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I just wanted to thank you for representing me on Monday, I was overjoyed & relieved with the outcome. I don’t think it could have gone any better. All the best, I hope you got to celebrate this one instead after work, you forever made a difference in my life.
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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."
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This article was written by Fernanda Dahlstrom - Content Editor - Brisbane
Fernanda Dahlstrom has a Bachelor of Laws, a Bachelor of Arts and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice. She has also completed a Master’s in Writing and Literature. Fernanda practised law for eight years, working in criminal defence, child protection and domestic violence law in the Northern Territory and in family law in Queensland.
Melbourne Magistrates Court
The Melbourne Magistrates Court is located at 233 William St, Melbourne. There are also Magistrates Courts in numerous Melbourne suburbs, including Broadmeadows, Werribee and Dandenong. The Melbourne Magistrates Court deals with summary crime matters (where the defendant is an adult), civil matters, and intervention order applications. Criminal matters where the defendant is a juvenile are dealt with by the Children’s Court.
Magistrate Court matters are decided by a single magistrate.
Criminal matters
The vast majority of criminal matters are dealt with in the Magistrates Court, which hears all summary crime matters and many indictable matters. Strictly indictable matters, such as murder, which are very serious and carry significant penalties must be dealt with in the Supreme Court.
The Melbourne Magistrates Court hears summary criminal matters such as trespass and drink driving. It also hears indictable matters such as stealing and assault, when parties consent to the matter being dealt with summarily (in the Magistrates Court). When indictable offences are to be finalised in the higher courts, the Magistrates Court is responsible for conducting committal proceedings.
The Melbourne Magistrates Court also has a specialist division known as the Koori Court, which deals with indigenous defendants who are pleading guilty where it is appropriate for the matter to be dealt with by the Koori Court and where the defendant consents to this. The Koori Court is comprised of a magistrate as well as a panel of indigenous elders who strive to deal with offending in ways that are culturally appropriate and which a balance the needs of the offender with the needs of the broader community. It seeks to bring about outcomes that are meaningful and encourage offenders to take responsibility for their actions without becoming alienated from their community or being overly criminalised.
The Melbourne Magistrates Court also deals with applications for bail and the issue of warrants.
Drug court
The Melbourne Magistrates Court also operates a post-sentence program to rehabilitate and treat offenders with drug and alcohol problems. The Drug Court imposes and administers Drug Treatment Orders (DTOs).
A DTO consists of a period of imprisonment followed by a period of treatment and supervision while living in the community. During this period the defendant is required to engage in drug and alcohol treatment, education and assessment, attend drug court regularly and submit to alcohol and drug testing as well as complying with conditions such as living at a particular address and abiding by a curfew. The participant is supervised by a Drug Court Magistrate while on a DTO.
Civil matters
The Melbourne Magistrates Court hears civil matters where the amount in dispute is below $100,000. These include credit and debt matters, actions in tort, breach of contract and equitable relief.
Civil matters involving workplaces, traffic accidents and medical negligence as well as claims made under a will are dealt with in the County Court.
Intervention orders
The Melbourne Magistrates Court deals with two types of intervention orders. These are personal safety intervention orders and family violence intervention orders. A person can apply for a personal safety intervention order if they fear violence from any other person. A person (or the police) can apply for a family violence intervention order if they fear violence from a person that they are in a family relationship with. This includes a partner, parent, sibling or member of one’s household.
An intervention order application can be consented to without admissions, or contested. If it is contested, the matter will proceed to a hearing where both parties will have the opportunity to call evidence and make submissions as to why the order should or should not be made.
If an intervention order is made and the respondent breaches the conditions of the order, they may be charged with a criminal offence.
Attending court
If you are required to attend the Melbourne Magistrates Court for any matter, it is important that you come prepared and that you are aware of court etiquette. The daily court list can be long and your matter will not necessarily be heard at the time it is listed so you should come prepared to be at court all day. If you have children, make arrangements for them so that they do not have to wait at court with you.
Check the court list when you arrive (or online) to see which courtroom your matter will be heard in. When attending court, you should dress neatly and conservatively. Make sure you remove any hat or sunglasses before entering the courtroom and ensure that your phone is switched off or turned to silent. It is a good idea to have a pen and paper with you so that you can write down any information you are given.
You should bow or nod to the court when you enter the courtroom as a sign of respect. If you need to address the magistrate, call him or her “Your Honour”.
If you require legal advice or representation in any legal matter, please contact Armstrong Legal.
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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?
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