District Court Plea Lawyer Cairns — Fixed Fee
$12,000 — Fixed Fee
District Court plea — from $12,000 Covers : full review of the committal brief, conferences, negotiations with the Director of Public Prosecutions, sentencing submissions, and all court appearances from committal through to sentence. No hidden fees. One invoice. If you are contesting the charge, see District Court Trial for trial representation. If you need a standalone committal or a pre-trial application, those are available as separate fixed fees — Committal ($5,800) and Pre-Trial Application…
- District Court plea — straightforward: $12,000
- District Court plea — complex / multi-count: $15,300
What Is Included
The plea fee covers the entire process from committal to sentence: Full review of the committal brief and all prosecution material Conferences with you to prepare for the plea, understand the facts, and identify the mitigating material Negotiations with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on charges, the statement of agreed facts, and the basis of plea Preparation of written sentencing…
Straightforward vs Complex — Which Fee Applies
The $12,000 fee reflects a straightforward single-count plea — a clear set of facts, limited disputed material, and a sentencing hearing that proceeds in a day. The $15,300 fee applies to complex matters: Multiple counts on the indictment Contested facts at sentence requiring a Newton hearing Voluminous prosecution briefs requiring extensive review Extensive DPP negotiations on charges or the…
How an Indictable Plea Works
Once a matter has been committed from the Magistrates Court to the District Court, the process moves through several stages. Arraignment. You are brought before a District Court judge and formally asked how you plead to the indictment. For a plea of guilty, this is typically a short procedural appearance. The matter is then listed for a sentencing hearing. Case management. Between arraignment and…
When a Barrister Is Involved
For most District Court pleas, Sacha appears as the sole advocate. A barrister is the exception, not the rule, at plea. A barrister may be recommended where: The matter involves a Newton hearing — a contested hearing on the facts at sentence — and having dedicated trial counsel provides a tactical advantage The charges carry a substantial maximum penalty and the sentencing submissions are…
What Sacha Focuses On
District Court pleas require more preparation than Magistrates Court matters. The brief is larger, the stakes are higher, and the sentencing judge expects complete and well-organised submissions. Sacha reviews the full brief before any advice is given on plea. Where the prosecution's version of events is broader than the evidence supports, she identifies it early and negotiates a more accurate…
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I avoid imprisonment? Sentencing outcomes depend on the offence, your criminal history, the circumstances, and the quality of the material placed before the court. Some District Court matters — first offenders, limited culpability, strong mitigating material — result in non-custodial sentences. Others do not. Sacha will give you an honest assessment of the likely range at the first conference,…