Police Station Lawyer Cairns — Fixed Fee
$1,950 — Fixed Fee
Business hours (Mon–Fri, 8am–6pm) - $1,950. After hours, weekends, public holidays - $3,200. All fees +10% GST.
What is included:
Urgent phone consultation — taken immediately, any time Private conference with you before any interview begins Attendance during the formal record of interview Advice on your rights, the charge, and what happens next Liaison with the investigating officer about bail and release conditions Written follow-up outlining what occurred and the next steps Court appearances are not included — see All Fixed Fees for the fee applicable to your charge.
The First Hour Matters More Than Most People Realise
Being taken to a Queensland watch-house is disorienting. Police are trained in interview technique. You are not. In that first hour — before any formal interview begins — decisions are made that can affect the entire trajectory of a charge. The watch-house is not neutral ground. It is designed to produce a record of interview. That document, once created, becomes part of the prosecution's brief of evidence and is almost never suppressed. Juries and magistrates read it. It gets tendered at trial. Anything you say in it — including things that seem reasonable or innocent at the time — can be used against you. Civic Law takes calls immediately, at any time — after hours, weekends, and public holidays. When you call, you speak directly to a lawyer, not a receptionist. We advise you on your rights before anything else happens.
Your Rights Under Queensland Law
Under the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000 (Qld), you have clear and enforceable rights at the police station. You have the right to silence. You are not required to answer police questions. The only legal obligations you have are to provide your name and address when lawfully requested, and in certain defined circumstances such as traffic incidents. Beyond that, you are not required to speak. You have the right to speak to a lawyer before any interview. Police must inform you of this right and give you a reasonable opportunity to exercise it before a formal interview begins. If you ask for a lawyer and police proceed without allowing you to speak to one, that may affect the admissibility of what you say. You have the right to have a lawyer present during the interview itself. This is separate from your pre-interview consultation. You can choose whether to participate in the interview at all — and if you do, you can have a lawyer beside you throughout. These rights exist regardless of what you are suspected of, how serious the charge is, or how cooperative you want to be.
What Is a Record of Interview?
A record of interview (ROI) is the formal documented account of what you said to police. It is typically recorded on video or audio, then transcribed. In Queensland criminal proceedings, the ROI is one of the most significant documents in the prosecution's case. People commonly assume that explaining their side of the story early will help. In practice, an unadvised interview routinely produces the most damaging material in the prosecution's brief. Statements made under stress, without legal advice, and without understanding how they will be used later are extremely difficult to walk back at trial. The decision about whether to participate — and if so, how — should be made after a private consultation with a lawyer who has been briefed on the facts, not in the moment at the watch-house counter.
What Civic Law Does at the Station
When you or someone on your behalf calls Civic Law, here is what happens: A lawyer takes the call immediately. We ask for the basics — where you are being held, what you have been told about the charge, whether an interview has already been requested. We then advise on your rights and what to do in the immediate term. Where attendance is required, Sacha travels to the watch-house or police station and conduct a private conference with you before anything else proceeds. That conference is confidential. Sacha reviews the circumstances, advises on whether it is in your interests to participate in an interview, and if you choose to participate, attends with you throughout the formal ROI. After the interview, Sacha liaises directly with the investigating officer about bail. This includes advising on conditions and advocating for your release. If police bail is refused and a watch-house bail application is required, that is handled as a separate matter. Before leaving, you will know what happened, what the next steps are, and what to expect. After-hours attendance involves a higher fee because it requires a lawyer to attend outside standard working hours, often at short notice and at times when normal support structures are unavailable. The after-hours fee reflects that cost honestly.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I have to answer police questions? No. Under Queensland law, you have the right to silence. You must provide your name and address when lawfully asked, but you are not required to answer questions about an alleged offence. Exercising your right to silence cannot be used against you as evidence of guilt. Can I have a lawyer present at the interview? Yes. You have the right to speak with a lawyer before the interview and to have a lawyer present during it. You should exercise this right before the interview begins, not partway through. How quickly can Civic Law attend? We take calls immediately. Attendance time depends on where you are being held. For the Cairns watch-house and Cairns City Police Station, Sacha can typically attend within a short period of receiving your call. We will give you an honest time estimate when you call. What if I have already done the interview? Call us anyway. The ROI being done does not mean the legal situation is resolved. We can review what was said, advise on how it may be used, assist with bail, and begin preparing your defence. The earlier you get advice after an interview, the more options you have. Is this the same as a coercive hearing (CCC)? No. A police record of interview is voluntary — you have the right to silence and the right to leave (if not under arrest). A coercive hearing before a body such as the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) is legally compelled, and different rules apply. If you have been summoned to a CCC hearing, contact Civic Law immediately as that requires different advice and preparation. What happens after the interview? If you are released on bail, you will receive a Notice to Appear or a court date. If bail is refused, a formal bail application must be made. In either case, Civic Law will advise on the next steps, review the brief of evidence as it becomes available, and begin preparing your matter.