-
ACT Articles
-
National Articles
-
NSW Articles
-
QLD Articles
-
VIC Articles
-
WA Articles
I know I thanked you before we parted company but please allow me to reiterate in writing my sincere deepest thanks for defending me in court today. … Armstrong Legal certainly has a great Lawyer you are a credit to the company and I'm quite sure you will secure a very successful future! … My Kindest Regards and Thanks
- Client
Anastasia Qvist is an outstanding lawyer. My criminal law situation (family violence order) was difficult, complex and Ana's diligence saved me as I was going through the most difficult period of my life. Ana is down to earth, commonsense and she even kept our costs to a minimum. She is a skilled litigator and knows the ins and outs of the ACT Magistrates Court. She dealt skillfully with the DPP and is an excellent negotiator. You will get a fair representation and she genuinely cares about her clients. She has my complete recommendation. The lady goes to bat for her clients.
- Client
I would strongly recommend Anastasia to anyone who is seeking legal representation. As a first-time offender who was charged with a Level 2 Drink Driving offence, she walked me through every step of the matter and was very upfront and clear on all aspects of my case. She was always accessible when I needed advice. Her approach and advice were excellent. Under her representation, I received the best possible outcome and managed to avoid a criminal conviction. She was a pleasure to deal with throughout the whole matter.
- Client
Anastasia Qvist was very professional and helpful in every step of my matter. I got a very good outcome and I can’t thank you enough for your hard work and the Armstrong Legal team in Canberra. I would highly recommend her!!!
- Client
Throughout Angela has been the consummate professional. She maintained a calm, yet strong demeanour remained informative and completely open in her communication and took complete ownership of the situation. We felt confident we finally had an advocate to steer us out of the nightmare we were in, and she did so with great respect and sincerity. I cannot speak more highly of Angela. She has literally rescued our family from what looked very much like a hopeless future.
- Client
Words can’t describe how grateful I am to Trudie Cameron being my solicitor and to Andrew Tiedt presenting my case in the court. They both have been very supportive and amazingly professional and effective. I’ve got an absolutely fantastic outcome I couldn’t even dream about.
- Client
Soon after meeting Andrew I knew he was the solicitor I wanted to handle my matter. He immediately sprang into action which brought me stability and hope during a tumultuous time in my life. Andrew was never afraid to give me straight answers to my tough questions which is a true mark of integrity. He is clearly at ease in the court environment and I believe his calm and measured demeanour went a long way to helping me secure the best result from my day in court. I would certainly recommend you approach Andrew if you need assistance.
- Client
"Andrew Tiedt was very professional and considerate to personal circumstances and gave sound advice that resulted in the best outcome possible. Highly recommended."
-

This article was written by Michelle Makela - Legal Practice Director
Michelle has over 15 years experience in the legal industry, working across commercial litigation, criminal law, family law and estate planning. Michelle has been involved in all practice areas of the firm and in her personal practice has had experience in litigation at all levels (state and federal industrial tribunals, the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, the Federal Court, Federal...
Pleading Guilty to Drug Charges in the Local Court
All drug possession and self administer drug charges will be finalised in the Local Court of New South Wales. However, charges of supply, manufacture, cultivate and import drug charges may be dealt with in the District Court. This article outlines what happens when pleading guilty to drug charges in NSW.
What Happens at Court if I’m Pleading Guilty to Drug Charges and I Represent Myself?
If you have been charged with drug offence and you are planning to plead guilty, you will have to come to court prepared. Make sure you arrive on time and are neatly dressed. You will need to advise court staff that you are there. If you are unrepresented you will be told to sit near or in the courtroom and wait until your name is called. The time on your Court Attendance Notice is likely to be 9.30am but often matters involving unrepresented defendants are not reached until the afternoon, so it is best to avoid making any plans on the date of your court appearance.
Once your name is called, you will walk to the front of the courtroom to a microphone. Do not sit at the bar table. You will then be asked to enter a plea of either guilty or not guilty. If you are pleading guilty, you must say this very clearly to the Magistrate. Address the Magistrate only as “Your Honour”. The police prosecutor will then hand up the police facts (which should be the same as the facts attached to your court attendance notice) and your antecedents (any prior record that you may have). After the Magistrate has read these you will have an opportunity to speak and to hand up any documents you may have (such as character references).
When speaking to the Magistrate be sure to address him or her appropriately. Be truthful to the court. The Magistrate has years of experience and can easily spot someone who is making excuses or is not being totally honest.
Following anything the Magistrate having read your documents and you having spoken he or she will then consider your sentence for a few moments. Be sure to pay attention to what they say at that point, as it is very important that you know what you are required to do. If you have any questions speak to the Court officer after your matter has finished. If you are unhappy with the outcome do not try to fight with the Magistrate. You have the right to appeal the sentence to the District Court within 28 days.
Do not try to trivialize your offence or argue with the Magistrate. This will be seen as disrespectful.
Should I get a solicitor?
There are many advantaged to having legal representation when pleading guilty to drug offences. A good criminal lawyer knows what issues the court wants to hear addressed and can make submissions directed to the issues. Just as importantly, a good criminal lawyer knows what a court does not want to hear and will not say things that are likely to anger the Magistrate and make things worse.
A good criminal lawyer knows the sentencing law well and how to use it to your advantage.
A good criminal lawyer will bring you to life in a way that will help make your situation to stand out from the crowd rather than blend in with the numerous other matters at court on the day. A good criminal lawyer will advise you of whether there are character references or other supporting documentation that could be tendered in your defence to assist the court to understand all of the mitigating factors in your case.
Retaining a lawyer also shows the court that you are taking the matter seriously.
If you require legal advice or representation in any legal matter, please contact Armstrong Legal.
All charges relating to drug possession and self-administering a drug are finalised in the Local Court in New South Wales.…
What Penalty am I Likely to Receive for a Charge of Supplying Drugs on an Ongoing Basis? In NSW, a…
WHERE TO NEXT?
If you suspect that you may be under investigation, or if you have been charged with an offence, it is vital to get competent legal advice as early as possible. Our lawyers are highly specialised in criminal law and will be able to guide you through the process while dealing with the various authorities related to your matter.
WHY CHOOSE ARMSTRONG LEGAL?
Sydney Office
Level 35
201 Elizabeth Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Melbourne Office
Level 13
575 Bourke Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
Brisbane Office
Level 5
91 North Quay
Brisbane QLD 4000
Canberra Office
Level 9
Nishi, 2 Phillip Law Street
Canberra ACT 2601
Perth Office
Suite 207
22 St Georges Terrace Perth