Pre-Trial Application Lawyer Cairns — Fixed Fee
$4,800 — Fixed Fee
Pre-trial application — $4,800 fixed (per application) Covers : legal research, preparation of written submissions, full appearance at the hearing of the application, and post-hearing advice on the outcome and its impact on the trial. No hidden fees. One invoice. Where multiple applications arise in the same matter, Sacha will quote a combined fee once the scope is clear. All fees +10% GST.
- Pre-trial application: $4,800
What Is Included
Legal research and analysis on the specific issue — including statutory, common law, and human rights arguments where they arise Preparation of detailed written submissions for the trial judge Preparation of any supporting affidavit material or chronology Full appearance at the hearing of the application Post-hearing advice on the outcome and its impact on the trial strategy Pre-trial applications…
What a Pre-Trial Application Is
Before a trial begins in the District Court, either side can bring applications that shape how the trial is conducted. These are substantive legal arguments — heard by the trial judge — that can determine what evidence is admissible, what the fact-finder hears, and in some cases whether the trial should proceed at all. A pre-trial application is not a formality. It is often the most legally…
Common Pre-Trial Applications
Evidence Exclusion Applications to exclude improperly obtained evidence — confessions, identification evidence, forensic evidence, or evidence obtained in breach of rights under the Evidence Act 1977 (Qld) or the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld). If evidence was obtained unlawfully or unfairly, the court has discretion to exclude it. If critical prosecution evidence is excluded, the prosecution's case…
Why Pre-Trial Applications Matter
Pre-trial applications can change the entire trajectory of a matter. If a confession is excluded, the prosecution may have no case. If the evidence of other conduct is kept out, the fact-finder assesses the charge on its own merits. If a stay is granted, the prosecution ends permanently. These applications are heard before the trial begins — in a jury trial, before the jury is empanelled. They are…
What Sacha Focuses On
Pre-trial applications require a different skill set from trial advocacy. The argument is on the law — statute, precedent, and principle — not on cross-examining witnesses or persuading a jury. The submissions must be precise, well-researched, and authoritative. Sacha reviews the full prosecution brief and identifies the evidentiary or procedural issues that are genuinely arguable. Not every issue…
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is a pre-trial application? A pre-trial application is a legal argument heard by the trial judge before the trial begins. It can determine what evidence is admissible at trial, whether certain witnesses can be called, or whether the trial should proceed at all. These are specialist legal arguments — not procedural formalities. Can a pre-trial application end the prosecution? Yes. A successful…