Criminal and Traffic Offences | By Lawyers
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Criminal and Traffic Offences

QLD

This publication guides practitioners through criminal and traffic offences in the Magistrates Court of Queensland, domestic violence orders and Commonwealth offences.

5 Matter Plans

Overview

The Criminal and Traffic Offences commentaries cover all aspects of criminal matters, with an emphasis on criminal procedure and sentencing for summary and indictable offences in the Magistrates Court of Queensland. They cover the key stages from charging, to bail, a defended hearing or a plea of guilty, and sentencing. Practical guidance in preparing for court is included, with detailed commentary on analysing the charge and considering evidence.

The Domestic Violence Order guide covers applying for an order, negotiating, varying and appeals.

The supplementary Commonwealth offences guide assists practitioners in advising and representing clients charged with offences under the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) and the Commonwealth Criminal Code. The commentary sets out the procedure for summary and indictable Commonwealth offences from bail considerations to sentencing. The possible sentencing options are covered in detail, and there is a very useful table of the Commonwealth offences most frequently encountered.

The Reference materials folder includes guidance on electronic signing and remote witnessing, and the Getting the matter underway folder contains essential compliance and client engagement documents. The comprehensive Retainer Instructions ensure that all necessary information is gathered from the client at the outset of the matter.

Also included is 101 Subpoena Answers, which is a useful reference guide.

Precedents in this publication include:

  • Library of initial letters to clients, covering a variety of offences and possible outcomes;
  • Letters to:
    • clients;
    • police;
    • the Crown;
    • third parties, including witnesses and experts;
  • Information sheets for clients explaining the court processes and what to do on the day of the hearing;
  • Attendance notes for every stage.
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5 Matter Plans Included

  • Item icon ALERTS - Nil
  • Item icon Full Commentary - Magistrates Court Criminal (QLD)
  • Folder icon Reference materials
    • Item icon AI Prompts
      An AI prompt defines a specific task for AI to perform, like drafting a particular document, and provides clear instructions on how to execute that task. The goal is for the AI to quickly create a useful first draft of a document, which the user verifies and refines into a final version, ultimately ...

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    • Item icon Looking to the Future
    • Item icon Electronic Signing and Witnessing
    • Item icon 101 Subpoena Answers
    • Item icon 101 Costs Answers
    • Folder icon Papers and articles - Litigation
      • Item icon Improving written submissions - A paper by Judge Alan Troy
      • Item icon Plain language – A paper by the Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG
    • Item icon Calculating Penalty Units - All States and Territories
  • Item icon Overview
    All criminal charges, regardless of their seriousness, commence in the Magistrates Court. Depending on whether the offence is summary or indictable, the matter will either be finalised in the Magistrates Court or committed to a higher court. See Summary or Indictable offences.

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  • Folder icon A. Getting the matter underway - First contact
    • Item icon File cover sheet - Criminal
    • Item icon To do list - Criminal
    • Item icon First steps
    • Item icon Client details and verifying identity
    • Item icon Retainer instructions - Criminal
    • Item icon Retainer instructions - Domestic violence order
    • Item icon Conflict of interest check
    • Item icon Attendance note - Conflict of interest check - No conflict
    • Item icon Attendance note - Conflict of interest check - Conflict identified
    • Item icon Costs agreement - QLD
    • Item icon Abbreviated costs disclosure - Costs under $3000
    • Item icon Initial letter to client enclosing costs agreement
    • Item icon Time and costs estimates
    • Folder icon If required - Updating costs disclosure
      • Item icon Letter to client updating costs disclosure
      • Item icon Charge securing costs
      • Item icon Guarantee securing costs
      • Folder icon Costs disclosure before settlement in litigation matters
        • Item icon Letter to client - Costs disclosure before settlement - NSW, VIC, and WA
        • Item icon Letter to client - Costs disclosure before settlement - QLD, SA, TAS, ACT, and NT
    • Item icon Police station instructions and advice record
    • Item icon Attendance note - Attending client at police station
    • Item icon Letter to client on bail following attendance at police station
    • Item icon Letter to client refused bail following attendance at police station
    • Item icon Plea and mitigation instruction sheet
    • Item icon Initial letter to client before first court date
    • Item icon Enclosure - Court reference information sheet
    • Folder icon General deeds, agreements, execution clauses, and statutory declarations
      • Item icon Deeds and Agreements
      • Folder icon Deeds
        • Item icon Deed for general use
        • Item icon Deed of guarantee
        • Item icon Deed of release
        • Item icon Confidentiality deed
        • Item icon General deed of indemnity
        • Item icon Deed of assignment of agreement
        • Item icon Deed of gift
        • Folder icon Library of standard clauses for deeds
          • Item icon Amendment
          • Item icon Confidentiality for defined information - All parties
          • Item icon Confidentiality for defined information - One party
          • Item icon Confidentiality for terms of deed - All parties
          • Item icon Confidentiality for terms of deed - One party
          • Item icon Costs
          • Item icon Counterparts
          • Item icon Dispute resolution
          • Item icon Events beyond control
          • Item icon Governing law and jurisdiction
          • Item icon Interpretation
          • Item icon No assignment
          • Item icon Notices
          • Item icon Severance
          • Item icon Waiver
          • Item icon Whole agreement
      • Folder icon Agreements
        • Item icon Agreement for general use
        • Item icon Heads of agreement
        • Item icon Non-disclosure agreement - Formal
        • Item icon Non-disclosure agreement - Informal
        • Folder icon Library of standard clauses for agreements
          • Item icon Amendment
          • Item icon Confidentiality for defined information - All parties
          • Item icon Confidentiality for defined information - One party
          • Item icon Confidentiality for terms of agreement - All parties
          • Item icon Confidentiality for terms of agreement - One party
          • Item icon Costs
          • Item icon Counterparts
          • Item icon Dispute resolution
          • Item icon Events beyond control
          • Item icon Governing law and jurisdiction
          • Item icon Interpretation
          • Item icon No assignment
          • Item icon Notices
          • Item icon Severance
          • Item icon Waiver
          • Item icon Whole agreement
      • Folder icon Execution clauses
        • Folder icon Library of execution clauses for agreements
          • Item icon Attorney
          • Item icon Authorised officer
          • Item icon Company
          • Item icon Company - Sole director
          • Item icon Individual
          • Item icon Individual - No witness
        • Folder icon Library of execution clauses for deeds
          • Item icon Attorney
          • Item icon Authorised officer
          • Item icon Company
          • Item icon Company - Sole director
          • Item icon Individual
      • Folder icon Statutory declarations
        • Item icon Commonwealth statutory declaration
        • Item icon Statutory declaration - blank - ACT
        • Item icon Statutory declaration - blank - NSW
        • Item icon Statutory declaration - blank - VIC
        • Item icon Statutory declaration - blank - QLD
        • Item icon Statutory declaration - blank - TAS
        • Item icon Statutory declaration - blank - SA
        • Item icon Statutory declaration - blank - WA
        • Item icon Statutory declaration - blank - NT
        • Item icon Standard annexure note for documents
  • Folder icon B. Bail
    • Item icon Bail overview
      Bail applications need to be carefully considered, prepared, and presented. They are not an afterthought, nor a matter of going through the motions. They are serious and high-level advocacy work. A person’s liberty, and potentially the safety of other people, are at stake. Bail is governed by the ...

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    • Item icon Bail conditions
      Bail can be granted to an accused on their own undertaking, being simply a promise to appear at the next court date, or on conditions such as:

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    • Item icon Bail application
      Preparing a bail application requires consideration of the:

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    • Item icon Bail Act considerations
      Unacceptable risk Section 16 of the Bail Act 1980 requires a police officer or a court to refuse bail if satisfied there is an unacceptable risk the defendant will fail to appear and surrender into custody, commit an offence, endanger anyone, or interfere with witnesses or the course of ...

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    • Item icon Retainer instructions - Bail application
    • Item icon Letter to counsel with brief for bail application
    • Item icon Letter to bail guarantor
    • Item icon Letter to client in prison regarding date for bail application
    • Item icon Standardised bail conditions
    • Item icon Letter to court enclosing bail application
    • Item icon Letter to prosecution enclosing bail application
    • Item icon Letter to client after successful bail application
    • Item icon Letter to client in prison after unsuccessful bail application
    • Item icon Application for Bail in the Court before which the indictment was presented
    • Item icon Application for Revocation or variation of Bail by prosecutor
    • Item icon Application for Variation of Bail
    • Item icon Application by Surety for Discharge
    • Item icon Application for Bail in the Supreme Court
    • Item icon Application for bail in the District Court following a filing of a notice of appeal to a District Court judge
    • Item icon Affidavit of justification
    • Folder icon If required - Online application for a court event
      • Item icon Online application for a court event – Magistrates Court
  • Folder icon C. Preparations
    • Item icon Attendance note - Taking full instructions
    • Item icon Letter to client requesting evidence
    • Item icon Letter to potential alibi witness
    • Item icon Letter to potential witness
    • Item icon Attendance note - Conference with defence witness
    • Item icon Letter to local area command making representations
    • Item icon Letter to director public prosecutions making representations
    • Folder icon If required - Failed representations
      • Item icon Letter to local area command or DPP in relation to failed representations
    • Item icon Written instructions to plead guilty
  • Folder icon D. Going to court
    • Item icon General Form of Application to a Court
    • Item icon Application for a direction hearing
    • Item icon General Form of Order
    • Item icon Attendance note - Brief to counsel
    • Item icon Brief to counsel - Criminal
    • Item icon Prompt for brief to counsel in a criminal matter
    • Item icon Example content - Brief to counsel - Criminal
    • Item icon Letter to counsel enclosing brief
    • Item icon Attendance note - Advice on plea
    • Item icon Court attendance sheet
    • Item icon Attendance note - Court appearance
    • Item icon Letter to client advising court date
    • Item icon Letter to court requesting interpreter
    • Folder icon If required - Online application for a court event
      • Item icon Online application for a court event – Magistrates Court
    • Item icon Attendance note - Reviewing additional prosecution material
    • Item icon Letter to client enclosing prosecution evidence and make appointment for instructions
    • Item icon Letter to client informing of hearing date
    • Item icon Attendance note - Preparation of witness statement
    • Item icon Letter to witness enclosing statement
    • Item icon Letter to counsel enclosing defence witness statements
    • Item icon Letter to witness with arrangements for attendance at hearing
    • Item icon Attendance note - Considering client's previous convictions
    • Item icon Attendance note - Considering custody record
    • Item icon Attendance note - Considering prosecution evidence
    • Item icon Attendance note - Viewing CCTV footage with client
    • Item icon Attendance note - Viewing CCTV footage without client
    • Item icon Attendance note - Viewing client's police interview
    • Item icon Letter to police requesting items not served
    • Item icon Letter to client who failed to attend court - Matter adjourned
    • Item icon Letter to client who failed to attend court - Warrant issued
    • Item icon Written instructions to plead guilty
    • Item icon Application for a Direction or Ruling
    • Item icon Application for disclosure obligation direction
    • Item icon Application for alleging non-compliance with disclosure obligation direction
  • Folder icon E. Summary matters - Plea of guilty
    • Item icon Plea and mitigation instruction sheet
    • Item icon Instructions to plead guilty
    • Item icon Letter to client in preparation of steps to be taken for a plea of guilty
    • Item icon Enclosure - Court reference information sheet
    • Item icon Enclosure - Information sheet on criminal records of employees
    • Item icon Court attendance sheet
  • Folder icon F. Summary matters - Plea of not guilty
    • Item icon Attendance note - Preparation for hearing
    • Item icon Proof of evidence
    • Item icon Attendance note - Preparation of proof
    • Item icon Attendance note - Considering amended proof of evidence
    • Item icon Letter to client sending proof of evidence
    • Item icon Subpoena to Attend Court
    • Item icon Notice to be served with form 21 subpoena
    • Item icon Subpoena to produce a document to the proper officer of the court
    • Item icon Notice to be served with form 22 subpoena
    • Item icon Police subpoena schedule
    • Item icon Letter to client as to outcome of case conference
    • Item icon Letter to client requesting conference after receiving facts and QP9
    • Item icon Court attendance sheet
    • Item icon Attendance note - Additional preparation for hearing
    • Item icon Attendance note - Preparation for adjourned hearing
    • Item icon Letter to client found guilty - Adjourned for sentence
    • Folder icon If required - Online application for a court event
      • Item icon Online application for a court event – Magistrates Court
  • Folder icon G. Committal proceedings
    • Item icon Notice of intention to proceed via registry committal
    • Item icon Notice of intention to proceed via registry committal
    • Item icon Notice of intention to proceed via registry committal on amended substituted charges
    • Item icon Acknowledgement of plea
    • Item icon Application for a witness to attend before the court in a committal proceeding
  • Folder icon H. Sentencing
    • Item icon Instructions to plead guilty
    • Item icon Prompt for Submissions for section 19 application - No conviction
    • Item icon Prompt for Submissions for section 32 application - Conviction
    • Item icon Prompt for Submissions for section 32 application with violence or harm - Conviction
    • Item icon Letter instructing psychiatrist or psychologist
    • Item icon Court attendance sheet
  • Folder icon I. If required - Appeals
    • Item icon Notice of appeal to a District Court Judge
    • Item icon Notice of appeal or application for leave to appeal against conviction or sentence
    • Item icon Notice of application for extension of time for filing notice of appeal to a district court judge
    • Item icon Certificate of readiness - District Court
    • Item icon Notice of application for extension of time within which to appeal
    • Item icon Application for rehearing or reopening
    • Item icon Notice of abandonment of appeal or subsequent appeal or application
    • Item icon Application to Transmit Summary Charge to Supreme or District Court
    • Item icon Court attendance sheet
    • Item icon Notice of discontinuance of appeal or application
  • Folder icon J. Finalising the matter
    • Item icon Letter to client finalising the matter and confirming outcome of plea
    • Item icon Letter to client after sentence - Select outcome
    • Item icon Letter to client after sentence - Insert outcome
    • Item icon Letter to client found guilty
    • Item icon Letter to client found not guilty
    • Item icon Letter to client - No charges following attendance at police station
    • Item icon Letter to police after no charges for the return of client's property
    • Item icon Letter to police after client found not guilty for return of client's property
    • Item icon Example invoice incorporating notification of client's rights - QLD
    • Item icon Invoice recital - Criminal
    • Item icon File closing checklist
  • Item icon Comments and suggestions for By Lawyers

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