First, the 5 firms we picked in Sydney, with the reason for each. Then every other firm in the area, so you can compare. Whether a firm suits your situation is something to check with the firm directly.
Firms we picked
5
Picks last checked
1 October 2026
How we pick
Every firm in our picks meets all four. Picks are not for sale.
1An office in the cityThe firm has an office in the city.
2A page for this area of lawIt has a dedicated page for this area of law on its own website.
3An active ABNIt has an active ABN, which we check on ABN Lookup (abr.business.gov.au).
4A merit signal we can citeIt has at least one merit signal we can point to: a Doyle's Guide listing for this area and state, a law society accredited specialist in this area, a Google rating of 4.5 or above from 50 or more reviews, or a notable reported case or recognised award.
What “our picks” means
These are our picks, which means our opinion, not a ranking and not a guarantee. We explain the reason for each pick and link to the evidence we used. Picks are not for sale. If a firm ever pays to be listed, it appears in a separate slot labelled Sponsored and is never counted among our picks.
Our picks
This is our opinion: firms that meet every criterion above. It is not a ranking, and the Google rating beside a firm is Google’s, not part of why we picked it.
Hugo Law Group provides criminal defence representation in Sydney (NSW), Canberra (ACT) and Perth (WA). The firm operates criminal law offices in those cities.
What the firm says it handles
Drink and drug driving offences
Licence appeals
Traffic offences
Assault offences
Sexual offences
Fraud offences
Why we picked it
A criminal-defence firm that Doyle's Guide places in the First Tier for Sydney criminal defence, and which lists three Law Society accredited specialists in criminal law.
Nyman Gibson Miralis is a criminal defence law firm based in Sydney, Australia. It provides defence and advisory services in general, complex and international criminal law. The firm was established 60 years ago.
What the firm says it handles
Drink driving and traffic offences
White collar crime
Extradition & mutual assistance
Bail applications
Criminal appeals
Money laundering
+1 moreShow fewer
Freezing orders & asset forfeiture
Why we picked it
A Sydney defence firm that Doyle's Guide places in the First Tier for criminal defence, and which also handles serious white-collar and international matters.
Streeton Lawyers is a criminal law firm in Sydney, New South Wales. It provides criminal and traffic law services, with solicitors who appear in Local, District and Supreme Courts. The firm is located at Liberty Place, Level 1, 167 Castlereagh Street, Sydney.
What the firm says it handles
Dangerous driving
Drink driving
Driving with drugs
Driving without a licence
Licence suspensions
Assault and violence
+2 moreShow fewer
Drug offences
Fraud and stealing offences
Why we picked it
A criminal and traffic defence firm that Doyle's Guide places in the First Tier for Sydney criminal defence.
Armstrong Legal is a national law firm specialising in criminal law, family law, corporate crime, wills and estates and traffic law. It operates from offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Perth. The firm has operated for more than 30 years and has a team of 25 lawyers in Sydney.
What the firm says it handles
Divorce & separation
Child custody
Property settlement
Contesting a will
Drink driving
Corporate crime
Why we picked it
A larger criminal and traffic firm that Doyle's Guide places in the Second Tier for Sydney criminal defence, and which says several of its lawyers are accredited criminal law specialists.
Bannisters Lawyers is a criminal defence firm based in Sydney at Suite 203/250 Pitt Street. The firm is headed by Abigail Bannister and practises in Local, District, Supreme and High Courts and before tribunals and commissions.
What the firm says it handles
Murder, manslaughter, unlawful killing
Drug offences
Terrorism
Firearms and prohibited weapons offences
Fraud and white-collar crime
Assault and grievous bodily harm
+1 moreShow fewer
DUI and PCA (drink/drug driving)
Why we picked it
A small Sydney criminal-defence boutique that Doyle's Guide places in the Second Tier for criminal defence.
Free legal help for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including criminal matters; free call.
1800 765 767
All firms
Different city or area?
When you need a criminal lawyer
Situations where people commonly speak to a criminal lawyer:
You have been charged with an offence or told you will be.
Police have asked you to attend an interview.
You have a court date for a criminal charge.
Questions about criminal lawyers in Sydney
How does Zoe pick criminal lawyers in Sydney?
Every firm in our picks meets all of these. The firm has an office in the city. It has a dedicated page for this area of law on its own website. It has an active ABN, which we check on ABN Lookup (abr.business.gov.au). It has at least one merit signal we can point to: a Doyle's Guide listing for this area and state, a law society accredited specialist in this area, a Google rating of 4.5 or above from 50 or more reviews, or a notable reported case or recognised award. These are our picks, which means our opinion, not a ranking and not a guarantee. We explain the reason for each pick and link to the evidence we used.
Are these lawyers paid to be listed?
No. Picks are not for sale. If a firm ever pays to be listed, it appears in a separate slot labelled Sponsored and is never counted among our picks.
What does criminal law cover?
Criminal charges: being charged with an offence, police interviews, and court dates for criminal matters. This is general information, not legal advice about your situation.
When do people speak to a criminal lawyer?
Situations where people commonly speak to a criminal lawyer: You have been charged with an offence or told you will be; Police have asked you to attend an interview; You have a court date for a criminal charge. This is general information about common situations, not advice about yours.
Are there free options for criminal matters in Sydney?
Yes. If cost is the problem, this page lists Legal Aid NSW / LawAccess NSW and Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) under free options.
Ask Zoe about your situation
Describe what is happening and Zoe gives plain-English legal information grounded in the law. Your first messages are free.
ZoeLaw is not a law firm. Picks are our opinion; we don't share your details.
AI-generated legal information, not legal advice. Zoe can make mistakes. Check the cited sources, and before you act on this, rely on it, or use any draft, get a qualified Australian lawyer to check it.
Hugo Law Group provides criminal defence representation in Sydney (NSW), Canberra (ACT) and Perth (WA). The firm operates criminal law offices in those cities.
What the firm says it handles
Drink and drug driving offences
Licence appeals
Traffic offences
Assault offences
Sexual offences
Fraud offences
Why we picked it
A criminal-defence firm that Doyle's Guide places in the First Tier for Sydney criminal defence, and which lists three Law Society accredited specialists in criminal law.
Nyman Gibson Miralis is a criminal defence law firm based in Sydney, Australia. It provides defence and advisory services in general, complex and international criminal law. The firm was established 60 years ago.
What the firm says it handles
Drink driving and traffic offences
White collar crime
Extradition & mutual assistance
Bail applications
Criminal appeals
Money laundering
+1 moreShow fewer
Freezing orders & asset forfeiture
Why we picked it
A Sydney defence firm that Doyle's Guide places in the First Tier for criminal defence, and which also handles serious white-collar and international matters.
Streeton Lawyers is a criminal law firm in Sydney, New South Wales. It provides criminal and traffic law services, with solicitors who appear in Local, District and Supreme Courts. The firm is located at Liberty Place, Level 1, 167 Castlereagh Street, Sydney.
What the firm says it handles
Dangerous driving
Drink driving
Driving with drugs
Driving without a licence
Licence suspensions
Assault and violence
+2 moreShow fewer
Drug offences
Fraud and stealing offences
Why we picked it
A criminal and traffic defence firm that Doyle's Guide places in the First Tier for Sydney criminal defence.
Armstrong Legal is a national law firm specialising in criminal law, family law, corporate crime, wills and estates and traffic law. It operates from offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Perth. The firm has operated for more than 30 years and has a team of 25 lawyers in Sydney.
What the firm says it handles
Divorce & separation
Child custody
Property settlement
Contesting a will
Drink driving
Corporate crime
Why we picked it
A larger criminal and traffic firm that Doyle's Guide places in the Second Tier for Sydney criminal defence, and which says several of its lawyers are accredited criminal law specialists.
Bannisters Lawyers is a criminal defence firm based in Sydney at Suite 203/250 Pitt Street. The firm is headed by Abigail Bannister and practises in Local, District, Supreme and High Courts and before tribunals and commissions.
What the firm says it handles
Murder, manslaughter, unlawful killing
Drug offences
Terrorism
Firearms and prohibited weapons offences
Fraud and white-collar crime
Assault and grievous bodily harm
+1 moreShow fewer
DUI and PCA (drink/drug driving)
Why we picked it
A small Sydney criminal-defence boutique that Doyle's Guide places in the Second Tier for criminal defence.
Every criminal law firm we could find in Sydney and its suburbs, sorted by number of reviews. It is a list, not a recommendation, and more reviews does not mean a better firm.
137 firms · 153 offices
Criminal Law Group - Sydney Criminal & Traffic Lawyers 🥇
★5.0 out of 5· 1,108 Google reviews
5/153 George St, Liverpool NSW 2170
Listed as: Criminal justice attorney, Law firm, Solicitor, Legal services
