Criminal Law Specialists
Our criminal lawyers can take on cases funded by Legal Aid NSW. We can apply for your Legal Aid funding and provide our first consultation FREE OF CHARGE.
24/7 Criminal Law Advice
We are available across Wollongong and the Illawarra region 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to advise you on your case — and our first consultation is free!
Top-Tier Team
Our criminal law team is guided by a former police officer and senior police prosecutor with unrivalled knowledge of court procedures.
Extensive Experience
With many years of experience in courtrooms, we run a majority of our summary matters without the costly alternative of briefing barristers.
Here to Help
Kells can provide criminal defence representation for cases funded by Legal Aid and can apply for Legal Aid funding on your behalf. We are able to represent economically disadvantaged individuals charged with criminal offences punishable by imprisonment, provided they meet the eligibility requirements under the guidelines.
Our expertise in Criminal Law has earned Kells a place as one of the select firms on Legal Aid NSW’s Summary and Indictable Crime Panels. This means we are trusted to handle a wide range of serious criminal matters for those in need.
Get in touch with us today to discuss how our Legal Aid criminal lawyers can help you with your case.
How Can Our Legal Aid Criminal Lawyers Help?
Facing criminal charges can be a terrifying prospect, especially if you’re worried about how you’ll be able to afford legal representation. But regardless of your financial standing, there’s a solution in the form of Legal Aid.
At Kells, we provide Legal Aid representation to help you fight your case with expert legal defence. We can apply for Legal Aid funding on your behalf and your first consultation is FREE OF CHARGE.
We are authorised to handle Legal Aid-funded cases in the Local Court, District Court, Supreme Court, and Court of Appeal. We focus on serious charges, including both summary and indictable crimes, where there is a real risk of imprisonment.
Moreover, we understand that the Legal Aid application process can be a challenge indeed. Our team is here to walk you through each step so that you get the best chance of securing the funding you need for your criminal matter. We would be happy to assist with your Legal Aid application, making sure everything is in place to help you move forward with confidence.
Get Expert Criminal Law Advice
If you would like to discuss your case with our Legal Aid criminal law team, please get in touch. We are available 24/7 to help you and offer a free initial consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Legal Aid provides free or low-cost legal services to individuals who cannot afford private legal representation. This service is available across a wide range of legal issues, including criminal defence, family law disputes, housing matters, and more. By offering advice, representation, and assistance in court, Legal Aid helps vulnerable individuals protect their legal rights and deal with legal processes regardless of their income.
In NSW, your eligibility for Legal Aid depends on several factors, including a means test that looks at your income and assets, and a merit test that assesses the strength and significance of your case. Legal Aid is primarily available for economically disadvantaged individuals who need access to legal representation for serious legal issues.
All our criminal lawyers can apply for Legal Aid on your behalf.
Typically, Legal Aid will only cover criminal matters where there’s a genuine risk of imprisonment. Some key considerations for the merit test include:
- The presence of reasonable grounds for contesting your charges or appealing a decision
- The likelihood of success in your case
- The potential harm to you if funding is denied
- Whether it’s in the interest of justice to provide the grant
The merits test evaluates whether it’s reasonable to grant Legal Aid in your specific case. For most Local Court criminal matters, Legal Aid will only be granted if imprisonment is a possible penalty or if there are exceptional circumstances.
If you’ve entered a plea of not guilty, or if your matter involves a driving or traffic offence, Legal Aid is usually only provided if there’s a genuine chance that you could face jail time if convicted.
There isn’t a set timeframe for Legal Aid to process your application, and waiting times can vary from case to case. Typically, however, it takes about 3 to 6 weeks for a grant to be approved after submitting your application, but it can sometimes take longer.
If you have an urgent reason to expedite your application, you can contact the Grants team directly. They may ask you to follow up with an email outlining your reasons for needing a quicker response.
When submitting your Legal Aid application, you’ll need to include proof of your income (such as pay slips, Centrelink statements, or tax returns), along with bank statements from the past three months for all your accounts.
The application form will ask for personal details, financial information, and the specifics of the legal matter for which you are seeking aid. You’ll also need to provide documents relevant to your case, like your ‘court attendance notice’ and the police ‘facts sheet’. You may also attach any other legal, medical, or supporting documents that could assist your application.
At Kells, we’re happy to help if you’re finding the Legal Aid application process difficult. Reach out to us for support.
Area of Expertise
Affray
Assault
Bail
Criminal Penalties
Coronial Inquests
Driving Suspensions
Drink Driving
Drugs
Firearms
Mental Health
Domestic Violence
Traffic Offences
Drink & Drug Driving
Legal Aid
Speak to a Criminal Lawyer
We’ll stand by you and protect your rights every step of the way—no matter the charge.