Attending court for a criminal offence can be a scary experience especially if you have no idea what to expect.
If a person has been given a court attendance notice, they must normally appear in court on the date set out in the notice.
When to arrive at court –
Many courts now call through all cases before a magistrate or registrar, at 9:30am, to deal with minor matters, adjournment applications and so on. Even if the court notice says 10am it is best to arrive early. It may sound silly, but attending court on time is imperative. If you are not at court when your matter is called on then a warrant may be issued for your arrest and you may be charged with an offence by not appearing. To ensure that you are at court on time, you should ensure that you know which court you are appearing in, make arrangements for transport (often there is limited car parking at court houses) and aim to arrive early. Check in when you arrive as it may save time and sitting around the Court all day.
You should dress tidily to show respect to the court. Wear closed in shoes and conservative clothes. Avoid wearing casual clothes or dirty work clothes, if possible.
And importantly, try to make arrangements for legal representation and/or advice before you attend court.
Contact McDonnell Schroder on (02) 9622 1155 to get discreet and specialised advice from criminal lawyers on a number of criminal matters.
