages cover assault and grievous bodily harm charges, drink and drug driving, failing to stop for police, special hardship orders and appeals. It also has an employment practice, including work for Queensland public servants facing misconduct matters. It suits clients who want a statewide firm with a local office.
Purcell Taylor is a Townsville general practice led by director Melody Cornish, with criminal work handled by associate Troydon Maltby and solicitor Howard Keyes. The criminal side covers drug, assault and sexual offence charges, including historical allegations, and the firm gives advice before police interviews. It also spells out what a conviction could mean for your job, which helps people in licensed or security sensitive work. An after hours line is kept for urgent police questioning. It suits people who want a local generalist firm. Appointments are arranged by phone.
Also worth knowing
The firm says director Melody Cornish has more than 20 years there, rising from articled clerk.
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.
Not sure which firm suits you?
Tell us a little about your matter and we'll put you in touch with a Townsville criminal lawyer. It's free and there's no obligation.
How we compiled this list
We include firms with a Townsville office that do criminal defence as a main part of their work. Some are criminal law practices, and some are general firms with a criminal team, 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 firm says a lawyer is a Queensland Law Society accredited specialist, we say so, and you can check the QLS register. We list nine 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 Townsville criminal charges are heard
Almost every criminal case starts in the Magistrates Court. In Townsville that's the courthouse at 31 Walker Street, phone (07) 4781 8600. The District Court and the Supreme Court registry are in the same building, and Townsville is one of the four main Supreme Court registries in Queensland, with Brisbane, Cairns and Rockhampton. The registry is open 8:30am to 4:30pm on Mondays and Wednesday to Friday, and 8:30am to 4pm on Tuesdays.
Type of matter
Where and when it's dealt with
Adult arrests
Arrest court, 9:30am on weekdays in Court 1. On Saturdays and public holidays it sits at 8am, for people in custody only
Summary offences and most property offences, such as stealing and fraud
Magistrates Court. For some charges you can choose to go to a higher court
Serious indictable charges
Committed to the District Court or Supreme Court. At a committal, the magistrate decides whether there's enough evidence for the case to go to trial
Domestic violence criminal charges
Specialist domestic and family violence court. Charges are listed for callover at 9am on Fridays, with hearings set by the magistrate
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants
Murri Court, a less formal, culturally appropriate sentencing court, 10am every second Friday
Charges against under 18s
Childrens Court, 9am on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, with first appearances on Fridays. The Childrens Court of Queensland sits with District Court judges
Young people: the Youth Court and adult penalties
Townsville has its own Youth Court, part of the Childrens Court, for young people aged 10 to 17 who are repeat offenders at high risk of reoffending. A dedicated magistrate hears all its cases and tracks each young person's progress in programs and services. Elders and respected people from the Townsville Community Justice Group give cultural reports to the magistrate and support young people in court. It sits at 9am on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
The state's youth crime laws apply in Townsville 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 bill, which had not passed when we checked on 24 October 2026, would cover children as well as adults: for a child, committing an Adult Crime, Adult Time offence while on bail would carry at least 12 months in youth detention, and police and courts would 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.
The Breach Bail, Go to Jail bill. This is a government bill, not yet law. It was introduced on 27 August 2026 and was still before Parliament when we checked on 24 October 2026. It would apply to adults and children. It would 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 would be served in a youth detention centre. It would also make bail harder to get for anyone charged with one of those offences while on bail: police and courts would have to refuse bail unless satisfied to a high degree of confidence that the person won't commit another listed offence on bail. As introduced, it would start on 30 November 2026. The new offence would apply only where bail is granted on or after that date. The tougher bail test would apply to listed offences committed after that date, whenever the first bail was granted.
Domestic violence charges and the Townsville court
Townsville has a specialist domestic and family violence court, and Palm Island is part of it as a circuit court. Community Justice Groups in Townsville and on Palm Island are funded to support those courts. In Townsville, protection order applications are listed at 9am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and criminal charges for callover at 9am on Fridays, with hearings set by the magistrate. Legal Aid Queensland's domestic violence duty lawyer is at the Townsville Magistrates Court on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays to help people applying for or responding to a protection order.
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. Court Link, the bail based support program, runs in places such as Cairns, Mount Isa and Rockhampton, but not Townsville.
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 in Townsville
Legal Aid Queensland: 1300 65 11 88, Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm. Its Townsville office is on Level 4, Northern Securities Building, 22 Walker Street, (07) 4758 5300, 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 Townsville, Palm Island, Ayr, Ingham and Charters Towers 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 court staff
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: 12 to 20 Wills Street, Townsville, (07) 4722 5111, and a Palm Island office for criminal law at Lot 47, corner of Main Street and Police Lane, (07) 4770 1222. Its free line 1800 012 255 takes general enquiries during business hours, and after hours is a custody notification service for new arrests only
To check a lawyer is practising, or to find an accredited criminal law specialist, search the Queensland Law Society register of solicitors.
Townsville criminal law: common questions
Do I need a lawyer for my first court date in Townsville?
Not always, but get advice before it. A duty lawyer at the Townsville Magistrates Court 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 in Townsville?
Adults are usually brought before the arrest court at 31 Walker Street, which sits at 9:30am on weekdays, and at 8am on Saturdays and public holidays for people in custody only. If you're under 18, your case goes to the Childrens Court or Youth Court in the same building instead. 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 in Townsville. What should I do?
Get advice quickly. Legal Aid Queensland's youth legal advice hotline is 1800 527 527. 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. Young repeat offenders may be dealt with in the Townsville Youth Court. The Breach Bail, Go to Jail bill, not passed when we checked on 24 October 2026, would 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 is the Breach Bail, Go to Jail bill?
A Queensland government bill, not yet law. It was introduced on 27 August 2026 and was still before Parliament on 24 October 2026. It would apply to adults and children. It would make committing a listed serious offence while on bail 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 would also face a tougher bail test for anyone charged with one. As introduced, it would start on 30 November 2026. The new offence would apply only where bail is granted on or after that date, and the tougher bail test to listed offences committed after that date.
Can I avoid a criminal conviction?
Sometimes. For many first and minor offences the court can decide not to record a conviction, looking at the offence, your character and age, and the effect on your work. Small drug matters may also be dealt with through police diversion or the Illicit Drugs Court Diversion Program. There's no drug court in Townsville.
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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