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New publication – Traffic Offences – Magistrates Court WA

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We are very pleased to announce the release of another comprehensive step-by-step guide for Western Australian practitioners, being Traffic Offences WA.

This publication covers all aspects of practice and procedure when acting for the defendant in proceedings involving traffic offences in the Magistrates Court.

The guide assists practitioners with all aspects of representing clients in traffic matters, from providing advice in relation to infringement notices, to going to court.  The commentary is practical and easy to understand, with numerous helpful precedents and all current Magistrates Court forms included.

Key content includes:

  • Law and procedure relating to licence offences and alcohol & drug offences with an appendix for each category summarising the fine and any disqualification period or gaol term for most common offences. Retainer instructions are included on the matter plan.
  • Extensive library of initial letters to client for all BAC and drug driving offences explaining in simple terms the offence, the fine amount and any likely disqualification period or gaol term.
  • Practical guidance in preparing for court, with detailed commentary on analysing the charge and conducting plea negotiations. An instruction sheet for guilty pleas is also included on the matter plan.
  • Rehabilitation and specific program options are discussed, including the alcohol interlock scheme.
  • Client mental health considerations, with a letter of instruction to a psychiatrist or psychologist.
  • Example written submissions on sentence.
  • Information on appeal rights and time limits.

This guide is an invaluable resource for all practitioners who conduct traffic offence matters in the Magistrates Court, including those with limited experience in this area, or those supervising younger lawyers.

NSW Traffic – Local Court – sentencing options

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The commentary in the By Lawyers Guide to Traffic Offences – Local Court (NSW) now has a more detailed treatment of the sentencing options which are available to Magistrates when dealing with traffic offences.

Included is a summary of the upcoming sentencing amendments, which are expected to commence in September 2018. This is important information for practitioners to consider when advising clients who may currently be facing court, as bonds which are entered into under the current provisions will convert to be orders under the new provisions  – and any breaches will be dealt with under the new provisions.

Traffic offences – NSW – Infringement notice offences

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The commentary in the By Lawyers NSW Traffic Offences Guide now includes a section on ‘Infringement notice offences’, dealing with the situation where a client wishes to challenge a traffic infringement notice in court.

The commentary now also includes a table of common infringement notice offences, detailing the maximum penalty and demerit points applicable for each offence, along with the section of the relevant legislation establishing the offence.

The penalty referred to in the table is the maximum penalty for an offence if convicted by a court, so the table is useful for advising the client what penalty will apply if they take the matter to court but are unsuccessful.

To assist with the comparison, there is a link to a table of common offences published by Roads & Maritime Services NSW which includes the applicable fine for each offence when not electing to have the matter heard by a court.

All penalties are stated in ‘penalty units’. For information about what a penalty unit is and how to calculate the monetary penalties, see the By Lawyers commentary ‘Calculating Penalty Units’.

QLD Magistrates Court – Domestic Violence – Interpreters

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The By Lawyers Domestic Violence commentary has been updated to include a section on the Magistrates Court’s power to engage an accredited interpreter where required.

For private domestic and family violence proceedings, where the application indicates that either party requires an interpreter, the registrar will locate and retain an interpreter.

At the first mention, if the Court is satisfied that the interests of justice require an interpreter to be appointed to assist with the comprehension of the proceeding, the Court will order the appointment of an interpreter for further mentions.

In these circumstances, Queensland Courts will bear the cost of the interpreter’s engagement. See Practice Direction No. 6 of 2017.

WA Criminal – Costs determination

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For costs applications by a successful accused at the conclusion of criminal proceedings in WA Magistrates Court, the amount of any award of costs may be determined in accordance with the relevant determination made under the Legal Profession Act 2008 for the purposes of the Official Prosecutions (Accused’s Costs) Act 1973 and in accordance with s 280 Legal Profession Act 2008 and s 67(3) Criminal Procedure Act 2004.

A link to the current costs determination produced by the Legal Costs Committee in accordance with s 278 of the Legal Profession Act 2008 has been added to the By Lawyers Criminal  commentary.

Courts and tribunals – 1 July fee increases and legislation updates

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1 July always sees legislative changes, including increases to court fees. Happy New (financial) Year!

The following are some of the important changes commencing 1 July 2018. By Lawyers publications in each state have been updated as appropriate.

LITIGATION, CRIMINAL LAW, FAMILY LAW & DECEASED ESTATES

All States

Fee increases apply in all courts and tribunals.

Injury claims – where damages for permanent impairment and/or non-economic loss are subject to statutory caps (e.g. motor accidents and workers compensation legislation) these maximum amounts have been updated.

Defamation – the maximum amount of damages for non-economic loss available under the Uniform Defamation Law is now $398,500.

VIC Supreme Court

All documents for Supreme Court Common Law, Commercial Court and Costs Court matters must now be electronically filed using the RedCrest electronic filing platform. Court users will need to register. See the Supreme Court page ‘Electronic filing and case management’ and the commentary in the By Lawyers Victorian Supreme Court Guide

 

Criminal – sentencing – QLD – Commentary added on drug and alcohol treatment orders

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Queensland has introduced special drug and alcohol sentencing options where the Court determines the offender and the community would benefit more from the offender participating in a rehabilitation and treatment program than from imprisonment.

Commentary explaining the availability and operation of drug and alcohol treatment orders has been added to the By Lawyers Criminal Magistrates’ Court Guide and the By Lawyers Traffic Offences Guide.

These specific drug and alcohol treatment orders are provided for under Part 8A of the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 and are available for certain offenders whose criminal behaviour is linked to their severe drug or alcohol use.  A treatment order is comprised of two parts – a custodial part with a term of imprisonment of up to four years which is wholly suspended and a rehabilitation part of at least two years that requires compliance with core conditions and completion of a treatment program.

At this stage the new provisions are only available in Brisbane, but it is intended that the program is developed and spreads to other areas.

These amendments bring Queensland in to line with other states, making supervised rehabilitation a formal part of the sentencing regime.

New Publication – Criminal Magistrates Court SA

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We are very pleased to announce the release of another comprehensive step-by-step guide for South Australian practitioners, being Criminal Magistrates Court SA

This publication covers all aspects of criminal practice and procedure, for both summary and indictable offences, when acting for the defendant in criminal proceedings in the Magistrates Court.

The guide assists practitioners with all aspects of conducting a criminal matter from arrest and bail, or a first appointment in the office, through to hearing and/or sentencing, including avenues of appeal and possible costs applications. The commentary is practical and easy to understand, with numerous helpful precedents and all current Magistrates Court forms included.

Key content includes:

  • Law and procedures relating to arrest and bail, including the right to silence, the record of interview and practical tips for lawyers attending at the police station. Retainer instructions, including for a bail application, are included on the matter plan.
  • Practical guidance in preparing for court, with detailed commentary on analysing the charge and conducting plea negotiations. Precedent letters to the Crown are included on the matter plan for this purpose, as well as an instruction sheet for a plea and mitigation.
  • Procedures involved when attending court for both summary and indictable matters, obtaining pre-sentence reports and conducting the plea.
  • Preparing for hearing when a plea of not guilty has been entered.
  • Sentencing options in the Magistrates Court.
  • Client mental health considerations, with a letter of instruction to a psychiatrist or psychologist.
  • Example written submissions on sentence are included on the matter plan.
  • Information on appeal rights and time limits.

This guide is a valuable resource for all practitioners who conduct criminal matters in the Magistrates Court, especially those with limited experience in criminal work, or those supervising younger lawyers.

Criminal Guides – Calculating penalty units

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Helpful new commentary on calculating penalty units has been added to the By Lawyers Criminal Guides in NSW, VIC, QLD and WA, and also to our Practice Management Guide.

Information is provided about what a penalty unit is and how to calculate the monetary penalty for various breaches of laws. There is a useful summary of the current value of a penalty unit in each state and territory, as well as the Commonwealth. The By Lawyers team will ensure that these values are updated when required, across the jurisdictions.

 

VIC – Intervention orders – Relationship with bail conditions

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The By Lawyers commentaries have been updated to deal with recent amendments to the Family Violence Protection Act 2008 by the Bail Amendment (Stage One) Bill 2017.

These changes, regarding the relationship between bail conditions, safety notices and intervention orders, are now covered in the VIC Criminal Magistrates’ Court Commentary and the Intervention Orders Commentary.

 

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