Criminal Law in Perth Metropolitan
Criminal law covers anyone charged with an offence in Western Australia, from traffic and drink-driving matters through to assault, drug charges, dishonesty offences, family violence restraining orders and more serious indictable crimes heard in the District or Supreme Court. A criminal lawyer's job is to advise you on the charge, negotiate with police or prosecutors where possible, prepare and run your case, and represent you at hearings, trials or sentencing. We've listed 51 firms and criminal defence practices operating across Perth Metropolitan, from suburban solicitors handling Magistrates Court matters to barristers who take on major trials.
What to look for in a criminal lawyer
Not every firm handles every type of charge, so start with relevant experience: a lawyer who mainly does traffic offences isn't necessarily the right choice for a serious assault or drug trafficking charge. Ask about their experience in the specific court your matter will be heard in, whether they'll appear personally or hand you to a junior, how they charge (fixed fee, hourly rate, or Legal Aid), and how quickly they respond when you're facing a court deadline. A clear, upfront explanation of your options, including realistic likely outcomes, is a good sign. Vague promises of guaranteed results are not.
How we score firms
Our rankings weigh things like responsiveness, client feedback, experience signals and transparency about fees and process. You can see the full breakdown of factors on our methodology page, and browse the ranked shortlist at our best criminal lawyers in Perth Metropolitan guide to compare firms side by side before you call anyone.
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All criminal law, ranked by score and relevance
We found 51 businesses offering criminal law; 30 met the criteria for the scored directory. The order weighs each business's overall score by how much of its reviewed work is criminal law, so a lower-scored specialist can rank above a higher-scored generalist. Filter and sort below, or open the full map view.
Enquiries submitted through our forms may be shared with partner providers who can carry out the work. We may receive referral fees for these introductions, but our rankings and scores are based solely on our published method and are never influenced by referral fees.
Guides to choosing criminal law
- Getting arrested in WA: what happens and what to do first
A plain-English walkthrough of what typically happens after an arrest in Western Australia, your basic rights, and the first steps that matter most.
- Spent convictions and criminal record checks in WA
How spent convictions work under WA law, what typically shows up on a police clearance, and when it's worth getting legal advice on your record.