Best for People facing serious indictable charges who want an accredited specialist
The firm practises only criminal and traffic law, according to its website.
The firm lists Graeme Morrison, Matthew Ward and Analise Ritchie as Law Society of NSW Accredited Specialists in Criminal Law.
According to the firm, Matthew Ward was named Regional Lawyer of the Year at the 2024 Australian Law Awards. Doyle's Guide 2026 ranks him Preeminent among regional NSW criminal lawyers.
Accredited criminal law specialists (3)Graeme Morrison, Matthew Ward, Analise Ritchie
Free initial consultation. Phone line answered 24/7, according to the firm.
Office
Level 1, 83-85 Market Street, Wollongong NSW 2500
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Morrisons is a Wollongong firm that does nothing but criminal and traffic law. The firm says Graeme Morrison started it in 2010 after decades at the Aboriginal Legal Service and the old Public Solicitor's office, and Matthew Ward joined as partner when it took the Morrisons name in 2016. According to the firm, Morrison, Ward and Analise Ritchie are all Law Society of NSW Accredited Specialists in Criminal Law, which it says no other firm in the region can match. It suits anyone facing a serious charge in the Local, District or Supreme Court. The firm offers a free first consultation.
Founded in 2010 as Graeme Morrison Law, renamed Morrisons in 2016
Also worth knowing
The firm says Graeme Morrison has practised since the 1970s, starting at the Aboriginal Legal Service.
Lawyers
Graeme Morrison, Founding Partner Accredited criminal law specialist
Matthew Ward, Partner Accredited criminal law specialist
Analise Ritchie, Solicitor Accredited criminal law specialist
Cameron Meaney, Solicitor, Criminal and Traffic Law
Zali Kelly, Solicitor, Criminal and Traffic Law
Harry Lollback, Solicitor, Criminal and Traffic Law
Areas of criminal law handled
Bail applications
Local Court defended hearings
District and Supreme Court trials
Sentencing and pleas
Domestic violence and AVO matters
Drug supply and possession charges
Drink and drug driving
Licence appeals and applications
Sexual offence charges
Fraud and federal offences
Office
Level 1, 83-85 Market Street, Wollongong NSW 2500
Other details
Other offices
Campbelltown (Queen Street) and Southern Highlands
Free, confidential initial consultation, available day or night, according to the firm.
Office
1 Burelli Street, Wollongong NSW 2500
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Schmidt & Associates is a small Wollongong criminal defence practice run by Patrick Schmidt, a former senior NSW police prosecutor who switched sides and joined Kells as a defence lawyer in 2019 before going out on his own. The firm says Schmidt handles every matter personally, which suits people who want the same senior lawyer from first call to sentence. He appears from the Local Court up to the Supreme Court. The first consultation is free and confidential, and the firm says it answers calls day or night.
First consultation is free. 24/7 urgent representation line, according to the firm.
Office
14-18 Auburn Street, Wollongong NSW 2500
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Kells is one of the Illawarra's big local firms, with five offices across the region and one in Sydney, and the firm says it has been around for more than 50 years. Its criminal team works out of Wollongong and, the firm says, runs most Local Court matters itself rather than handing them to a barrister. It covers everything from traffic and drink driving to coronial inquests, and the firm says it takes Legal Aid funded work. It suits people who want a well resourced local firm. The first consultation is free and there is a 24/7 urgent line.
Also worth knowing
The firm says it takes Legal Aid funded criminal matters.
Lawyers
Teagan McConchie, Associate, Criminal Law
Harry Webb, Lawyer, Criminal and Traffic Law (Wollongong)
Areas of criminal law handled
Bail applications
Assault and affray charges
Domestic violence matters
Drink and drug driving
Driving suspensions and licence appeals
Drug possession charges
Firearms offences
Mental health applications
Coronial inquests
Legal Aid criminal matters
Office
14-18 Auburn Street, Wollongong NSW 2500
Other details
Other offices
Sydney CBD, Thirroul, Dapto, Shellharbour and Kiama
Free initial consultation, by phone or in person. Fixed fees for less serious criminal and traffic matters, Legal Aid grants accepted and payment arrangements available, according to the firm.
Office
Level 1, 1 Burelli Street, Wollongong NSW 2500
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Wollongong Criminal Law is the criminal and traffic arm of Shoalhaven Lawyers, a South Coast firm with offices in Nowra, Milton and Ulladulla and a Wollongong address on Burelli Street. It is led by principal Ted Neaves, a litigator who runs jury trials, and his name comes up again and again in client reviews. The firm says it is contracted with Legal Aid NSW for serious criminal matters and works with barristers when a case needs one. It suits people from Wollongong to the Shoalhaven. First consultations are free, and fixed fees apply to less serious matters.
Free initial consultation, fixed fees and 24/7 availability for urgent matters, according to the firm.
Office
Unit 1, 70 Market Street, Wollongong NSW 2500
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Karnib & Co. is a criminal and traffic defence firm with offices in Wollongong and Liverpool, run by managing director and principal solicitor Sam Karnib. It does only defence work, from drink driving and licence matters through to murder trials, and appears in the Local, District and Supreme Courts across NSW. The firm says it leaves no point unargued and handles sensitive matters privately. It suits people who want a dedicated criminal firm with a local office. It offers a free initial consultation, fixed fees and a 24/7 line.
Also worth knowing
Its site shows 67 Google reviews for the Wollongong office within a 5.0 overall rating.
Lawyers
Sam Karnib, Managing Director and Principal Solicitor
Fixed fee options available on conditions, according to the firm. Call or visit an office to discuss your matter.
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
RMB Lawyers says it is one of the largest regional firms in NSW, with more than 100 staff and offices from Wollongong to the Central West. Its Wollongong criminal work is led by partner Martin Rowney and special counsel Matteo Russoniello, whose Wollongong practice Russoniello Lawyers merged into RMB in March 2026 after more than 30 years. The team covers violence, drugs, fraud and Centrelink matters, and the firm says it also acts for police officers. It suits people who want a big regional firm with local lawyers. Contact the firm about fixed fee options.
Also worth knowing
The team handles fraud and Centrelink offences and mental health applications as well as general criminal work.
Lawyers
Martin Rowney, Partner (Wollongong)
Matteo Russoniello, Special Counsel (Wollongong)
Areas of criminal law handled
Violent offences
Drug offences
Firearms offences
Theft and property offences
AVOs and domestic violence
Fraud and Centrelink offences
Section 14 mental health applications
Criminal appeals
Traffic offences
Other details
Other offices
18 or more offices across southern and regional NSW and Canberra, including Dapto, Shellharbour, Kiama, Nowra and Bowral
Consultations in person, by phone, Zoom or Teams. Contact the firm to book.
Office
Level 1, Suite 43, 26-28 Market Street, Wollongong NSW 2500
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Hanna Lawyers is a locally owned Wollongong practice led by principal Nixon Hanna, who was admitted in 2002 and worked at the NSW Crown Solicitor's Office before running his own firm. Criminal and traffic law sits beside family, property and compensation work. The firm acts on drink driving, AVOs, drug and violence charges, from bail through to the hearing. It suits locals who want one firm for several legal problems. Meetings can be in person, by phone or on video, and the firm says it aims to reply within a business day.
Also worth knowing
Consultations can be held by video as well as in person.
Lawyers
The site does not say which lawyers other than the principal do criminal work.
Nixon Hanna, Principal
Deana Hanna, Partner
Jordan Vincent, Senior Associate
Nathan Hawkes, Solicitor
Areas of criminal law handled
Bail applications
Drink driving
Traffic offences
Apprehended domestic violence orders
Drug offences
Assault and violent offences
Local Court hearings
Office
Level 1, Suite 43, 26-28 Market Street, Wollongong NSW 2500
Call or send an online enquiry. The site does not set out consultation terms.
Office
Level 1 The Civic, 102/38-40 Stewart Street, Wollongong NSW 2500
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
DGB Lawyers says it has been practising in Wollongong since 1955, starting out as Denley Gargett Baird, and is now best known for family and property work. Criminal matters are handled by partner Grace Prosperi, who also practises family law, and the firm pitches this mix to people whose criminal charge has come out of a relationship breakdown. It covers domestic violence, AVOs, drugs, fraud and driving offences, including licence appeals. It suits people with a family law matter running alongside a charge. Call or send an enquiry to book.
Founded in 1955 as Denley Gargett Baird
Also worth knowing
It handles licensing and speeding appeals as well as criminal charges.
Lawyers
Grace Prosperi, Partner, Family and Criminal Law
Areas of criminal law handled
Domestic violence offences
Apprehended violence orders
Drug offences
Assault and personal violence
Fraud offences
Drink driving and DUI
Licence and speeding appeals
Bail applications
Defended hearings
Office
Level 1 The Civic, 102/38-40 Stewart Street, Wollongong NSW 2500
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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How we compiled this list
We include firms that do criminal defence work and take clients in Wollongong and the Illawarra from a Wollongong address. Some are criminal law only practices, and some are general firms with a criminal team, and we say which. For each one we read its own website in October 2026 and wrote the description ourselves. Where a firm says a lawyer is a Law Society of NSW accredited specialist we say so, and where we mention Doyle's Guide we name it. 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, and we leave out self-reported success rates.
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 NSW Government, the NSW courts and Legal Aid NSW in October 2026.
Where Wollongong criminal charges are heard
Most charges start in the Local Court. In Wollongong that's the courthouse on the corner of Church and Market Streets, which the Local Court and the District Court share. The phone number is 1300 679 272, and the registry is open 9am to 4:30pm weekdays. Elsewhere in the Illawarra, your court attendance notice may list another Local Court, such as Port Kembla, Albion Park or Kiama. Albion Park and Kiama registries only open on court sitting days, so call 1300 679 272 before you go.
Type of charge
Where it's dealt with
Summary offences
Local Court. Charges generally have to be laid within 6 months
Table 1 and Table 2 offences
Local Court, unless the prosecution, or for Table 1 either side, elects a higher court. The Local Court can generally give up to 2 years' jail per offence
Strictly indictable offences
District Court, which sits in the Wollongong courthouse, or the Supreme Court for the most serious
Charges against young people
Children's Court. In the Illawarra it sits at Port Kembla, and further south at Nowra
Check the court and date on your court attendance notice and tell your lawyer straight away.
Bail in NSW
Under the Bail Act 2013, bail must be refused if there's an unacceptable risk, after considering whether bail conditions could manage it, that you would fail to appear, commit a serious offence, endanger someone's safety or interfere with witnesses or evidence.
Show cause offences: for serious charges, including offences carrying life imprisonment, serious domestic violence offences against an intimate partner carrying 14 years or more, coercive control, some firearm and commercial drug offences, and serious offences committed while on bail or parole, you must first show why you shouldn't be held. This doesn't apply to people under 18
Domestic violence: bail for a serious domestic violence offence must include electronic monitoring unless there are good reasons not to
Young people: for 14 to 17 year olds charged with certain motor vehicle theft, serious break and enter or related 'performance crime' offences while already on bail for one of those offences, bail can only be granted if the court has a high degree of confidence they won't commit a serious indictable offence while on bail. Parliament extended this rule again in September 2026
If the Local Court refuses bail, you can apply to the Supreme Court. The first bail hearing matters a lot, so it's worth having a lawyer prepare your application.
Police powers and your rights
After an arrest, police can generally hold you for up to 6 hours of investigation time, which doesn't count breaks such as waiting for a lawyer, interpreter or medical care, so you may be held longer. Police must then release you or bring you before a court or an authorised officer
The custody manager must caution you that you don't have to say or do anything, and give you a summary of your rights
Before any questioning, you must be told you can contact a friend or relative and a lawyer of your choice. Questioning should be delayed for a reasonable time so you can, and for up to 2 hours for a lawyer to arrive
In most cases you have the right to stay silent, though there are exceptions, such as some vehicle and car crash matters
Legal Aid NSW lawyers don't attend police stations. If you want advice before an interview, call a private lawyer or, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the Aboriginal Legal Service. If you're under 18, call the Legal Aid NSW Youth Hotline on 1800 10 18 10.
Outcomes, MERIT and the Drug Court
Section 10: the court can find you guilty without recording a conviction, and either dismiss the charge, make a conditional release order or require an intervention program. A dismissal can avoid a licence disqualification for some offences
Conditional release order: can be made with or without a conviction, with conditions such as supervision or treatment
Community correction order: up to 3 years, and can include a curfew or community service
Intensive correction order: a jail sentence served in the community, not available for under 18s
MERIT is a voluntary Local Court program for adults with a drug or alcohol problem, with about 12 weeks of treatment before your case is finalised. You need to be on bail or not need bail, and it isn't available for sexual assault charges or matters going to the District Court. You also need to live in, or have a connection such as full time work to, an area MERIT covers, and the magistrate decides if you're eligible. It only runs at some courts. In the Illawarra and Shoalhaven these are Wollongong, Port Kembla, Albion Park, Kiama, Nowra and Milton, and the local MERIT number is 1300 652 226. The statewide list marks the courts that also offer alcohol services, and none of these are marked, so check with the team if your problem is alcohol.
The Drug Court is for adults with a drug dependency who are likely to go to jail, plead guilty and live in a listed area. It isn't available if you're charged with an offence involving violent conduct or sexual assault, or a serious drug charge, such as supply, that can't be dealt with in the Local Court. No Illawarra or Shoalhaven council area is on the list, so if you live in Wollongong the Drug Court generally isn't an option. Ask your lawyer about MERIT instead.
Local Court decisions, including sentences, can be appealed to the District Court.
Spent convictions and young people
Under the Criminal Records Act 1991, most convictions become spent after a crime free period, and then generally don't have to be disclosed.
Outcome
When it's spent
Section 10 dismissal without conviction
Straight away
Finding of guilt with a CRO and no conviction
Once the conditions are completed
Adult conviction
After 10 years in a row with no further jailable conviction and no time in prison
Children's Court conviction
After 3 years in a row with no further jailable conviction, no control order and no time in custody
Full time jail of more than 6 months, or a sexual offence
Never. An intensive correction order doesn't count as jail for this rule
Spent convictions still have to be disclosed for some roles, including police, teaching and Working with Children Checks.
Young people. From 1 July 2026, young people can be dealt with by a warning, caution or youth justice conference without admitting the offence, as long as they don't deny it. More offences are now eligible, and a child who has already been cautioned three or more times in the past three years is no longer entitled to a caution. The Legal Aid NSW Youth Hotline, 1800 10 18 10, runs 9am to midnight on weekdays and 24 hours from 9am Friday to midnight Sunday and on public holidays.
Costs and free legal help in Wollongong
NSW lawyers must give you a written costs disclosure if your costs are likely to be more than $750, and you can ask for an itemised bill. No win, no fee agreements aren't allowed in criminal matters, and lawyers can't charge a percentage of any amount recovered.
LawAccess NSW: 1300 888 529, 9am to 5pm weekdays, for legal information and referrals
Legal Aid NSW Wollongong: 73 Church Street, Wollongong, (02) 4228 8299. Further south, the Nowra office is at Level 2, 59 Berry Street, (02) 4422 4351. Call to ask how they can help with a criminal matter
Duty lawyers: Legal Aid NSW has duty lawyers at Local Courts across NSW who can give limited help on the day. They can't help you if you've pleaded not guilty and your hearing is that day. Get to court early so you have time to see one. For ongoing representation you usually need a grant of legal aid
Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT): 63A Market Street, Wollongong, criminal law (02) 4276 7100, or 1800 765 767, 9am to 5pm weekdays. Police contact its custody notification service whenever an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person is detained
Accredited specialists: search the Law Society of NSW Find a Lawyer tool with the accredited specialist filter
Wollongong criminal law: common questions
Where is the criminal court in Wollongong?
Wollongong Local Court and the District Court share the courthouse on the corner of Church and Market Streets. The phone number is 1300 679 272 and the registry is open 9am to 4:30pm weekdays. Charges against young people go to the Children's Court, which sits at Port Kembla. Your court attendance notice says which court you need.
Will I get a criminal record?
Not necessarily. A court can find you guilty without recording a conviction under section 10, and a section 10 dismissal is spent straight away. If a conviction is recorded, most become spent after 10 years in a row with no further jailable conviction and no time in prison, or 3 years in a row on the same conditions for a Children's Court conviction. Full time jail of more than 6 months and sexual offences never become spent, but an intensive correction order doesn't count as jail for this rule.
Do I have to answer police questions?
In most cases you have the right to stay silent, though there are some exceptions, such as certain car crash matters. Before questioning, police must tell you that you can contact a lawyer and a friend or relative, and give you a reasonable chance to do it. If you're under 18, you can call the Legal Aid NSW Youth Hotline on 1800 10 18 10.
Can I get a free lawyer in Wollongong?
Legal Aid NSW duty lawyers can give limited help on the day of your court date. For ongoing representation you usually need a grant of legal aid. The Legal Aid NSW Wollongong office is at 73 Church Street, (02) 4228 8299, and LawAccess NSW on 1300 888 529 can tell you where to start.
Can I get into the Drug Court from Wollongong?
Generally not. The Drug Court only takes people who live in its listed areas, and no Illawarra or Shoalhaven council area is one of them. MERIT is the local option. It runs at Wollongong, Port Kembla, Albion Park and Kiama Local Courts for adults with a drug or alcohol problem who are on bail or don't need it, and who live in or have a connection to an area MERIT covers. It isn't available for sexual assault charges or matters going to the District Court, and the magistrate decides if you're eligible. The local MERIT number is 1300 652 226.
What is an accredited criminal law specialist?
A solicitor accredited by the Law Society of NSW after at least 5 years in practice, 3 of them in criminal law, and a set of assessments. It isn't needed to practise, but it shows depth in the area. On this list, Morrisons says three of its lawyers, Graeme Morrison, Matthew Ward and Analise Ritchie, are Law Society of NSW Accredited Specialists in Criminal Law.
Can a criminal lawyer work on a no win, no fee basis?
No. NSW law doesn't allow no win, no fee agreements in criminal matters. Some firms offer fixed fees for simpler matters instead, and any lawyer must give you written costs disclosure if costs are likely to be more than $750.
General information only, not legal advice.
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