A criminal lawyer can either be a criminal barrister or a criminal solicitor in the Downing Centre Sydney courts or elsewhere in NSW. They are both legal professionals who defend you in criminal cases and can advocate on your behalf. The main difference between a Sydney criminal defence barrister and a criminal defence solicitor is the type of legal work they do on your case and the type of court the case is in.
In Jury trials in the District Court, a barrister is usually required because they specialise in court appearances and speaking to a jury. By contrast, a solicitor who practices in criminal law in Sydney must do the preparation work, consult the client and work with your barrister to ensure everything is ready for the trial. Barristers are criminal law specialist lawyers who are trained in court advocacy and cross-examining witnesses in more complex and serious crime matters.
In most cases in the Local Court of Sydney, Parramatta, Bankstown or Penrith, a criminal defence solicitor will work on your case from start to finish, and a barrister may not be required unless you choose to add one to the legal team. If you choose a barrister, your solicitor will then hire one for legal advice and to do the court appearances. Barristers usually do not work directly with clients unless a solicitor is involved in between.
We have a panel of criminal law defence barristers in Sydney with decades of experience and know-how to win cases. Call Powerhouse, one of the best criminal law firms in Sydney, Australia, to hire one for your case.