Australian Criminal Lawyers are experts in the criminal laws of their state. Our lawyers appear in all South Australian courts in all matters. We have many Accredited Criminal Law Specialists and are experts in the area of defence law.
Australian Criminal Lawyers are experts in the criminal laws of their state. Our lawyers appear in all South Australian courts in all matters. We have many Accredited Criminal Law Specialists and are experts in the area of defence law. Call 1300 331 331 to speak to an expert criminal lawyer in Adelaide.
Criminal law in South Australia is a specialist practice area. The legislative framework — spanning the Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935 (SA), the Controlled Substances Act 1984 (SA), the Summary Offences Act 1953 (SA), the Bail Act 1985 (SA), and the Sentencing Act 2017 (SA) — requires practitioners who work within it daily to keep pace with amendments, decisions from the Court of Criminal Appeal, and changes in prosecution practice. Criminal defence is all we do.
Our team includes lawyers holding specialist accreditation in criminal law granted by the Law Society of South Australia. Accreditation under the Law Society's scheme is not conferred by seniority or years of practice — it requires formal assessment, examination, and peer evaluation. It is a recognised standard of expertise in this specific area of law.
A criminal matter in South Australia may be heard in any of several courts depending on the nature of the charge, its classification, and the election of the parties. Our lawyers practise at every level of the South Australian court system.
All criminal proceedings begin here. The court handles summary offences and minor indictable matters, and conducts committal hearings for charges proceeding to higher courts. Metropolitan locations include Adelaide, Christies Beach, Elizabeth, Port Adelaide, and Holden Hill.
The principal trial court for serious indictable offences including robbery, major drug charges, aggravated assault, and sexual offences not reserved for the Supreme Court. Trials proceed before a judge and jury or a judge sitting alone.
The state's highest court, with original jurisdiction over murder and treason. Also sits as the Court of Criminal Appeal, hearing appeals on conviction and sentence from the District Court and Magistrates Court.
Established under the Youth Court Act 1993 (SA), the Youth Court deals with criminal matters involving young people aged 10 to 17, applying a distinct legislative framework focused on rehabilitation and accountability.
Our lawyers handle the full range of criminal matters appearing before South Australian courts. This includes both summary and indictable proceedings, as well as ancillary matters that arise in the course of a criminal prosecution.
Charges under the Controlled Substances Act 1984 (SA) and Commonwealth drug legislation — from personal possession through to trafficking and commercial supply. Drug law in South Australia carries a complex tiered penalty structure, and the characterisation of an offence at the correct level requires careful analysis of the quantity, circumstances, and any applicable deeming provisions.
The full range of offences under the Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935 (SA) — from common assault dealt with summarily, through serious assault and recklessly causing harm, to grievous bodily harm and offences causing death. This includes the standalone strangulation offence introduced in May 2025.
All categories of sexual offending under South Australian and federal law. These matters require specialist handling at every procedural stage — from advice during police investigation through to contested trial and, where applicable, appeal.
Criminal charges arising from family violence, associated intervention order proceedings under the Intervention Orders (Prevention of Abuse) Act 2009 (SA), and breach matters. This includes contested intervention order hearings and bail applications subject to the presumptions introduced on 1 October 2024.
Prescribed concentration of alcohol charges, drug driving, licence disqualification, and serious driving offences under the Road Traffic Act 1961 (SA) and the Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935 (SA). All drink driving matters are heard in the Magistrates Court.
Urgent and contested bail applications at any court level, including matters where a statutory presumption against bail applies — such as violent breaches of domestic violence intervention orders, strangulation offences, and matters involving suspected serious and organised crime.
Theft, burglary, obtaining a financial advantage, and fraud matters under the Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935 (SA), including matters involving allegations of dishonesty in a commercial context.
Charges under the Firearms Act 2015 (SA), including unlicensed possession, aggravated possession, and matters arising from the February 2026 amendments relating to 3D-printed firearm blueprints.
Appeals against conviction and sentence in the District Court and Court of Criminal Appeal, including appeals from the Magistrates Court and applications raising questions of law.
A practice that works exclusively in criminal law brings a depth of focus that a general practice cannot match. Our lawyers appear in criminal matters every day — in Magistrates Courts, the District Court, the Supreme Court, and the Court of Criminal Appeal. They understand the practice of individual courts, the approach of prosecutors, and the procedural and evidential issues that arise at each stage of a criminal proceeding.
As part of the national Australian Criminal Lawyers practice, we combine local knowledge of South Australian courts with access to the resources and experience of a larger specialist network. We publish free legal resources on South Australian criminal law so that clients and their families can understand the system they are entering. Initial consultation is free and completely confidential.
Call 1300 331 331 to speak to an expert criminal lawyer in Adelaide. Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Australian Criminal Lawyers are experts in the criminal laws of their state. Our lawyers appear in all South Australian courts in all matters. We have many Accredited Criminal Law Specialists and are experts in the area of defence law. Call 1300 331 331 to speak to an expert criminal lawyer in Adelaide.