District Court Trial Lawyer Cairns — Fixed Fee
$15,000 — Fixed Fee
District Court trial — from $15,000 Covers : complete brief review, cross-examination preparation, defence evidence preparation, pre-trial conferences, trial strategy (jury or judge-alone), full trial advocacy, and post-verdict advice. No hidden fees. One invoice. The fee is confirmed once Sacha has reviewed the brief and assessed the scope. You will know exactly what the matter will cost before any commitment is made. See also: Committal ($5,800) · Pre-Trial Application ($4,800) · District Court Plea (from $12,000) All fees +10% GST.
- District Court trial — 1–3 days: $15,000–$25,000
- District Court trial — 4+ days: $25,000–$50,000+
What Is Included
Short Trial (1–3 Days) — $15,000–$25,000 Typically a single-count matter with a limited number of prosecution witnesses. Sacha may appear as sole advocate or brief counsel depending on the nature of the charge and the tactical assessment. Complex Trial (4+ Days) — $25,000–$50,000+ Multi-count indictments, voluminous prosecution briefs, expert evidence, multiple witnesses, or charges carrying substantial maximum penalties. Barrister engagement is typical at this level, and counsel's fees are additional and quoted before any brief is delivered. Trial Preparation — What Is Covered Complete review of the prosecution brief — every statement, every exhibit, every piece of physical and forensic evidence Identification of the contestable elements — where the prosecution case is weakest and where the defence case is strongest Cross-examination preparation for each prosecution witness Preparation of defence evidence — witness statements, expert reports, and documentary material Pre-trial conferences with you to prepare your evidence if you are to give it Legal research on contested evidentiary and procedural issues Preparation of written submissions on issues of law for the trial judge Jury selection strategy (for jury trials) or judge-alone trial preparation where a no jury order is made Full advocacy at trial — opening, cross-examination, re-examination, objections, closing address Post-verdict advice — appeal prospects, sentencing if convicted, or discharge if acquitted
How a District Court Trial Works
Most District Court trials are heard before a judge and a jury of twelve. In some cases, an accused person may apply for a "no jury order" under sections 614 and 615 of the Criminal Code — a trial by judge sitting alone, without a jury. The court decides whether to grant the application, applying an "interests of justice" test. Sacha will advise on whether a judge-alone application is in your interest and the prospects of it being granted. Jury Trial Process Empanelment. A jury of twelve is selected from the jury panel. The defence has a limited number of challenges — the ability to exclude prospective jurors without giving a reason. Jury selection strategy is part of the preparation. Prosecution case. The prosecution opens with an outline of its case, then calls its witnesses. Each witness gives evidence-in-chief and is then cross-examined by the defence. Cross-examination is where the prosecution case is tested — inconsistencies exposed, alternative explanations put, and the reliability or credibility of the witness challenged. Defence case. After the prosecution closes its case, the defence may call evidence — witnesses, expert reports, documentary material — or may rely on the weaknesses in the prosecution case without calling evidence. The decision about whether to call defence evidence, and particularly whether you give evidence yourself, is made with full advice from Sacha and, where briefed, counsel. Closing addresses. Both sides address the jury — summarising their case, identifying the key issues, and explaining why the evidence supports their position. The closing address is where the trial preparation comes together. Summing up and verdict. The judge sums up the law for the jury, identifying the legal elements they must be satisfied of. The jury then retires to deliberate. A guilty verdict must ordinarily be unanimous. In some circumstances, after the jury has deliberated for an extended period, the court may accept a majority verdict. An acquittal results in your immediate discharge. Judge-Alone Trials Under sections 614 and 615 of the Criminal Code , either the accused or the prosecution may apply to the court for a "no jury order" — a trial by judge sitting alone, without a jury. The court may grant the order if it considers it is in the interests of justice to do so. The court will consider factors including the complexity or length of the trial, the risk of jury intimidation, and pre-trial publicity. The court may decline the application if the trial involves issues that require the application of community standards — such as reasonableness or negligence. A judge-alone trial follows the same structure — prosecution case, defence case, closing submissions — but without empanelment, jury directions, or summing up. The judge decides the facts and the law, and must deliver a reasoned verdict setting out the principles of law applied and the findings of fact relied upon. In some matters, a judge-alone trial may be tactically advantageous — for example, where the issues are legally or factually complex, where there is a risk of jury prejudice, or where pre-trial publicity may affect the fairness of a jury trial. Sacha will advise on whether an application for a no jury order is appropriate in your case and the likelihood of it being granted.
When a Barrister Is Involved
Not every District Court trial requires a barrister. For some shorter trials, Sacha appears as the sole advocate. As a former barrister sole, Sacha has experience appearing as lead counsel in contested criminal matters and is comfortable running a trial without counsel where the matter warrants it. A barrister is typically recommended where: The trial is expected to run for multiple days and the advocacy demands are sustained The charges carry a substantial maximum penalty and the stakes require every tactical advantage The legal issues are complex — multiple pre-trial applications, expert evidence, or novel points of law — and having dedicated trial counsel allows Sacha to focus on file management and instructing The matter involves co-accused and separate representation is required The decision is always discussed with you. If Sacha recommends briefing counsel, she will explain why, what the additional cost will be, and who the recommended barrister is. You will never discover a barrister's invoice after the fact. How Barrister Fees Work Barrister fees are separate from the solicitor's fee. They are structured as: Brief fee — a lump sum that covers all preparation and the first day of the hearing. In the District Court, brief fees for criminal trials typically range from $5,000 to $15,000+ depending on complexity and counsel's seniority. Daily refresher — a per-day fee for each subsequent day of the hearing. Daily rates for junior counsel typically range from $1,650 to $5,500 depending on experience and the complexity of the matter. Senior counsel / King's Counsel — where a KC is briefed, fees are substantially higher. This is reserved for the most serious or legally complex matters. Before any brief is delivered, you will receive a clear breakdown of the barrister's fees and the solicitor's fees. The combined total is agreed before the work begins. There are no surprise disbursements. Your Choice You are never required to engage a barrister. If Sacha recommends it, it is because she genuinely believes it is in your interest. If you choose not to brief counsel, Sacha can and does appear as sole advocate in the District Court. The decision is always yours.
What Sacha Focuses On
Trial work is the most preparation-intensive area of criminal law. A well-prepared trial is built in the weeks and months before the hearing date. By the time the trial begins, the work that determines the outcome has already been done. Sacha reviews every witness statement for inconsistencies, weaknesses, and opportunities. Cross-examination is planned, not improvised — each prosecution witness has a specific purpose in the defence case, and the questions are designed to achieve it. Defence evidence is prepared with the same rigour. Expert reports are obtained and reviewed well in advance. If you are to give evidence, pre-trial conferences prepare you for what to expect — from examination-in-chief through to cross-examination by the prosecution. Legal arguments are researched and written submissions prepared in advance for contested evidentiary issues. Pre-trial applications — evidence exclusion, severance, disclosure — are identified early and pursued where they would materially affect the trial. See Pre-Trial Application ($4,800) . A well-prepared trial is not a performance — it is the product of thorough and careful work done long before the courtroom doors open.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How is the trial fee determined? The fee depends on the expected length of the trial, the number of prosecution witnesses, the complexity of the legal issues, and whether expert evidence is involved. Sacha quotes the fee after reviewing the prosecution brief and assessing the scope. You will know the cost before any commitment is made. What if I am acquitted? If the court returns a verdict of not guilty — whether by jury or judge alone — you are discharged immediately. The charge is over. What if I am convicted at trial? If you are convicted, the matter proceeds to sentencing. Sentencing submissions and the sentencing hearing are included in the trial fee — there is no additional charge. Sacha prepares the submissions and appears at the sentencing hearing. An appeal to the Court of Appeal is available within 1 month of the conviction or sentence. See Criminal Appeals — Fixed Fee . Do I have to give evidence at trial? No. You have an absolute right to silence. You are never required to give evidence, and the prosecution cannot comment adversely on your decision not to. Whether to give evidence is a tactical decision made with full advice from Sacha, having regard to the strength of the prosecution case, the nature of your defence, and the risks involved. What is the difference between a committal and a trial? A committal is a Magistrates Court hearing that determines whether there is enough evidence to send a matter to the District Court for trial. A trial is the District Court hearing — before a jury or, where a no jury order is made, a judge alone — where the court decides whether the prosecution has proved the charge beyond reasonable doubt. The committal fee ($5,800) covers the committal stage. The trial fee covers the trial itself. How long does a District Court trial take? Trial length depends on the number of prosecution witnesses, the complexity of the evidence, and whether expert evidence is involved. Simple matters may take 1–2 days. Complex matters — multiple counts, multiple witnesses, expert evidence — can run for a week or more. Sacha will give you a realistic estimate after reviewing the brief. Can I have a judge-alone trial instead of a jury? Yes. Under sections 614 and 615 of the Criminal Code , you may apply to the court for a "no jury order" — a trial by judge sitting alone, without a jury. The court decides whether to grant the application, applying an "interests of justice" test. The court considers factors such as the complexity of the trial, the risk of jury prejudice, and pre-trial publicity. A judge-alone trial may be appropriate where the issues are legally complex, where there is a risk of prejudice, or where the nature of the evidence makes a judge better placed to assess it. Sacha will advise on whether a no jury order application would be in your interest and the prospects of it being granted. Can the charges be negotiated before trial? Yes. Negotiations with the DPP on charges and the statement of facts continue up to and sometimes during the trial. Where a lesser charge is offered and the evidence supports the offer, Sacha will advise on whether acceptance is in your interest. The decision is always yours.