Domestic Violence Lawyer Cairns — Fixed Fee
$4,800 — Fixed Fee
Domestic violence charge plea — Cairns Magistrates Court — $4,800 fixed Covers : initial consultation, review of the prosecution brief and any protection order application, sentencing submissions, character reference guidance, court appearance, and post-sentence advice. No hidden fees. One invoice. All fees +10% GST.
What Is Included
Initial consultation to review your charge, the prosecution brief, and the circumstances of the alleged offence Advice on the likely penalty range and realistic outcomes for your specific charge Review of any CCTV, body-worn camera footage, witness statements, and medical material in the brief Advice on any Domestic Violence Order (DVO) application running alongside the criminal charge Preparation of written sentencing submissions tailored to your circumstances Guidance on character references, counselling evidence, and any rehabilitation steps Full appearance by Sacha at your sentencing hearing Post-sentence advice on any conviction recorded, probation conditions, and the status of any DVO The $4,800 fee covers the criminal charge. If you need representation in a separate DVO hearing, see DVO — Uncontested ($2,500) or DVO — Contested ($4,800) .
What You Are Facing
A domestic violence charge in Queensland covers criminal offences committed against a person with whom you are in a relevant relationship — a current or former partner, a family member, or a person in an informal care relationship. The charge itself is the underlying criminal offence — assault, choking, deprivation of liberty, stalking, or property damage. The domestic relationship is the context that triggers the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012 (Qld) framework. Common charges in domestic violence matters include: Common assault — physical contact or the threat of it. Maximum 3 years' imprisonment in the Magistrates Court. Assault occasioning bodily harm (AOBH) — assault causing physical injury. Maximum 3 years summarily, 7 years on indictment in the District Court. Choking, suffocation, or strangulation under section 315A of the Criminal Code Act 1899 (Qld) — a serious indictable offence carrying a maximum of 7 years' imprisonment. Even without visible injury, this offence is treated as high seriousness by Queensland courts and prosecutors. Contravention of a DVO under section 177 of the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012 (Qld) — a criminal offence carrying up to 3 years' imprisonment, or 5 years for an aggravated breach. Stalking and threats — both criminal offences with significant maximum penalties. The seriousness of the charge, and which court deals with it, depends on the nature of the alleged conduct and the degree of any injury.
What Happens Alongside the Criminal Charge
In almost every domestic violence matter, a protection order application runs alongside the criminal proceedings. This is a civil proceeding under the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012 (Qld), but it has real consequences — it restricts where you can go, who you can contact, and in many cases requires you to leave the family home. A temporary protection order is typically put in place at the first mention. Sacha can advise on contesting the conditions of that order, varying bail conditions that conflict with your living arrangements, and whether to consent to a final DVO or contest it at a hearing. These are separate legal processes with separate outcomes. Getting advice on both from the outset matters.
What Changes the Outcome
The sentencing range for domestic violence charges is wide. The factors that determine where your matter sits are the ones Sacha works with before the hearing. The nature and degree of any injury. Charges involving serious physical injury or choking are treated with significantly more gravity than charges involving minor contact. The court will consider medical evidence, photographs, and the complainant's account. The circumstances of the offence. Context matters — provocation, the history of the relationship, the specific events leading to the incident. Sacha will address the full picture in sentencing submissions, not just the bare facts of the charge. Your criminal and domestic violence history. A first offence for a person with no prior record is treated differently from an offence against a background of prior DVO breaches or assault matters. If your history is adverse, Sacha will address it directly and work with whatever mitigating factors are available. Steps taken since the charge. Voluntary enrolment in a domestic violence intervention programme, counselling, or other steps taken before the sentencing hearing are relevant. Courts respond to genuine engagement. Sacha will advise on what is worth doing and when. Whether a conviction should be recorded. The court has discretion under the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 (Qld) to deal with a matter without recording a conviction in appropriate circumstances. For a first-offence charge involving minor conduct with strong mitigating factors, it is a realistic outcome. Sacha will advise honestly on whether it applies in your case.
What Sacha Focuses On
The prosecution brief is reviewed in full before submissions are prepared. Where there are issues with the evidence — inconsistent accounts, footage that contradicts the allegation, questions about the reliability of witness statements — Sacha will identify them early and advise on whether a defended hearing is appropriate. For plea matters, the written submissions Sacha prepares address your specific circumstances, your history, the steps you have taken, and the mitigating factors that are relevant to your charge. The difference between a conviction recorded and none, or between a fine and a period of imprisonment, depends on what is placed before the court.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Will I get a criminal record? The court has discretion to deal with a first-offence matter without recording a conviction in appropriate circumstances. For domestic violence charges, this is more available where the conduct was at the lower end of the range and the mitigating factors are strong. Sacha will tell you honestly whether it is a realistic outcome in your case. Can I go home while the matter is before the court? Bail conditions in domestic violence matters routinely prohibit contact with the complainant and exclude you from the family home. Sacha can make an application to vary bail conditions where there are grounds to do so — for example, where both parties want the conditions varied, or where the exclusion from the home is causing disproportionate hardship. What if I disagree with the allegations? If you dispute the allegations, the matter proceeds to a defended hearing where the prosecution must prove the charge beyond reasonable doubt. Sacha will review the brief and advise on the strength of the prosecution's evidence and the prospects of a successful defence. Do not plead guilty to something you did not do. What is the difference between a criminal charge and a DVO? The criminal charge is prosecuted by Queensland Police. A conviction results in a penalty — fine, probation, or imprisonment — and may result in a criminal record. A DVO is a civil order that imposes conditions on your behaviour. The two processes run in parallel. You can be acquitted of the criminal charge and still have a DVO made against you. Will this affect my employment? A conviction for a domestic violence offence can affect employment, professional registration, blue card status, firearms licences, and the ability to travel internationally. Sacha will advise on the likely consequences for your specific situation at the first consultation. What if the complainant wants the charges dropped? The complainant does not control the prosecution. Once police have charged you, the decision to proceed rests with the prosecution. If the complainant does not want to give evidence, that may affect the strength of the case — but the charges do not automatically go away. Sacha can make representations to the prosecution about the complainant's position.