What to expect at court and afterwards

• When you book through all-lawyers you agree to:

  • Have one telephone call of a maximum of 20 minutes duration with your lawyer, then
    
  • See your lawyer once only at the magistrates court on the morning of court. To facilitate this meeting you will receive an email with the court, time and date and a designated meeting point at the court where you will meet with your lawyer.
    

• You should bring the following with you to court:

  • Charge sheets/summons;
    
  • Police facts sheet;
    
  • Your resumé;
    
  • Character references (see character references for a guide);
    
  • A newspaper or magazine to read whilst you are waiting.

• all-lawyers operate a priority booking system, so your lawyer will take instructions from clients in the order that they booked.
  
  
• Your instructions will be taken in an interview room or a quiet area in the precincts of the court. Your lawyer will advise you on court procedure and etiquette. You will be asked to sign each charge sheet/summons and the police facts to the effect that you are pleading guilty to those charges and facts, as well as a document confirming your guilty plea.
  
  
• Your lawyer might suggest a nearby coffee shop where you can wait until your matter is ready to proceed. When it comes time to return, your lawyer can SMS you on the mobile phone number you provided. PLEASE ENSURE YOU TURN OFF YOUR MOBILE PHONE BEFORE YOU WALK INTO COURT!!!
  
  
• Your lawyer then takes you into the body of the court and enters a guilty plea on your behalf, before making submissions on the law and outlining any mitigating circumstance to the magistrate.
   
• After being sentenced by the magistrate, your lawyer will advise you of the effect of the sentence.
   
• Your lawyer will then send you an email advising you of the magistrate's decision.
  
  
• After all-lawyers are advised of the court result, we will transfer the money held in trust to our office account, and will email you our tax invoice showing a nil balance.