Our Services

How can we help you?

Criminal Law

The criminal justice system is complex and facing a criminal charge can be daunting, but you do not have to face it alone. 

Laneway Legal will help you navigate the criminal justice system. 

We explain the court process so you know what’s ahead of you, and break your charges down so you understand what the prosecution must prove. We believe that you should have all the information to make informed decisions about your case. We will provide expert advice and assertive representation from the beginning to the end of your matter. 

We provide strategic advice, solutions and advocacy for all areas of criminal law including:

  • Assaults and Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH)

  • Drug offences

  • Property offences

  • Dangerous operation of motor vehicle causing GBH or death

  • Fraud, theft and dishonesty offences

  • Sexual offences

  • Murder and Manslaughter

  • Centrelink fraud

As well as:

  • Crime and Corruption Commission investigations

  • Regulatory and enforcement matters

  • Commonwealth offences

  • Advice about police interviews

  • Police Powers

  • Public order offences 

If police want to speak to you or you have to appear in court, it is important that you seek legal advice immediately. Our team is available 7 days a week for a free initial phone consultation.

Traffic Law

Traffic offences are not as trivial as you may first think. Without effective legal representation, offences such as unlicenced driving, drink driving and drug driving can result in fines, lengthy disqualifications, car impoundment and, in some circumstances, imprisonment.   

We understand that traffic offences can affect both you and your family’s livelihood. We are able to provide you with the advice and representation you need to secure the best possible outcome for you and your family. 

We provide advice, solutions and advocacy for a broad number of traffic offences, including: 

  • Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle; 

  • Drink driving (low, mid and high range); 

  • Drug driving; 

  • Failure to provide specimen of breath/blood/saliva; 

  • Offences under heavy vehicle national law; and 

  • Contesting infringement notices 

Our team also provide advice and assist with applications for: 

  • Special hardship licences; and 

  • Work licences. 

If you are on a temporary or permanent visa, or you are a New Zealand Citizen, and charged with a traffic offence you should seek legal advice immediately. Laneway Legal is unique from other firms in that Emma Aldersea is both a highly experienced criminal defence lawyer and a registered migration agent. By choosing Laneway Legal as your legal representatives, you are choosing a firm who will ensure that your case is skilfully handled to best protect your future in Australia.  

If you are facing a traffic offence, don’t risk you or your family’s future. 

Contact Laneway Legal to speak to a member of our specialised team. We are available 7 days a week for a free initial consultation.

Coronial Inquests

A coronial inquest is an investigation into the cause of a person’s death.  The Coroner has powers to collect evidence and order a person to give evidence on oath or to produce documents.  

The team at Laneway Legal have experience in providing advice and representation at inquests for:

  • Family members who have lost a loved one in circumstances such as a workplace accident, suspicious deaths, or deaths in care.

  • Person’s of interest - if you are a person of interest, where the investigation relates to a suspicious death the Coroner does not make a formal finding of guilt but may refer the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), for example in circumstances of homicide, workplace manslaughter or dangerous operations of a Motor Vehicle causing death. If the police make contact or you are issued a summons to appear in the Coroners Court you should seek immediate advice and representation to protect your interests. 

Laneway Legal can:

  • Assess if legal representation is required;

  • Assess if you are a person of interest (at risk of being charged);

  • Advise family members about rights and options during the coronial process including: access to the investigation material, the right to be legally represented, and ask witnesses questions during a hearing;

  • Represent you at the inquest; and

  • Manage risk issues flowing from a Coronial investigation such as a compensation claim, disciplinary consequences or criminal prosecutions.

If you require advice or representation in relation to a coronial inquest, our team is available 7 days a week for a free initial phone consultation.

Workplace Investigations

We provide specialist advice and representation in relation to all types of disciplinary and regulatory proceedings. 

Workers and professionals are expected to operate within a set of rules created by various laws, policies and professional standards - this is referred to as regulatory compliance. Regulators have broad powers to monitor and enforce compliance.  An employer or regulator may ask or direct a worker to produce documents, provide information or give evidence in relation to a workplace incident or investigation.   

If you are asked to attend a meeting, interview or hearing in relation to a workplace incident or investigation, or receive a show cause notice, contact Laneway Legal for a confidential initial consultation.

A workplace investigation may have flow on effects, for example it may affect your compensation claim, lead to a criminal prosecution against you, and/or findings of professional misconduct. It is our objective to assist you in implementing strategies to safeguard you from potential risk; and provide individualised and effective representation.  

Our team are experienced in a broad range of regulatory matters involving:  

  • Work Place Health and Safety Queensland;

  • National Heavy Vehicle Regulator;

  • Maritime Safety Authority;

  • Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA);

  • Department of Defence;

  • Department of Natural Resources and Mines; and 

  • Australian Building and Construction Commission

We travel throughout Queensland and interstate to assist in these matters.

If you require legal representation or are seeking legal advice in relation to a workplace investigation, our team is available 7 days a week for a free initial phone consultation.

Investigative Hearings

There are a number of agencies and commissions within Australia whose purpose is to investigate major crimes, corruption and misconduct. 

These agencies and commissions have far reaching coercive powers that, unlike criminal cases, allow a witness to be compelled to attend a hearing, answer questions under oath, and produce documents. 

You do not have a right to silence in these hearings.  Failure to answer questions or misleading a commission can be an offence leading to immediate terms of imprisonment.  This means that a person is not entitled to any privilege against self-incrimination that is afforded in criminal proceedings.  It is critical that you obtain legal advice to understand these implications.

It is important to be aware that before a witness attends a hearing, the commission has generally initiated an extensive investigation using coercive powers to gather information including access to digital records and using electronic surveillance capabilities.  This covertly obtained material is often the basis for issuing a summons for a witness to attend a hearing to give evidence, or corroborating information in another way such as ordering a witness to produce documents.   

The commissions also have the power to refer matters to other agencies including the Commonwealth and State Director of Public Prosecutions. 

These hearings are generally held in secret and are highly confidential.  A witness receiving notice or summons to attend a hearing will usually be advised that it is an offence to tell anyone other than a lawyer for the purpose of advice, about the summons or any information relating to the nature of the summons.  This means that a witness must keep their involvement and whereabouts a secret from their family and employer.  We acknowledge how difficult and isolating this experience can be and we are available at any time to discreetly discuss your matter with you. 

You may be required to travel interstate to attend a hearing.  Our lawyers are able to travel throughout Australia to assist in these matters.

Our team are experienced in providing advice and representation at: 

  • Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission; 

  • Crime and Corruption Commission;

  • Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity; and

  • Commissions of Inquiry.

If you have received, or expect to receive, a summons or notice it is crucial that you seek legal advice immediately. Our team is available 7 days a week for a free initial phone consultation.